World War ITimeline

1917

2 April

Posted at the age of 21

5th Reinforcements

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

26 July

Admitted to hospital with measles

1917

4 August

Marched in to NZ Depot, Christchurch

1917

13 October

Embarked for France

1917

15 October

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1917

22 October

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

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

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

4 October

Granted leave to the United Kingdom

1918

26 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

1919

3 January

Granted leave to the United Kingdom

Admitted to hospital with influenza

1919

1 February

Marched in to NZ Sling Camp, Bulford

1919

2 February

Admitted to hospital with pneumonia

1919

12 March

Granted leave

1919

27 March

Marched in to NZ Depot, Codford

1919

5 April

Transfer to New Zealand

Troopship Rimutaka

1919

27 June

End of Service

Demobilization

How to cite this page

Anthony Byledbal, “World War I Timeline of Rory David Senior“, New Zealand Tunnellers Website, NaN (2009), Accessed: . URL: www.nztunnellers.com/tunnellers/762/wwi-timeline