World War ITimeline

1917

22 March

Enlisted at the age of 28

5th Reinforcements

Trained

Narrow Neck, Auckland

1917

26 April

Transfer to England

HMNZT 84 Turakina

1917

5 May

A group of New Zealand Tunnellers posing inside their billet in an underground quarry near the front line; four of them are playing cards while others look on.

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

1917

20 July

Marched in to NZ Depot, Christchurch

1917

6 August

Forfeited 1 day pay by Royal Warrant for absence without leave

1917

12 October

Admitted to hospital with venereal disease

1917

14 November

Marched in to NZ Depot, Boscombe

1917

7 December

Embarked for France

1917

10 December

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1918

1 January

Overview of the sawmill built and operated by the New Zealand Tunnellers, located alongside a railway line, with stacks of timber and workers visible.

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

1918

13 January

Joined the Company

1918

13 March

Admitted to hospital with pyrexia of unknown origin

1918

21 March

German Attacks

Spring Offensive

Two soldiers standing outside the entrance of a shaft in a desolate area of the front line, surrounded by barren ground and war-damaged terrain.

The Company was engaged in the defence of Arras by digging new trenches and dug-outs under constant enemy shellfire

1918

27 March

Embarked for England

1918

1 April

Admitted to hospital

1918

1 June

Granted leave

1918

17 June

Marched in to NZ Depot, Codford

1918

2 July

Marched in to NZ Depot, Christchurch

1918

8 August

Allied Attacks

Hundred Days Offensive

1918

27 September

Officers of the New Zealand Tunnelling Company posing in front of a newly completed military bridge built by their men during World War I.

The Company experienced its newly reconversion in bridge construction

1918

11 November

Cessation of Hostilities

Armistice

Military bridge built by the New Zealand Tunnellers spanning a river in the town of Cambrai; surrounding houses are a mix of intact structures and war-damaged ruins.

The Company continued to build bridges to reconnect a fragmented territory

1918

31 December

Appointed Cook

1919

4 February

Relinquished appointment of Cook

1919

15 February

Marched in to NZ Depot, Codford

1919

14 March

Transfer to New Zealand

Troopship Ionic

1919

9 April

Admitted to hospital at sea

1919

12 April

Returned to duty

1919

22 May

End of Service

Demobilization

How to cite this page

Anthony Byledbal, “World War I Timeline of John Robert Rodgers“, New Zealand Tunnellers Website, NaN (2009), Accessed: . URL: www.nztunnellers.com/tunnellers/732/wwi-timeline