4/1371 - Sapper

Donald

McDONALD

Main Body - Section No.2

Timeline


1915

1915

15 July

Enlistment

Auckland Military District

1915

11 October

Initial training

Avondale, Auckland

1915

18 December

Transfer to England

S.S. Ruapehu

1916

1916

3 February

Marched in to the Company Training Camp, Falmouth

1916

9 March

Embarked for France

1916

16 March

From the Front

The Company joined the underground warfare in the North of France

Chantecler, Sector of Arras

Promoted Lance Corporal

1916

30 June

Admitted to hospital with dental carries

1916

5 July

Rejoined the Company

1916

8 October

Reverted to Sapper for conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline

1916

4 November

Granted leave

1916

14 November

Rejoined the Company

1916

16 November

From the Front

The Company began the operations to connect old underground quarries in Arras in order to accommodate thousands of soldiers for an upcoming battle

1916

11 December

Awarded 20 days Field Punishment No.1 for failing to appear on parade at appointed time

1917

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

2 August

Admitted to hospital with concussion while on leave to United Kingdom

1917

6 August

Granted sick leave

1917

17 August

Rejoined the Company

1917

22 December

Admitted to hospital with anemia

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

11 January

Rejoined the Company

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

8 April

Admitted to hospital with pleurisy

1918

13 April

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1918

14 June

Classified unfit for service in the field

1918

21 June

Embarked for England

1918

23 June

Marched in to NZ Depot, Torquay

1918

4 August

Classified unfit for active service

1918

8 August

100 Days Offensive

Allied Attacks

1918

24 August

Transfer to New Zealand

R.M.S. Ionic

1918

7 October

Granted sick leave

1918

13 October

Reported to local Defence Office

1918

3 November

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 W5544 60/0072498, Military Personnel File: Donald McDONALD - 4/1371.
  • Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, Online Cenotaph He Toa Taumata Rau: Donald McDONALD.
  • Nominal Roll of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 1915. New Zealand Engineers Tunnelling Company, Wellington, Government Printer, 1916, p. 3.

How to cite this page

Anthony BYLEDBAL, “Donald McDONALD (4/1371)”, New Zealand Tunnellers, 2024 (2009). Accessed: 29 March 2024. URL: https://www.nztunnellers.com/roll/details.php?id=537