21416 - Sapper

John William

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

Admitted to hospital

1916

13 September

Marched in to NZ Depot, Codford

1916

20 October

Marched in to NZ Sling Camp, Bulford

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

22 January

Admitted to hospital with scabies

1917

28 January

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1917

2 February

Admitted to hospital

1917

17 March

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

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

6 May

Joined the Company

1917

22 June

Detached to 174th Tunnelling Company

1917

11 July

Rejoined the Company

1917

9 November

Granted leave

1917

25 November

Rejoined 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

7 September

Detached to 149th Company Royal Engineers

1918

27 September

From the Front

The Company experienced its newly reconversion in bridge construction

In front of the Havrincourt Bridge

1918

13 October

Rejoined the Company

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

Admitted to hospital with influenza

1918

25 November

Embarked for England

Admitted to hospital

1918

17 December

Marched in to NZ Depot, Hornchurch

1919

1919

14 February

Marched in to NZ Depot, Codford

1919

20 February

Fined 3/2 and forfeited 4 day pay for destroying a bed board

1919

10 March

Transfer to New Zealand

S.S. Bhamo

1920

1920

7 January

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 W5530 22/0020652, Military Personnel File: John William BURNS - 21416.
  • Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, Online Cenotaph He Toa Taumata Rau: John William 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, “John William BURNS (21416)”, New Zealand Tunnellers, 2024 (2009). Accessed: 22 December 2024. URL: https://www.nztunnellers.com/roll/details.php?id=88