4/1679 - Sapper

Alfred

JAMES

1st Reinforcements

Timeline


1915

1915

8 October

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

1916

24 August

Granted leave

1916

1 September

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

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

27 January

Admitted to hospital with fractured ribs

1918

4 February

Embarked for England

1918

6 February

Admitted to hospital

1918

26 February

Marched in to NZ Depot, Hornchurch

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

22 March

Granted leave

1918

8 April

Marched in to NZ Depot, Codford

1918

4 May

Admitted to hospital with haemoptysis

1918

9 July

Marched in to NZ Depot, Codford

1918

8 August

100 Days Offensive

Allied Attacks

1918

24 August

Classified unfit for active service on account of overage and chronic bronchitis

1918

7 September

Marched in to NZ Depot, Torquay

1918

27 September

From the Front

The Company experienced its newly reconversion in bridge construction

In front of the Havrincourt Bridge

1918

5 November

Transfer to New Zealand

S.S. Ayrshire

1918

6 November

Admitted to hospital at sea

1918

11 November

Armistice

Cessation of Hostilities

1918

21 November

Returned to duty

1918

19 December

Fined 2/4 for clothing issues

1919

1919

21 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 W5541 53/0059734, Military Personnel File: Alfred JAMES - 4/1679.
  • Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, Online Cenotaph He Toa Taumata Rau: Alfred JAMES.
  • Nominal Roll of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 1915. New Zealand Engineers Tunnelling Company, Wellington, Government Printer, 1916, p. 8.

How to cite this page

Anthony BYLEDBAL, “Alfred JAMES (4/1679)”, New Zealand Tunnellers, 2024 (2009). Accessed: 25 April 2024. URL: https://www.nztunnellers.com/roll/details.php?id=412