The story of Aotearoa’s Tunnelling Company is one of skill, sacrifice, and silence, a chapter of the First World War that unfolded not on open battlefields, but deep beneath the soil of France.
As the first New Zealand unit to reach the Western Front, the Tunnelling Company brought together miners, labourers, engineers, and public works men whose expertise proved critical in a very different kind of warfare. Their knowledge of rock, soil, and structure allowed them to carve out vast underground networks beneath the city of Arras, creating shelters, supply routes, and strategic passages that protected thousands of Allied troops.
Working in darkness and constant danger, these men faced collapsing tunnels, enemy counter-mining, and the ever-present threat of explosions underground. Their contribution was highly specialised and essential to the war effort, yet it remained largely out of sight, and for decades, out of mind.
Part of the reason their story has remained little known in New Zealand lies in the nature of their work. Unlike infantry units whose actions were visible and often commemorated in traditional narratives, the Tunnellers operated in secrecy and obscurity. Their achievements were hidden by design, buried beneath the very ground they reshaped. As a result, their role has often been overshadowed in public memory by more familiar accounts of trench warfare and frontline combat.
Archival records and family histories are now beginning to reveal the profound psychological toll this underground war took on the men. Working in confined spaces, under constant pressure and fear, left lasting impacts that did not end when they returned home. For some, the trauma continued in silence, culminating in deaths by suicide that were never formally recognised as part of the war’s cost.
This year’s commemoration at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park marks a significant shift in how that legacy is understood. For the first time, the names of Tunnellers who died by suicide after returning to Aotearoa will be read aloud alongside those who fell during the war itself. It is a long-overdue acknowledgment that the effects of war did not end in 1918, and that these men, too, are casualties of that conflict.
Wellington’s connection to Arras has grown stronger over time, symbolised by the Arras Tunnel running beneath the capital. Opened in 2014, the tunnel is both a piece of modern infrastructure and a living memorial, echoing the work carried out a century earlier beneath French soil. The partnership between Wellington and Arras reflects a shared commitment to remembrance, linking two cities through history, sacrifice, and recognition.
Despite these steps forward, gaps remain in the public understanding of the Tunnellers’ story. Many New Zealanders are still unaware of the scale of their contribution or the conditions they endured. Historians and descendants continue to call for more research, greater visibility in education, and wider public engagement to ensure the legacy of the Tunnelling Company is fully acknowledged.
As new names are spoken and new stories uncovered, the hidden war beneath the earth is finally being brought into the light, restoring a place in history for those whose service was as vital as it was unseen.
Where to get help:
- Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason
- Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357
- Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO. This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends
- Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 or text 4202
- Samaritans: 0800 726 666
- Youthline: 0800 376 633 or text 234 or email [email protected]
- What’s Up: 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787. This is free counselling for 5 to 19-year-olds
- Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 or text 832. Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, and English.
- Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254
- Healthline: 0800 611 116
- Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155
- OUTLine: 0800 688 5463
- Aoake te Rā bereaved by suicide service: or call 0800 000 053
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
