37527 - Sapper

Simon

FRASER

3rd Reinforcements

Timeline


1916

1916

2 October

Enlistment

Wellington Military District

1916

4 October

Initial training

Narrow Neck, Auckland

1916

15 November

Transfer to England

HMNZT 69 - Tahiti

1917

1917

29 January

Marched in to NZ Depot, Boscombe

1917

2 March

Embarked for France

1917

4 March

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1917

9 April

Battle of Arras

British Offensive


From the Front

The Company was employed to rebuild a major road leading to the Front during the battle

Arras-Cambrai Road

1917

13 April

Joined the Company

1917

5 May

From the Front

The Company moved to Monchy, ten kilometres east of Arras, to work on the fortification of the new front line

The Billets in Monchy
1918

From the Front

The Company was still carrying out the digging of underground premises and defences on the Front near Arras

The Workshop in Arras

1918

14 January

Granted leave

1918

30 January

Rejoined the Company

1918

17 February

Promoted Lance Corporal

1918

21 March

Spring Offensive

German Attacks


From the Front

The Company was engaged in the defence of Arras by digging new trenches and dug-outs under constant enemy shellfire

1918

27 April

Appointed temporary 2nd Corporal

1918

13 May

Admitted to hospital with gunshot wounds to the head and shoulder

Relinquished appointment of temporary 2nd Corporal

1918

16 June

Embarked for England

Admitted to hospital

1918

3 August

Marched in to NZ Depot, Codfod

1918

8 August

100 Days Offensive

Allied Attacks

1918

27 August

Marched in to NZ Depot, Christchurch

1918

27 September

From the Front

The Company experienced its newly reconversion in bridge construction

In front of the Havrincourt Bridge

1918

11 November

Armistice

Cessation of Hostilities


From the Front

The Company continued to build bridges to reconnect a fragmented territory

Over the Sambre River, Maubeuge

1918

2 December

Transfer to New Zealand

S.S. Maunganui

1919

1919

8 February

Final discharge

End of Service

Decoration

British War Medal
British War Medal

Victory Medal
Victory Medal

Sources and bibliography

  • Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, AABK 18805 W5537 118/0042257, Military Personnel File: Simon FRASER - 37527.
  • Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, Online Cenotaph He Toa Taumata Rau: Simon FRASER.
  • Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Wellington, Government Printer, 1914-1919, Volume II, Roll N°45, p. 36.

Photography

  • Courtesy of OSBALDISTON Family.

How to cite this page

Anthony BYLEDBAL, “Simon FRASER (37527)”, New Zealand Tunnellers, 2024 (2009). Accessed: 22 December 2024. URL: https://www.nztunnellers.com/roll/details.php?id=290