Quote:
Originally Posted by nbroadarrowz
Hi to all,
Does anyone have any evidenced based research that shows that the large size NZE cap badge and curved New Zealand shoulder title with the E on top are in fact specific to the New Zealand Tunnellers?
These badges have been long associated by collectors are NZ tunnellers badges but is there any proof?
Thanks
Barry
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In October, 1915, he enlisted in the New Zealand Tunnelling Corps, as a sapper / engineer, having been a miner in England.
Most of the tunnellers were quarrymen, gold miners from Waihi and Karangahake, or labourers from the Railways and Public Works departments. Others were coal miners from the West Coast of the South Island, but these workers were generally discouraged from enlisting due to the essential nature of their industry. After initial training in Avondale camp, the NZ Tunnelling Company embarked at Auckland on 18 December 1915 on the New Zealand Shipping Company refrigerated cargo vessel SS Ruapehu. The ship sailed across the Pacific via Cape Horn. After a voyage of two months, with a brief stopover in Dakar, they arrived in Plymouth on 18 February 1916. John Wright had been promoted to Lance Corporal in November 1915.
2nd photo is labelled NZ Tunnelers