The tunnelling company and the first Kiwi death of the Western Front.

The specialist companies of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force may not have had huge numbers, but their impact was massive.
The Tunnelling Company was made up mainly of miners. They dug subways, cable trenches and dugouts but their most important work was burrowing under enemy trenches to plant explosives.
In 1914 the British began working on warfare below the trenches, but could not compete with their enemy.
So the call went out and men from all over New Zealand (except miners working with coalmines because it was considered an essential industry) began joining up.
Enlistment began in October 1915 and they needed 250 minors and 150 unskilled workers for the first company.
The company worked exclusively on the Western Front and led to the first confirmed Kiwi death on the Front - Sapper Michael Tobin.
Tobin had been born on February 8, 1880, in Pukekohe to Michael and Mary Tobin.
Michael had been working as a miner for the Public Works department - which had huge numbers of workers who undertook most major construction works in the country including roads and power stations.
He had been at Mt Maunganui in the Bay of Plenty when he volunteered to enlist in October 1915.
He left New Zealand on HMNZT Ruapehu two months later.
Records describe him as 5’9 of fair complexion with blue eyes.
In April 1916, his company had landed in France and were sent to an area just north east of Arras. The company blew up a counter mine which let out gas.
The section of ground had to be reopened and the company continued to work despite a number of men having bad colds and some with measles.
A few days later Michael was admitted to hospital and was diagnosed with bronchial pneumonia.
He died a day later. Michael had never married but had seven brothers and sisters.
He was buried at Beauval Communal Cemetery, Somme, France, the only New Zealander interred there.
His name can be seen on the Tauranga Domain Memorial Gate.​