21425 - Sapper

George

WILLIAMS

2nd Reinforcements

Timeline


1916

1916

3 May

Enlistment

Auckland Military District

1916

4 May

Initial training

Narrow Neck, Auckland

1916

15 May

Awarded 7 days confinement to barracks for breaking out of camp

1916

16 May

Awarded 7 days confinement to barracks and forfeited 1 day pay for breaking out of camp

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

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

17 November

Joined the Company

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

24 December

Awarded 3 months Field Punishment No.1 for disobeying a lawful command order and using insubordinate language

1917

28 December

Detached to XVIIth Corps

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

10 February

Sentenced to 9 months Imprisonment with Hard Labour for stealing public goods and escaping from confinement

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

4 April

Admitted to No.10 Military Prison

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

12 December

Released from prison

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1918

23 December

Rejoined the Company

1919

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

11 March

Forfeited 2 days pay for absence without leave from embarkation parade

1919

19 May

Transfer to New Zealand

S.S. Ruahine

1919

6 August

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 W5557 83/01227743, Military Personnel File: George WILLIAMS - 21425.
  • Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, Online Cenotaph He Toa Taumata Rau: George WILLIAMS.
  • 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, “George WILLIAMS (21425)”, New Zealand Tunnellers, 2024 (2009). Accessed: 21 December 2024. URL: https://www.nztunnellers.com/roll/details.php?id=909