4/1518 - Sapper

James

LEITCH

Main Body - Section No.4

Timeline


1915

1915

25 September

Enlistment

Canterbury Military District

1915

11 October

Initial training

Avondale, Auckland

1915

12 December

Forfeited 2 days pay for absence without leave

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

15 August

Gassed

Admitted to hospital

1916

19 August

Embarked for England

1916

20 August

Admitted to hospital

1916

13 September

Marched in to NZ Depot, Codford

1916

6 October

Awarded 4 days confinement to barracks and forfeited 2 days pay by Royal Warrant for absence without leave

1916

10 October

Admitted to hospital with venereal disease

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

Marched in to NZ Depot, Hornchurch

1917

1917

13 January

Marched in to NZ Depot, Christchurch

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

16 April

Appointed Cook

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

6 May

Awarded 14 days confinement to barracks and forfeited 2 days pay by Royal Warrant for absence without leave

1917

20 June

Relinquished appointment of Cook

Embarked for France

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

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

27 September

From the Front

The Company experienced its newly reconversion in bridge construction

In front of the Havrincourt Bridge

1918

24 October

Forfeited 3 days pay for being out of bounds without leave

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

27 December

Discharged

1919

1919

1 January

Embarked for England

1919

2 January

Marched in to NZ Sling Camp, Bulford

1919

1 February

Transfer to New Zealand

S.S. Hororata

1919

13 April

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 11/0067564, Military Personnel File: James LEITCH - 4/1518.
  • Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, Online Cenotaph He Toa Taumata Rau: James LEITCH.
  • Nominal Roll of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 1915. New Zealand Engineers Tunnelling Company, Wellington, Government Printer, 1916, p. 6.

How to cite this page

Anthony BYLEDBAL, “James LEITCH (4/1518)”, New Zealand Tunnellers, 2025 (2009). Accessed: 10 May 2025. URL: https://www.nztunnellers.com/roll/details.php?id=482