World War ITimeline

1915

1915
8 October

Enlisted at the age of 37

1st Reinforcements
1915
11 October

Trained

Avondale, Auckland
1915
18 December

Transfer to England

Steamship Ruapehu

1916

1916
3 February

Marched in to the Company Training Camp, Falmouth

1916
9 March

Embarked for France

1916
16 March

The Company joined the underground warfare in the North of France

1916
24 August

Granted leave

1916
1 September

Rejoined the Company

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
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

1918

1918
1 January

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

1918
27 January

Admitted to hospital with fractured ribs

1918
4 February

Embarked for England

1918
6 February

Admitted to hospital

1918
26 February

Marched in to NZ Depot, Hornchurch

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
22 March

Granted leave

1918
8 April

Marched in to NZ Depot, Codford

1918
4 May

Admitted to hospital with haemoptysis

1918
9 July

Marched in to NZ Depot, Codford

1918
8 August

Allied Attacks

Hundred Days Offensive
1918
24 August

Classified unfit for active service on account of overage and chronic bronchitis

1918
7 September

Marched in to NZ Depot, Torquay

1918
27 September

The Company experienced its newly reconversion in bridge construction

1918
6 November

Transfer to New Zealand

Troopship Ayrshire

Admitted to hospital at sea

1918
11 November

Cessation of Hostilities

Armistice

The Company continued to build bridges to reconnect a fragmented territory

1918
21 November

Returned to duty

1918
19 December

Fined 2/4 for clothing issues

1919

1919
21 January

End of Service

Demobilization

How to cite this page

Anthony Byledbal, “World War I Timeline of Alfred James“, New Zealand Tunnellers Website, NaN (2009), Accessed: . URL: www.nztunnellers.com/tunnellers/412/wwi-timeline