World War ITimeline

1917

29 March

Enlisted at the age of 41

6th Reinforcements

1917

14 June

Trained

Narrow Neck, Auckland

1917

26 July

Transfer to England

HMNZT 90 Ulimaroa

1917

4 August

Admitted to hospital at sea with influenza

1917

16 August

Diagnosed with pneumonia

1917

23 August

Admitted to hospital in South Africa

1917

22 October

Marched in to NZ Depot, Cape Town

1917

29 November

Embarked for England

1917

31 December

Marched in to NZ Sling Camp, Bulford

1918

1 January

Overview of the sawmill built and operated by the New Zealand Tunnellers, located alongside a railway line, with stacks of timber and workers visible.

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

1918

12 January

Marched in to NZ Depot, Boscombe

1918

6 March

Embarked for France

1918

8 March

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1918

17 March

Joined the Company

1918

21 March

German Attacks

Spring Offensive

Two soldiers standing outside the entrance of a shaft in a desolate area of the front line, surrounded by barren ground and war-damaged terrain.

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

1918

8 August

Allied Attacks

Hundred Days Offensive

1918

27 September

Officers of the New Zealand Tunnelling Company posing in front of a newly completed military bridge built by their men during World War I.

The Company experienced its newly reconversion in bridge construction

1918

11 November

Cessation of Hostilities

Armistice

Military bridge built by the New Zealand Tunnellers spanning a river in the town of Cambrai; surrounding houses are a mix of intact structures and war-damaged ruins.

The Company continued to build bridges to reconnect a fragmented territory

1918

17 December

Granted leave to the United Kingdom

1919

8 January

Rejoined the Company

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

22 May

End of Service

Demobilization

How to cite this page

Anthony Byledbal, “World War I Timeline of Christopher Downs“, New Zealand Tunnellers Website, NaN (2009), Accessed: . URL: www.nztunnellers.com/tunnellers/215/wwi-timeline