Enlisted at the age of 32
Main BodyTrained
Avondale, AucklandTransfer to England
Steamship RuapehuMarched in to the Company Training Camp, Falmouth
Embarked for France
The Company joined the underground warfare in the North of France
The Company began the operations to connect old underground quarries in Arras in order to accommodate thousands of soldiers for an upcoming battle
Granted leave
Rejoined the Company
British Offensive
Battle of Arras
The Company was employed to rebuild a major road leading to the Front during the battle
The Company moved to Monchy, ten kilometres east of Arras, to work on the fortification of the new front line
Detached to IIIrd Army Tramway Company
The Company was still carrying out the digging of underground premises and defences on the Front near Arras
Granted leave
Rejoined IIIrd Army Tramway Company
German Attacks
Spring Offensive
The Company was engaged in the defence of Arras by digging new trenches and dug-outs under constant enemy shellfire
Detached as Batman to No.3 Foreway Company
Allied Attacks
Hundred Days OffensiveDetached to Assistant Director of Light Railway Vth Army
The Company experienced its newly reconversion in bridge construction
Rejoined the NZ Engineers Tunnelling Company
Cessation of Hostilities
Armistice
The Company continued to build bridges to reconnect a fragmented territory
Discharged
Embarked for England
Marched in to NZ Depot, Larkhill
Marched in to NZ Depot, Codford
Transfer to New Zealand
Troopship IonicEnd of Service
DemobilizationAnthony Byledbal, “World War I Timeline of Leonard Drake“, New Zealand Tunnellers Website, NaN (2009), Accessed: . URL: www.
