World War ITimeline

1916

26 July

Enlisted at the age of 24

3rd Reinforcements

1916

4 October

Trained

Narrow Neck, Auckland

1916

29 October

Promoted Corporal

1916

15 November

Transfer to England

HMNZT 69 Tahiti

1916

16 November

Two New Zealand Tunnellers working underground during World War I; one man shovels rubble while the other digs into the chalk tunnel wall.

The Company began the operations to connect old underground quarries in Arras in order to accommodate thousands of soldiers for an upcoming battle

1917

29 January

Marched in to NZ Depot, Boscombe

1917

30 January

Reverted to Sapper

1917

9 April

British Offensive

Battle of Arras

Soldiers marching along a road carrying shovels, heading toward a section of the road that requires repair during World War I.

The Company was employed to rebuild a major road leading to the Front during the battle

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 June

Embarked for France

1917

23 June

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1917

5 July

Joined the Company

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

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

8 August

Granted leave to the United Kingdom

Allied Attacks

Hundred Days Offensive

1918

24 August

Rejoined the Company

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

6 December

Detached to the United Kingdom on tour of duty

1918

10 December

Marched in to NZ Depot, Hornchurch

1919

8 January

Promoted Sergeant and appointed 4th Grade Instructor

1919

11 January

Marched in to NZ Depot, Boscombe

1919

17 February

Transferred

NZ Educational Department

How to cite this page

Anthony Byledbal, “World War I Timeline of George Ralph Walsh“, New Zealand Tunnellers Website, NaN (2009), Accessed: . URL: www.nztunnellers.com/tunnellers/881/wwi-timeline