World War ITimeline

1915

1915
26 September

Enlisted at the age of 29

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
9 March

Embarked for France

1916
16 March

The Company joined the underground warfare in the North of France

1916
20 September

Granted leave

1916
28 October

Rejoined the Company

1916
15 November

Appointed Adjutant

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

1916
22 November

Granted leave

Relinquished appointment of Adjutant

1916
4 December

Rejoined the Company

Reappointed adjutant

1917

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
25 July

Promoted Captain

1917
26 August

Relinquished appointment of Adjutant

1917
19 November

Detached to XVIIth Corps

1918

1918
1 January

The Company was still carrying out the digging of underground premises and defences on the Front near Arras

1918
7 January

Rejoined the Company

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
8 August

Allied Attacks

Hundred Days Offensive
1918
7 September

Appointed temporary Officer Commanding of the Company

1918
27 September

The Company experienced its newly reconversion in bridge construction

1918
11 November

Cessation of Hostilities

Armistice

The Company continued to build bridges to reconnect a fragmented territory

1918
15 December

Relinquished appointment of temporary Officer Commanding of the Company

1919

1919
1 January

Granted leave to Paris

1919
12 January

Rejoined the Company

1919
22 January

Discharged

1919
29 January

Embarked for England

1919
30 January

Marched in to NZ Depot, Larkhill

1919
15 February

Marched in to NZ Depot, Codford

1919
18 March

Granted leave

1919
18 September

Marched in to NZ Sling Camp, Bulford

1919
2 October

Transfer to New Zealand

Troopship Arawa
1919
14 December

End of Service

Demobilization

How to cite this page

Anthony Byledbal, “World War I Timeline of John Dudley Holmes“, New Zealand Tunnellers Website, NaN (2009), Accessed: . URL: www.nztunnellers.com/tunnellers/391/wwi-timeline