World War ITimeline

1916

1916
4 October

Enlisted at the age of 40

3rd Reinforcements

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
2 March

Embarked for France

1917
4 March

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

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
13 April

Joined the Company

1917
5 May

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

1917
13 November

Gassed

Admitted to hospital

1917
17 November

Embarked for England

1917
19 November

Admitted to hospital

1917
30 November

Granted leave

1917
13 December

Classified unfit for active service

1917
14 December

Marched in to NZ Depot, Torquay

1918

1918
1 January

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

1918
1 February

Transfer to New Zealand

Troopship Tahiti
1918
14 May

End of Service

Demobilization

How to cite this page

Anthony Byledbal, “World War I Timeline of William Drane“, New Zealand Tunnellers Website, NaN (2009), Accessed: . URL: www.nztunnellers.com/tunnellers/220/wwi-timeline