World War ITimeline

1915

1915
17 November

Enlisted at the age of 27

Main Body

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
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

1917
10 December

Granted leave to the United Kingdom

1917
29 December

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
23 February

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1918
27 February

Classified unfit for service in the field on account of debility

Embarked for England

1918
28 February

Marched in to NZ Depot, Torquay

1918
9 March

Classified unfit for active service

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
1 April

Transfer to New Zealand

Troopship Athenic
1918
17 May

Granted sick leave

1918
23 May

Reported to local Defence Office

1918
24 May

Admitted as outpatient to hospital

1918
12 July

End of Service

Demobilization

How to cite this page

Anthony Byledbal, “World War I Timeline of William Thomas Reed“, New Zealand Tunnellers Website, NaN (2009), Accessed: . URL: www.nztunnellers.com/tunnellers/715/wwi-timeline