35644 - Sapper

James

MAIN

3rd Reinforcements

Timeline


1916

1916

22 September

Posted to Tunnelling Corps

From NZ Field Artillery

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
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

4 February

Granted leave

1918

20 February

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

4 May

Transferred

NZ Field Artillery

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 106/0077098, Military Personnel File: James MAIN - 35644.
  • Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, Online Cenotaph He Toa Taumata Rau: James MAIN.
  • 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, “James MAIN (35644)”, New Zealand Tunnellers, 2025 (2009). Accessed: 10 May 2025. URL: https://www.nztunnellers.com/roll/details.php?id=509