21397 - 2nd Corporal

William

BOWES

2nd Reinforcements

Timeline


1916

1916

3 May

Enlistment

Auckland Military District

1916

4 May

Initial training

Narrow Neck, Auckland

1916

26 June

Transfer to England

HMNZT 56 - Maunganui

1916

22 August

Marched in to NZ Sling Camp, Bulford

1916

2 September

Embarked for France

1916

4 September

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1916

2 November

Awarded 28 days Field Punishment No.1 and forfeited 2 days pay for absence without leave

1916

15 November

Joined the Company

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

22 December

Awarded 28 days Field Punishment No.1 for being late for parade

1917

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

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

1917

26 September

Granted leave

1917

11 October

Rejoined the Company

1917

7 December

Admitted to hospital with haemorrhoids

1917

15 December

Embarked for England

Admitted to hospital

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

20 February

Marched in to NZ Depot, Boscombe

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

26 April

Embarked for France

1918

28 April

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1918

1 May

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

In front of the Havrincourt Bridge

1918

4 November

Granted leave to United Kingdom

1918

7 November

Admitted to hospital with haemorrhoids

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
1919

1919

3 January

Embarked for France

1919

5 January

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1919

29 January

Embarked for England

1919

30 January

Marched in to NZ Depot, Larkhill

1919

15 February

Marched in to NZ Depot, Codford

1919

9 May

Marched in to NZ Sling Camp, Bulford

1919

17 June

Transfer to New Zealand

S.S. Briton

1919

20 August

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 W5520 103/0016744, Military Personnel File: William BOWES - 21397.
  • Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, Online Cenotaph He Toa Taumata Rau: William BOWES.
  • Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Wellington, Government Printer, 1914-1919, Volume II, Roll N°34, p. 41.

How to cite this page

Anthony BYLEDBAL, “William BOWES (21397)”, New Zealand Tunnellers, 2024 (2009). Accessed: 29 March 2024. URL: https://www.nztunnellers.com/roll/details.php?id=60