World War ITimeline

1917

23 February

Enlisted at the age of 32

5th Reinforcements

1917

22 March

Trained

Narrow Neck, Auckland

1917

26 April

Transfer to England

HMNZT 84 Turakina

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 July

Marched in to NZ Depot, Christchurch

1917

11 August

Embarked for France

1917

14 August

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1917

6 September

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

24 January

Transferred

1st Battalion Otago Regiment

1918

5 April

Killed in action (Somme area)Killed in the performance of his duty

Buried

Englebelmer Communal Cemetery Extension, Englebelmer

Grave reference

I E 18

How to cite this page

Anthony Byledbal, “World War I Timeline of John Polglase“, New Zealand Tunnellers Website, NaN (2009), Accessed: . URL: www.nztunnellers.com/tunnellers/688/wwi-timeline