21403 - Sapper

Arthur Dickson

BURNS

2nd Reinforcements

Timeline


1916

1916

4 May

Enlistment

Auckland Military District

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

15 September

Awarded 1 day detention and forfeited 1 day pay for absence without leave

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

24 November

Embarked for France

1916

26 November

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1917

1917

27 January

Admitted to hospital with pneumonia

1917

26 February

Embarked for England

Admitted to hospital

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

23 April

Marched in to NZ Depot, Boscombe

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

20 June

Embarked for France

1917

21 June

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1917

5 July

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

16 January

Forfeited 2 days pay for failing to appear on parade for rifle and box respirator inspection

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

18 July

Admitted to hospital with influenza while on leave to United Kingdom

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

7 November

Classified unfit for active service

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 November

Marched in to NZ Depot, Torquay

1919

1919

18 January

Transfer to New Zealand

S.S. Zealandic

1919

7 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: Arthur Dickson BURNS.
  • 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, “Arthur Dickson BURNS (21403)”, New Zealand Tunnellers, 2024 (2009). Accessed: 22 December 2024. URL: https://www.nztunnellers.com/roll/details.php?id=87