21463 - Sapper

John Thomson

RUSSELL

2nd Reinforcements

Timeline


1916

1916

30 March

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

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

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

8 June

Wounded in action

Admitted to hospital with a gunshot wound to the right thigh

1917

12 June

Embarked for England

1917

13 June

Admitted to hospital

1917

30 November

Granted leave

1917

17 December

Marched in to NZ Depot, Boscombe

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

18 March

Embarked for France

Appointed Acting 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

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1918

25 March

Rejoined the Company

Relinquished appointment of Acting Corporal

1918

17 June

Appointed Cook

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

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

18 December

Granted leave to United Kingdom

1918

19 December

Relinquished appointment of Cook

1919

1919

4 January

Marched in to NZ Depot, Codford

1919

20 January

Transfer to New Zealand

S.S. Port Melbourne

1919

15 May

Final discharge

End of Service

Decoration

British War Medal
British War Medal

Victory Medal
Victory Medal

Sources and bibliography

  • Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, Online Cenotaph He Toa Taumata Rau: John Thomson RUSSELL.
  • Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Wellington, Government Printer, 1914-1919, Volume II, Roll N°34, p. 42.

How to cite this page

Anthony BYLEDBAL, “John Thomson RUSSELL (21463)”, New Zealand Tunnellers, 2024 (2009). Accessed: 22 December 2024. URL: https://www.nztunnellers.com/roll/details.php?id=746