1916

1916
29 September

Enlisted at the age of 26

3rd Reinforcements
1916
4 October

Trained

Narrow Neck, Auckland
1916
15 November

Transfer to England

HMNZT 69 Tahiti
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
20 December

Admitted to hospital at sea with laryngitis

1916
31 December

Returned to duty

1917

1917
1 January

Admitted to hospital at sea with tonsillitis

1917
4 January

Returned to duty

1917
29 January

Marched in to NZ Depot, Boscombe

1917
23 February

Forfeited 1 day pay by Royal Warrant for absence without leave

1917
2 March

Embarked for France

1917
4 March

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

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
13 April

Joined the Company

1917
5 May

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

1917
8 December

Admitted to hospital

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
3 January

Admitted to hospital with bronchitis

1918
10 January

Embarked for England

Admitted to hospital with bronchitis and pleurisy

1918
23 February

Granted leave

1918
11 March

Marched in to NZ Depot, Boscombe

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
29 May

Embarked for France

1918
31 May

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1918
5 June

Rejoined the Company

1918
5 August

Admitted to hospital with bronchitis

1918
8 August

Allied Attacks

Hundred Days Offensive
1918
28 August

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1918
3 September

Classified unfit for service in the field

1918
8 September

Embarked for England

1918
10 September

Marched in to NZ Depot, Torquay

1918
20 September

Classified unfit for active service

1918
27 September

The Company experienced its newly reconversion in bridge construction

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
28 December

Granted sick leave

1919

1919
10 January

Reported to local Defence Office

1920

1920
28 April

End of Service

Demobilization

How to cite this page

Anthony Byledbal, “World War I Timeline of Robert Maxwell Robertson“, New Zealand Tunnellers Website, NaN (2009), Accessed: . URL: www.nztunnellers.com/tunnellers/729/wwi-timeline