21446 - Sapper

John Joseph

RYAN

2nd Reinforcements

Timeline


1916

1916

2 April

Enlistment

Canterbury 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

26 August

Awarded 1 day confinement to barracks for absence from roll call

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
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

11 May

Awarded 14 days Field Punishment No.1 for conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline in that he used obscene language

1918

26 June

Granted leave

1918

12 July

Rejoined the Company

1918

8 August

100 Days Offensive

Allied Attacks

1918

12 August

Admitted to hospital with scabies

1918

18 August

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

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

27 December

Granted leave to United Kingdom

1919

1919

14 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

British War Medal
British War Medal

Victory Medal
Victory Medal

Sources and bibliography

  • Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, AABK 18805 W5550 107/0101172, Military Personnel File: John Joseph RYAN - 21446.
  • Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, Online Cenotaph He Toa Taumata Rau: John Joseph RYAN.
  • 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 Joseph RYAN (21446)”, New Zealand Tunnellers, 2024 (2009). Accessed: 22 December 2024. URL: https://www.nztunnellers.com/roll/details.php?id=750