World War ITimeline

1915

1915
11 December

Enlisted at the age of 26

Main Body

Trained

Avondale, Auckland
1915
17 December

Promoted Corporal

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

1918

1918
1 January

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

1918
17 January

Regimental Number changed to 5/900A

1918
8 March

Granted leave

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 March

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1918
1 April

Admitted to hospital with sinusitis

1918
9 May

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1918
13 May

Detached to Segregation Camp, Etaples

1918
19 May

Wounded by enemy aircraft but remained in Segregation Camp

1918
8 June

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1918
18 June

Detached to 3rd NZ Entrenching Battalion

1918
3 August

Rejoined the Company

1918
8 August

Allied Attacks

Hundred Days Offensive
1918
27 September

The Company experienced its newly reconversion in bridge construction

1918
11 November

Cessation of Hostilities

Armistice

The Company continued to build bridges to reconnect a fragmented territory

1918
15 November

Admitted to hospital with asthma

Rejoined the Company

1918
27 December

Discharged

1919

1919
1 January

Embarked for England

1919
2 January

Marched in to NZ Sling Camp, Bulford

1919
1 February

Transfer to New Zealand

Troopship Hororata
1919
14 April

End of Service

Demobilization

How to cite this page

Anthony Byledbal, “World War I Timeline of Gerald Tuearsley Samson“, New Zealand Tunnellers Website, NaN (2009), Accessed: . URL: www.nztunnellers.com/tunnellers/753/wwi-timeline