55374 - Sapper

William John

O'CALLAGHAN

6th Reinforcements

Timeline


1917

1917

23 April

Enlistment

Auckland Military District

1917

14 June

Initial training

Narrow Neck, Auckland

1917

26 July

Transfer to England

HMNZT 90 - Ulimaroa

1917

25 September

Marched in to NZ Depot, Christchurch

1917

23 October

Embarked for France

1917

27 October

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1917

10 November

Joined the Company

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

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

8 August

100 Days Offensive

Allied Attacks

1918

9 September

Admitted to hospital with scalp injury

1918

12 September

Rejoined the Company

1918

27 September

From the Front

The Company experienced its newly reconversion in bridge construction

In front of the Havrincourt Bridge

1918

24 October

Granted leave to United Kingdom

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

21 December

Rejoined the Company

1919

1919

5 January

Promoted Corporal

1919

22 January

Discharged

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

12 March

Reverted to Sapper and forfeited 11 days pay for releasing two prisoners without proper authorisation

1919

5 April

Transfer to New Zealand

S.S. Rimutaka

1919

25 June

Final discharge

End of Service

Decoration

British War Medal
British War Medal

Victory Medal
Victory Medal

Sources and bibliography

  • Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Wellington, Government Printer, 1914-1919, Volume III, Roll N°69, p. 39.

How to cite this page

Anthony BYLEDBAL, “William John O'CALLAGHAN (55374)”, New Zealand Tunnellers, 2024 (2009). Accessed: 23 December 2024. URL: https://www.nztunnellers.com/roll/details.php?id=639