Tunnel

• THE TUNNELLERS FROM NEW ZEALAND The men who volunteered for the New Zealand Tunnelling Company were mostly miners from towns like Waihi or Reefton – or they were bushmen and labourers. They were rough, tough men, used to working in dangerous situations and looking out for their mates. Many belonged to trade unions and didn’t take kindly to authority, but they soon learned to march, salute, and take orders. In December 1915, after basic military training in Auckland, more than four hundred men left for the Western Front. Several smaller groups of tunnellers followed later as reinforcements. The Tunnelling Company arrived in the northern French town of Arras in the freezing winter of March 1916. Arras had once been beautiful – but by 1916, it was in ruins. Most of the civilians had been evacuated, and British troops occupied the shattered buildings. Every day, German artillery Ɠ red shells into the town. Other tunnelling companies were already based near Arras, and each one was in charge of a certain area. The New Zealanders were sent to replace French tunnellers who were digging beneath a network of trenches named the Labyrinth. It was here – just north of Arras – that the New Zealanders joined the war underground. Trade unions - a group of workers who come together to fight for better working conditions (E.g. cleaner places, better pay, better hours). Waihi - a place in NZ - north island - where they had a big mine. Miners - people who worked in mines Labourers - people who had labour intensive jobs (E.g. builders, carpenters, road workers) Ruins - a building that Civilians - normal people, not soldiers Evacuate - to leave Occupied - stayed in Labyrinth - a type of maze Wesley: Nearly all the men volunteered to invade the Western front. All of the civilians were evacuated before NZ got to the Western front. The NZ tunneling crew arrived at the Northern french town in Arras in the freezing winter of March 1916. They had to dig tunnels underground for their job. They were to dig under the enemy and explode them. NZ tunnelling company Extra resources: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/specialist-units/tunnelling-company https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/tunnellers-mining-road https://ww100.govt.nz/what-new-zealanders-left-behind-in-arras-france Who was the Tunnelling Company? People that dig underground to build or explode the enemy trench. What were their jobs before the war? Bushmen Labours Famers Miner What were the two things they did during WW1? Underground caverns to hide soldiers or equipment To make a small tunnel to put explosives near the enemy After the tunnels weren’t useful anymore, these soldiers also built bridges to help out Allied soldiers. Where were the men mostly from? Find these places on a map of NZ and draw arrows towards them. from towns like Waihi or Reefton