World War ITimeline

1916

1916
3 May

Enlisted at the age of 38

2nd Reinforcements
1916
4 May

Trained

Narrow Neck, Auckland
1916
26 June

Transfer to England

HMNZT 56 Maunganui
1916
22 August

Marched in to NZ Sling Camp, Bulford

1916
28 August

Admitted to hospital with hernia

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

1917
6 March

Marched in to NZ Depot, Christchurch

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
16 April

Appointed Cook

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
11 August

Embarked for France

1917
12 August

Relinquished appointment of Cook

1917
14 August

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1917
6 September

Joined the Company

1918

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

Allied Attacks

Hundred Days Offensive
1918
18 September

Granted leave to the United Kingdom

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
7 October

Rejoined the Company

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
8 December

Embarked for England

Marched in to NZ Expeditionary Force Headquarters, London

1918
12 December

Marched in to NZ Depot, Hornchurch

1919

1919
4 January

Promoted Sergeant and appointed temporary Warrant Officer Class I

1919
11 January

Transferred

NZ Educational Department

How to cite this page

Anthony Byledbal, “World War I Timeline of Walter Goodman“, New Zealand Tunnellers Website, NaN (2009), Accessed: . URL: www.nztunnellers.com/tunnellers/317/wwi-timeline