4/1573 - Sapper

James Entwistle

OLIVER

1st Reinforcements

Timeline


1915

1915

21 September

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

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

26 November

Granted leave to France

1916

10 December

Rejoined the Company

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

10 June

Forfeited 1 day pay and 2 days pay by Royal Warrant for absence without leave

1917

21 July

Promoted Lance Corporal

1917

24 October

Appointed Acting 2nd Corporal

1917

2 November

Relinquished appointment of Acting 2nd Corporal

1917

20 November

Promoted 2nd Corporal

1917

22 December

Appointed temporary Corporal

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

17 February

Promoted Corporal

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

24 March

Appointed temporary Sergeant

1918

8 July

Promoted Sergeant

1918

16 July

Granted leave to United Kingdom

1918

2 August

Rejoined the Company

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

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

15 February

Marched in to NZ Depot, Codford

1919

23 February

Forfeited 2 days pay by Royal Warrant and reprimanded for absence without leave

1919

14 March

Transfer to New Zealand

R.M.S. Ionic

1919

22 May

Final discharge

End of Service

Decoration

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: James Entwistle OLIVER.
  • Nominal Roll of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 1915. New Zealand Engineers Tunnelling Company, Wellington, Government Printer, 1916, p. 7.

How to cite this page

Anthony BYLEDBAL, “James Entwistle OLIVER (4/1573)”, New Zealand Tunnellers, 2024 (2009). Accessed: 29 March 2024. URL: https://www.nztunnellers.com/roll/details.php?id=649