World War ITimeline

1916

1916
30 September

Enlisted at the age of 22

3rd Reinforcements
1916
4 October

Trained

Narrow Neck, Auckland
1916
15 November

Transfer to England

HMNZT 69 Tahiti
1916
16 November

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
29 January

Marched in to NZ Depot, Boscombe

1917
9 April

British Offensive

Battle of Arras

The Company was employed to rebuild a major road leading to the Front during the battle

1917
5 May

The Company moved to Monchy, ten kilometres east of Arras, to work on the fortification of the new front line

1917
3 July

Embarked for France

1917
5 July

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1917
13 July

Joined the Company

1918

1918
1 January

The Company was still carrying out the digging of underground premises and defences on the Front near Arras

1918
11 January

Admitted to hospital with pneumonia

1918
25 January

Embarked for England

Admitted to hospital

1918
21 March

German Attacks

Spring Offensive

The Company was engaged in the defence of Arras by digging new trenches and dug-outs under constant enemy shellfire

1918
29 March

Granted leave

1918
4 April

Marched in to NZ Depot, Boscombe

1918
8 August

Allied Attacks

Hundred Days Offensive
1918
17 September

Embarked for France

1918
19 September

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1918
22 September

Rejoined the Company

1918
27 September

The Company experienced its newly reconversion in bridge construction

1918
11 November

Cessation of Hostilities

Armistice

The Company continued to build bridges to reconnect a fragmented territory

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
14 March

Transfer to New Zealand

Troopship Ionic
1919
24 May

End of Service

Demobilization

How to cite this page

Anthony Byledbal, “World War I Timeline of John Francis Cooper“, New Zealand Tunnellers Website, NaN (2009), Accessed: . URL: www.nztunnellers.com/tunnellers/155/wwi-timeline