World War ITimeline

1915

1915
15 July

Enlisted at the age of 38

Main Body
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

Promoted Lance Corporal

The Company joined the underground warfare in the North of France

1916
30 June

Admitted to hospital with dental carries

1916
5 July

Rejoined the Company

1916
8 October

Reverted to Sapper for conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline

1916
4 November

Granted leave

1916
14 November

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

1916
11 December

Awarded 20 days Field Punishment No.1 for failing to appear on parade at appointed time

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

1917
2 August

Admitted to hospital with concussion while on leave to the United Kingdom

1917
6 August

Granted sick leave

1917
17 August

Rejoined the Company

1917
22 December

Admitted to hospital with anemia

1918

1918
1 January

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

1918
11 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
8 April

Admitted to hospital with pleurisy

1918
13 April

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1918
14 June

Classified unfit for service in the field

1918
21 June

Embarked for England

1918
23 June

Marched in to NZ Depot, Torquay

1918
4 August

Classified unfit for active service

1918
8 August

Allied Attacks

Hundred Days Offensive
1918
24 August

Transfer to New Zealand

Troopship Ionic
1918
7 October

Granted sick leave

1918
13 October

Reported to local Defence Office

1918
3 November

End of Service

Demobilization

How to cite this page

Anthony Byledbal, “World War I Timeline of Donald McDonald“, New Zealand Tunnellers Website, NaN (2009), Accessed: . URL: www.nztunnellers.com/tunnellers/537/wwi-timeline