Enlisted at the age of 39
Main BodyTrained
Avondale, AucklandTransfer to England
Steamship RuapehuMarched in to the Company Training Camp, Falmouth
Embarked for France
The Company joined the underground warfare in the North of France
Awarded 12 days Field Punishment No.1 for disobedience and absence without leave
Forfeited 2 days pay for absence from parade
Forfeited 2 days pay for absence from parade and using insulting language to an NCO
Awarded 5 days Field Punishment No.1 for drunkenness
The Company began the operations to connect old underground quarries in Arras in order to accommodate thousands of soldiers for an upcoming battle
British Offensive
Battle of Arras
The Company was employed to rebuild a major road leading to the Front during the battle
The Company moved to Monchy, ten kilometres east of Arras, to work on the fortification of the new front line
Admitted to hospital with defective vision
Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples
Rejoined the Company
The Company was still carrying out the digging of underground premises and defences on the Front near Arras
Granted leave
Rejoined the Company
German Attacks
Spring Offensive
The Company was engaged in the defence of Arras by digging new trenches and dug-outs under constant enemy shellfire
Forfeited 1 day pay for absence from tattoo
Allied Attacks
Hundred Days OffensiveAwarded 14 days Field Punishment No.2 for drunkenness and absence without leave
The Company experienced its newly reconversion in bridge construction
Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples
Classified unfit for service in the field
Embarked for England
Marched in to NZ Depot, Torquay
Cessation of Hostilities
Armistice
The Company continued to build bridges to reconnect a fragmented territory
Demobilization
End of Service in the United KingdomTransfer to New Zealand
Troopship ArawaAnthony Byledbal, “World War I Timeline of William Ernest Harrison“, New Zealand Tunnellers Website, NaN (2009), Accessed: . URL: www.
