World War ITimeline

1915

1915
21 September

Enlisted at the age of 28

Main Body
1915
11 October

Trained

Avondale, Auckland
1915
18 December

Transfer to England

Steamship Ruapehu

1916

1916
3 February

Marched in to the Company Training Camp, Falmouth

1916
6 March

Admitted to hospital with venereal disease

1916
16 March

The Company joined the underground warfare in the North of France

1916
27 March

Marched in to NZ Depot, Hornchurch

1916
3 June

Embarked for France

1916
6 June

Joined the Company

1916
2 August

Admitted to hospital

1916
20 August

Rejoined the Company

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
17 January

Detached to Mine School

1917
27 January

Rejoined the Company

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

1917
15 May

Detached to Mine School

1917
21 May

Rejoined the Company

1917
3 July

Detached to Mine School

1917
8 July

Rejoined the Company

1917
10 December

Granted leave

1917
28 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
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
7 August

Detached to No.1 NZ Engineers Field Company

1918
8 August

Allied Attacks

Hundred Days Offensive
1918
17 August

Rejoined the Company

1918
27 September

The Company experienced its newly reconversion in bridge construction

1918
5 November

Granted leave to the United Kingdom

1918
11 November

Cessation of Hostilities

Armistice

The Company continued to build bridges to reconnect a fragmented territory

1918
16 December

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 Matthew Butler“, New Zealand Tunnellers Website, NaN (2009), Accessed: . URL: www.nztunnellers.com/tunnellers/91/wwi-timeline