War Diary of the 18th Battalion: December 1915

Confidential

War Diary

18^th Canadian Battalion 2^nd Division

From 1^st December to 31^st December 1915

Volume 4

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
	1	4:30 PM	Battn. Relieved 19th Battn a VIERSTRAAT- “B” . “D” Coys in trenches and “C” . “A” Coys in battalion reserve – 6 other ranks struck off strength.
	2		Battn. Position same – 4 other ranks struck off strength + 17 others joined the battalion – Lieut J.[F?]. Campbell and Lieut H. Abbot attached for instruction.
	3		In same position – 3 other ranks sent to hospital.
	4		“A”-“C” Coys relieved “B”-“D” Coys in trenches – Major R. Emmerton went to hospital sick also 3 other ranks.
	5	4:30	Battn relieved by 19th Can Bn. 18th Bn in divisional reserve at LA CLYTTE – Major Sale returned from hospital.
	6		LA CLYTTE – Companies practise Smoke Helmet drill. “B”-“D” Coy paid.
	7		Ditto [LA CLYTTE] – “A”-“C” Coys paid – feet inspections by companies.
	8		Ditto [LA CLYTTE] – Training for specialist bombers. Mach [machine] gun [illegible] – 5 other ranks sent to hospital.
	9		Ditto [LA CLYTTE] – Gas helmets inspected and feet inspected.
	10	6 pm	Relieved 19th Battn at VIERSTRAAT. “A”-“C” Coys in Trenches. “B”-“D” Battn reserve – 1 other rank returned from hospital.
	11		Battn in trenches and at VIERSTRAAT – 1 other rank returned from hospital and 6 other ranks admitted to hospital – Position very quiet.
	12		Battn as yesterday. Lieut [illegible] Wigle appointed orderly officer to 4th Cdn. Inf. Bgde. (B.R..O 1570) 2 other ranks admitted to hospital – 10 other ranks returned from hospital.
	13		Battn as yesterday. Everything quiet and no casualties.
	14		“B”-“D” Coys relieved “A”-“C” Coys in trenches. Lieut CD [Kess?] and Lieut KD McKay, Lieut [illegible] Burton joined the battalion. Artillery has been active today on both sides.
	15		Battn as yesterday – 9 other ranks struck off strength – 17 other ranks joined the Battn from 36th Reserve Battn.
	16		Battn relieved by 19th Bn. 18th Bn. Went to Brigade reserve at RIDGEWOOD.
	17		Bn. At RIDGEWOOD. – 6 other ranks admitted to hospital.
	18		Ditto [RIDGEWOOD] – 2 other ranks admitted to hospital. Pte H [illegible] aich proceeded to England on leave. – 7 other ranks sent on woodcutting course.
	19		RIDGEWOOD – A gas attack was attempted this morning on an Imperial Division (49th) on our left flank about YPRES. The battalion ‘stood-to’ from 4 am until 9-30 am. The gas was not thick on our front but sufficient to make the eyes irritable – nothing troubled our front – 4 other ranks returned from hospital – 3 – O.R. admitted to hospital.
	20		RIDGEWOOD – everything quiet – 1 O.R. returned from hospital.
	21		Ditto [RIDGEWOOD] – Major R. Emmerton returned from hospital also 2 – O.R. – 2 O.R. admitted to hospital.
	22		Relieved 19th Bn. At VIERSTRAAT and trenches – 11- O.R. struck off strength having been transferred to England – “A”-“C” Coy in trenches – “B”-“D” in Battn Reserve.
	23		Bttn in trenches at VIERSTRAAT – 2 – O.R. admitted to hospital – 2- O.R. returned from hospital.
	24		Battn as yesterday – Machine Gun section detached for [Bgde?] M.G. Coy – Lieut C. E. Am[illegible: actually Clayton Everett Ambery] appointed new M.G. Officer. 5 –O.R. sent to hospital.
	25		Battn as yesterday – Everything very quiet tonight and all day. Very little firing but no liberties where taken by either side.
	26		“B”-“D” Coys relieved “A”-“C” Coys in trenches – wishes for Xmas and the new Year were received from H.M. the King, H.R.H. The DUKE OF CONNAUGHT and Major General SAM HUGHES – Pte Newlands _ Pte C. McCarthy [E. Carthy] killed in action [Note: confirmed names and details CWGC web site] – 3 – O.R. admitted to hospital.
	27		Battn as yesterday – Pte Storing killed in action – 3 – O.R. sent to hospital.
	28	5 pm	Relieved by 19th Bn – 18th Bn went to divisional reserve at LA CLYTTE. Lieut McKeough attached to 3rd Div. for instruction.
	29		LA CLYTTE – Feet inspection in morning + inspection of kit in afternoon. Officers went to WESTOURTRE to study plan of attack. Shelled in which we lost 2 men.
	30	5 pm	Do [LA CLYTTE] [March] men to WESTOUTRE for practice attack. Returned at 5 pm.
	31		[No entry.]

The Sacrifice

Last Name	First Name	Intitial	Age	KIA	Rank	Service #	Family Information
CARTHY		E	19	26/12/1915	Private	‘54209’	SON OF JOSEPH AND HARRIET CARTHY, OF 7, NELSON AVENUE, KITCHENER, ONTARIO.
GERBIG	JOHN	J	28	20/12/1915	Private	‘53918’	SON OF MR. AND MRS. CONRAD GERBIG, OF 29, BRUBACHER ST., KITCHENER, ONTARIO.
HISLOP		J		29/12/1915	Private	‘54341’
HOLLAND		M		29/12/1915	Private	‘53345’
NEWLANDS		P		26/12/1915	Private	‘53712’	BROTHER OF ANNABELLA NEWLANDS, OF AUCHTERARDER, SCOTLAND.
RUCKER		B A	22	04/12/1915	Private	‘54234’	SON OF 0. C. AND JUANITA M. RUCKER, OF BEDFORD, VIRGINIA, U.S.A.
STORING	WILLIAM WESLEY	W W	21	27/12/1915	Private	‘53394’	SON OF JAMES E. AND ROSABELL STORING, OF PEMBROKE, ONTARIO. NATIVE OF RENFREW CO., ONTARIO.