World War ITimeline

1915

1915
4 October

Enlisted at the age of 34

Main Body
1915
11 October

Trained

Avondale, Auckland
1915
13 December

Forfeited 5 days pay for absence from parade

1915
18 December

Transfer to England

Steamship Ruapehu

1916

1916
3 February

Marched in to the Company Training Camp, Falmouth

1916
6 February

Awarded 2 days confinement to barracks for absence from tattoo

1916
9 March

Embarked for France

1916
16 March

The Company joined the underground warfare in the North of France

1916
9 July

Promoted Lance Corporal

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
13 February

Admitted to hospital with fractured ribs

1917
1 March

Embarked for England

Admitted to hospital

1917
30 March

Granted leave

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
14 April

Marched in to NZ Depot, Boscombe

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 June

Reduced to Sapper for knowingly making a false statement in an absentee report

1917
3 July

Embarked for France

1917
5 July

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1917
13 July

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
27 January

Admitted to hospital with gastritis

1918
14 February

Rejoined the Company

1918
17 February

Promoted Lance 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
1 April

Promoted 2nd Corporal

1918
26 June

Promoted Corporal

1918
8 August

Allied Attacks

Hundred Days Offensive
1918
13 August

Granted leave to the United Kingdom

1918
30 August

Rejoined the Company

1918
27 September

The Company experienced its newly reconversion in bridge construction

1918
23 October

Promoted Sergeant

1918
11 November

Cessation of Hostilities

Armistice

The Company continued to build bridges to reconnect a fragmented territory

1918
27 December

Discharged

1919

1919
1 January

Embarked for England

1919
2 January

Marched in to NZ Sling Camp, Bulford

1919
24 January

Severely admonished and forfeited 1 day pay by Royal Warrant for absence without leave

1919
1 February

Transfer to New Zealand

Troopship Hororata
1919
13 April

End of Service

Demobilization

How to cite this page

Anthony Byledbal, “World War I Timeline of James Smith“, New Zealand Tunnellers Website, NaN (2009), Accessed: . URL: www.nztunnellers.com/tunnellers/785/wwi-timeline