World War ITimeline

1915

1915
17 August

Enlisted at the age of 21

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
6 March

Admitted to hospital with sprained ankle

1916
16 March

The Company joined the underground warfare in the North of France

1916
17 May

Marched in to NZ Depot, Hornchurch

1916
3 June

Admitted to hospital with venereal disease

1916
15 August

Marched in to NZ Depot, Codford

1916
28 August

Detached on command to No.2 NZ General Hospital, Walton-on-Thames

1916
7 September

Marched in to NZ Depot, Codford

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

1916
21 November

Marched in to NZ Sling Camp, Bulford

1917

1917
3 January

Marched in to NZ Depot, Christchurch

1917
2 March

Embarked for France

1917
4 March

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1917
5 March

Admitted to hospital with venereal disease

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
28 April

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1917
5 May

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

1917
6 May

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
5 January

Granted leave to Paris

1918
12 January

Rejoined the Company

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
23 June

Admitted to hospital with lacerated wound to the scalp

1918
17 July

Embarked for England

Admitted to hospital

1918
8 August

Allied Attacks

Hundred Days Offensive
1918
19 September

Granted leave

1918
20 September

Classified unfit for active service

1918
27 September

The Company experienced its newly reconversion in bridge construction

1918
9 October

Marched in to NZ Depot, Torquay

1918
6 November

Transfer to New Zealand

Troopship Ayrshire
1918
11 November

Cessation of Hostilities

Armistice

The Company continued to build bridges to reconnect a fragmented territory

1918
25 December

Granted sick leave

1919

1919
7 January

Reported to local Defence Office

1919
28 February

End of Service

Demobilization

How to cite this page

Anthony Byledbal, “World War I Timeline of John Noel Leahy“, New Zealand Tunnellers Website, NaN (2009), Accessed: . URL: www.nztunnellers.com/tunnellers/477/wwi-timeline