37472 - Sapper

Cecil John

BEST

3rd Reinforcements

Timeline


1916

1916

2 October

Enlistment

Canterbury Military District

1916

4 October

Initial training

Narrow Neck, Auckland

1916

15 November

Transfer to England

HMNZT 69 - Tahiti

1917

1917

29 January

Marched in to NZ Depot, Boscombe

1917

2 March

Embarked for France

1917

4 March

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1917

9 April

Battle of Arras

British Offensive


From the Front

The Company was employed to rebuild a major road leading to the Front during the battle

Arras-Cambrai Road

1917

5 May

From the Front

The Company moved to Monchy, ten kilometres east of Arras, to work on the fortification of the new front line

The Billets in Monchy

1917

6 May

Joined the Company

1917

25 December

Promoted Lance Corporal

1918

From the Front

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

The Workshop in Arras

1918

17 February

Promoted 2nd Corporal

1918

2 March

Appointed temporary Corporal

1918

5 March

Detached to Bridging School

1918

21 March

Spring Offensive

German Attacks


From the Front

The Company was engaged in the defence of Arras by digging new trenches and dug-outs under constant enemy shellfire

1918

23 March

Rejoined the Company

1918

2 June

Granted leave

1918

20 June

Rejoined the Company

1918

8 August

100 Days Offensive

Allied Attacks

1918

10 September

Admitted to hospital with influenza

Relinquished appointment of temporary Corporal

1918

27 September

From the Front

The Company experienced its newly reconversion in bridge construction

In front of the Havrincourt Bridge

1918

14 October

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1918

22 October

Classified unfit for active service

Embarked for England

1918

23 October

Marched in to NZ Depot, Torquay

1918

11 November

Armistice

Cessation of Hostilities


From the Front

The Company continued to build bridges to reconnect a fragmented territory

Over the Sambre River, Maubeuge

1918

2 December

Transfer to New Zealand

S.S. Maunganui

1919

1919

9 February

Final discharge

End of Service

Decoration

British War Medal
British War Medal

Victory Medal
Victory Medal

Sources and bibliography

  • Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, AABK 18805 W5520 79/0014330, Military Personnel File: Cecil John BEST - 37472.
  • Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, Online Cenotaph He Toa Taumata Rau: Cecil John BEST.
  • Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Wellington, Government Printer, 1914-1919, Volume II, Roll N°45, p. 35.

How to cite this page

Anthony BYLEDBAL, “Cecil John BEST (37472)”, New Zealand Tunnellers, 2024 (2009). Accessed: 29 March 2024. URL: https://www.nztunnellers.com/roll/details.php?id=48