24500 - Sapper

William

BROWN

2nd Reinforcements

Timeline


1916

1916

4 April

Enlistment

Wellington Military District

1916

4 May

Initial training

Narrow Neck, Auckland

1916

11 June

Awarded 5 days confinement to barracks and forfeited 4 days pay for overstaying leave

1916

26 June

Transfer to England

HMNZT 56 - Maunganui

1916

22 August

Marched in to NZ Sling Camp, Bulford

1916

26 August

Awarded 1 day confinement to barracks

1916

2 September

Embarked for France

1916

4 September

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1916

15 November

Joined 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

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
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

28 January

Gassed

Admitted to hospital

1918

19 February

Embarked for England

Admitted to hospital

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

27 May

Classified unfit for active service

1918

13 June

Awarded 7 days confinement to barracks and forfeited 3 days pay for leaving his fatigue party without order

1918

20 June

Admitted to hospital with appendicitis

1918

5 July

Marched in to NZ Sling Camp, Bulford

1918

8 August

100 Days Offensive

Allied Attacks

1918

27 September

From the Front

The Company experienced its newly reconversion in bridge construction

In front of the Havrincourt Bridge

1918

23 October

Marched in to NZ Depot, Torquay

1918

8 November

Transfer to New Zealand

S.S. Tofua

1918

11 November

Armistice

Cessation of Hostilities

1919

1919

19 January

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 W5530 8/0019300, Military Personnel File: William BROWN - 24500.
  • Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, Online Cenotaph He Toa Taumata Rau: William BROWN.
  • Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Wellington, Government Printer, 1914-1919, Volume II, Roll N°34, p. 41.

How to cite this page

Anthony BYLEDBAL, “William BROWN (24500)”, New Zealand Tunnellers, 2024 (2009). Accessed: 29 March 2024. URL: https://www.nztunnellers.com/roll/details.php?id=84