World War ITimeline

1915

1915
27 August

Enlisted at the age of 36

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
28 May

Admitted to hospital with sore throat

1916
7 June

Rejoined the Company

1916
25 September

Admitted to hospital

1916
4 October

Rejoined the Company

Admitted to hospital with pyrexia

1916
18 October

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
27 December

Detached to Mine School

1917

1917
5 January

Rejoined the Company

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
2 May

Detached to Mine School

1917
5 May

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

1917
9 May

Rejoined the Company

1917
28 May

Promoted Lance Corporal

1917
2 October

Granted leave

1917
14 October

Rejoined 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
26 January

Admitted to hospital with pyrexia of unknown origin

1918
22 February

Rejoined the Company

1918
25 February

Promoted 2nd Corporal

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 August

Allied Attacks

Hundred Days Offensive
1918
25 September

Granted leave to the United Kingdom

1918
27 September

The Company experienced its newly reconversion in bridge construction

1918
13 October

Rejoined the Company

1918
11 November

Cessation of Hostilities

Armistice

The Company continued to build bridges to reconnect a fragmented territory

1918
13 November

Admitted to hospital with pyrexia of unknown origin

1918
24 November

Diagnosed with influenza

1918
20 December

Embarked for England

Admitted to hospital

1919

1919
4 January

Marched in to NZ Depot, Hornchurch

1919
14 March

Transfer to New Zealand

Troopship Ionic
1919
22 May

End of Service

Demobilization

How to cite this page

Anthony Byledbal, “World War I Timeline of William Ormiston“, New Zealand Tunnellers Website, NaN (2009), Accessed: . URL: www.nztunnellers.com/tunnellers/652/wwi-timeline