4/1224 - Lieutenant

John Dudley

HOLMES

Main Body - Section No.3

Timeline


1915

1915

26 September

Enlistment

Wellington 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

1916

20 September

Granted leave

1916

28 October

Rejoined the Company

1916

15 November

Appointed Adjutant

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

22 November

Relinquished appointment of Adjutant

Granted leave

1916

4 December

Rejoined the Company

Reappointed adjutant

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

25 July

Promoted Captain

1917

26 August

Relinquished appointment of Adjutant

1917

19 November

Detached to XVIIth Corps

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

7 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 August

100 Days Offensive

Allied Attacks

1918

7 September

Appointed temporary Officer Commanding of the Company

1918

27 September

From the Front

The Company experienced its newly reconversion in bridge construction

In front of the Havrincourt Bridge

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

15 December

Relinquished appointment of temporary Officer Commanding of the Company

1919

1919

1 January

Granted leave to Paris

1919

12 January

Rejoined the Company

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

18 March

Granted leave

1919

18 September

Marched in to NZ Sling Camp, Bulford

1919

2 October

Transfer to New Zealand

R.M.S. Arawa

1919

14 December

Final discharge

End of Service

Decoration

Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order

For gallantry and devotion to duty during the construction of the bridge over the gap between Hermies and Havrincourt. This bridge was commenced on the evening of the 27th September 1918 under shell fire, which demanded great personal discipline to ensure that the preparations went through without a hitch. By his example he made this possible, and all through the construction of the bridge, which was successfully completed. Showed absolute disregard for personal safety.

Mentioned in Dispatches
Mentioned in Dispatches

For distinguished and gallant services, and devotion to duty, during the period 16 September 1918 to 15 March 1919.

British War Medal
British War Medal

Victory Medal
Victory Medal

Sources and bibliography

  • Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, Online Cenotaph He Toa Taumata Rau: John Dudley HOLMES.
  • London Gazette, 11 July 1919, p. 8836.
  • Ibid., 4 October 1919, p. 12234.
  • Nominal Roll of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 1915. New Zealand Engineers Tunnelling Company, Wellington, Government Printer, 1916, p. 4.

How to cite this page

Anthony BYLEDBAL, “John Dudley HOLMES (4/1224)”, New Zealand Tunnellers, 2024 (2009). Accessed: 28 March 2024. URL: https://www.nztunnellers.com/roll/details.php?id=391