Timeline
1915
26 August
Enlistment
Auckland Military District
1915
11 October
Initial training
Avondale, Auckland
1915
18 December
Transfer to England
S.S. Ruapehu
1916
3 February
Marched in to the Company Training Camp, Falmouth
1916
9 March
Embarked for France
1916
16 March
From the Front
The Company joined the underground warfare in the North of France
1916
16 November
From the Front
The Company began the operations to connect old underground quarries in Arras in order to accommodate thousands of soldiers for an upcoming battle
1916
26 November
Granted leave
1916
10 December
Rejoined the Company
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
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
1917
11 June
Granted leave
1917
27 June
Rejoined the Company
From the Front
The Company was still carrying out the digging of underground premises and defences on the Front near Arras
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
16 July
Granted leave to United Kingdom
1918
2 August
Rejoined the Company
1918
8 August
100 Days Offensive
Allied Attacks
1918
27 September
From the Front
The Company experienced its newly reconversion in bridge construction
1918
11 November
Armistice
Cessation of Hostilities
From the Front
The Company continued to build bridges to reconnect a fragmented territory
1918
27 December
Discharged
1919
1 January
Embarked for England
1919
2 January
Marched in to NZ Sling Camp, Bulford
1919
1 February
Transfer to New Zealand
S.S. Hororata
1919
13 April
Final discharge
End of Service
Decoration
Distinguished Conduct Medal
“For courageous devotion to duty and initiative in execution of his work. On 10th March 1918 he was detached to a battery as instructor in dug-out construction. At the commencement of a hostile attack on 22nd March, the message to recall him having miscarried, he stayed with the battery for five days and assisted in both working the gun and establishing a new position when the battery withdrew. On his own initiative he opened up a partly demolished dug-out, and so provided cover for the gun crew during a period of intense hostile shelling.”
British War Medal
Victory Medal