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| Place | Date | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|
| Arras |
This site is dedicated to the men who served with the New Zealand Engineers Tunnelling Company during the First World War. Between 1915 and 1919 the New Zealand Tunnellers forged a reputation of "big bearers who worked like hell" in the secret and silent war underground on the Arras front.
The New Zealand Tunnelling Company was a special unit of the New Zealand Engineers. Formed in September 1915, this unit specialised in the construction of underground works, especially mining and sapping. These works consisted of digging galleries beneath no man's land to destroy the enemy trenches. They were also involved with the construction of vast underground dugouts used to accommodate the soldiers needed for the Arras offensive.
Most of the Tunnellers were civilian miners and came from the North Island of New Zealand, especially from Auckland and Waihi area, where they specialised in Goldmining. Under the command of Major John Evelyn Duigan NZE, the NZ Tunnellers were the first New Zealanders to arrive on the Western Front at the begining of March 1916.
Discover the history of the NZ Tunnelling Company during the Great War of 1914-18.
Discover more about the 909 NZ Tunnellers through our searchable company roll.
Follow the men of the Company on the Western Front through the Web-documentary.
A register of the NZ Tunnellers who paid the supreme sacrifice during the War.