37539 - Sapper

George

ELLIS

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

13 April

Joined the Company

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

14 June

Accidentally injured in performance of his duty

Admitted to hospital with a laceration to the right hand

1917

23 June

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1917

5 July

Rejoined the Company

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

3 January

Admitted to hospital

Rejoined the Company

1918

14 January

Granted leave

1918

29 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

17 June

Admitted to hospital with hernia

1918

8 August

100 Days Offensive

Allied Attacks

1918

21 August

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1918

27 September

From the Front

The Company experienced its newly reconversion in bridge construction

In front of the Havrincourt Bridge

1918

8 November

Rejoined the Company

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
1919

1919

22 January

Discharged

1919

29 January

Embarked for England

1919

30 January

Marched in to NZ Depot, Larkhill

1919

15 February

Marched in to NZ Depot, Codford

1919

5 March

Marched in to NZ Expeditionary Force Headquarters, London

1919

2 April

Final discharge

End of Service Overseas

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 W5537 73/0037736, Military Personnel File: George ELLIS - 37539.
  • Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, Online Cenotaph He Toa Taumata Rau: George ELLIS.
  • Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Wellington, Government Printer, 1914-1919, Volume II, Roll N°45, p. 36.

How to cite this page

Anthony BYLEDBAL, “George ELLIS (37539)”, New Zealand Tunnellers, 2024 (2009). Accessed: 29 March 2024. URL: https://www.nztunnellers.com/roll/details.php?id=244