War Diary of the 18th Battalion: January 1916

Confidential
War Diary
of
18th Canadian Battalion

2nd Canadian Division from 1st January to 31st January 1916:

Volume 5
With appendices 1-2

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
LA CLYTTE	Jan. 1		Battalion in LA CLYTTE in Divisional Reserve – “B” and D Companies were paid other Companies conducted training in specialists. Officers met together for dinners for the first time since coming over.
	2		LA CLYTTE – Company training and inspection of feet and equipment – 2 Other ranks sent to hospital.
	3		Do. [LA CLYTTE] Battalion left for trenches at 4.30 p.m. “A” and “C” Coys in trenches and remainder in battalion reserve at VIERSTRAAT. 1 O.R. arrived as reinforcement. Pte. Tepper went on special leave. 5 men admitted to hospital
	4		Battalion in trenches as yesterday. 2 O.R. admitted to Hospital and 1 returned.
	5		– Ditto – [Battalion in trenches as yesterday.] 2 O.R. [admitted to Hospital and 1 returned.]
	6		“B” and “D” Coys relieved “A” and “C” Coys in trenches. We went to Brigade Reserve at RIDGEWOOD. 6 O.R. admitted to hospital and 2 O.R. returned.
	7		Position of battalion as yesterday. Nothing unusual occurred today.
	8		Position of battalion as yesterday. 2 O.R. Admitted to hospital.
	9		Battalion relieved by 19^th Canadian Battn in trenches. We went to Brigade reserve at RIDGEWOOD. 6 O.R. admitted to hospital and 2 O.R. Returned.
	10		Battalion in Brigade Reserve. 1 man returned from Hospital.
	11		-Ditto- [Battalion in Brigade Reserve.] Major EMMERTON and 2 O.R. admitted to hospital.
	12		-Ditto- [Battalion in Brigade Reserve.] 5 O.R. struck off strength. (Part LL Orders #2) 20 O.R. arrived as reinforcements and 6 O.R. returned fro hospital.
	13		-Ditto- [Battalion in Brigade Reserve.] 1 O.R. to hospital.
RIDGEWOOD	14		Battalion in Brigade Reserve at RIDGEWOOD. 1 O.R. admitted to hospital and 1 O.R. Returned.
VIERSTRAAT	15		Battalion relieved by the 19^th Canadian Battn in trenches. A & C Coys in trenches B & D Coy in battalion reserve. 4 O.R. admitted to hospital.
	16		Battalion as yesterday – Everything very quiet – Lt. Ambery [i] promoted to Capt to date Oct. 15^th.
	17		-Do- [Battalion as yesterday] Major Sale was badly hit about 9.30 p.m. by enemy rifle grenade, he died about midnight – 4 O.R. admitted to hospital. Major Milligan and 7 O.R. went on leave.
	18		B & D Coy relieved A & C Coys in trenches. 8 O.R. returned from hospital 2 Other Ranks taken off strength as munition workers.
	19		Battalion as yesterday. Major SALE was buried to-day in BEILLEUL [BAILLEUL]. G.O.C Army Corp and G.O.C. 4^th Brigade attended service, plus O.C. 18^th Battn and Company officers.
	20		-Do- [Battalion as yesterday.] Nothing to reports to-day. 2 O.R. returned from Hospital.
	21		Battalion relieved by 19^th Can Bn. 18^th Ban in Divisional reserve at LA CLYTTE. 8 men killed in action and 6 men struck of strength [rest of entry unintelligible]
	22		Battalion at LA CLYTTE. Companies to-day parade [unintelligible] baths and clothing.
	23		-Do- [Battalion at LA CLYTTE.] Companies parade for clothing and foot inspection. 8 O.R. Rcvd from hospital.
	24		Battn in Divisional Reserve. Coys practice in specialist work and go over Scheme to be adapted tomorrow. Seven O.R. went on leave – 4 O.R. ret’d from hospital. [see image at end of blog re. scheme.]
	25		Battn march WESTOURTE for tactical scheme as per attached orders by O.C. 18^th Can Bn
	26		Battn in Divisional Reserve. Major Emmerton returned from hospital. Major Milligan returned from leave.
	27		-Do-[ Battn in Divisional Reserve.] 2 O.R. admitted to hospital. T 4.30 pm Battn relieved 19^th Bn in trenches. ‘A’ and ‘C’ Coys in trenches – ‘B’ and ‘D’ in battn reserve. 2 men admitted to hospital.
	28		Battn in Trenches as yesterday. Everything was quiet and nothing unusual.
	29		Battn in Trenches as yesterday. Pte. HENSON killed. Pte. McMENEMY wounded.
	30		“B” + “D” Coy relieved. “A” + “C” coy in trenches. [intelligible] INNES wounded. Major NELSON left for leave.
	31		Battn as yesterday. Pte ATHERTON wounded on fatigue. Scouts BROADWELL, REEVES reported missing – lost on patrol.

[i] Uncertain as to which Ambery is being refered to as both are listed as Lieutenants in the 1915 version of nominal roll.

ambery

The Butcher’s Bill

BROADWELL	EMERALD BRITTAN	21	30/01/1916	Private	Belgium	‘53892’	SON OF AMOS AND ELIZABETH S. BROADWELL, OF PINCHER CREEK, ALBERTA.
HART	ANSELL ARTHUR	19	09/01/1916	Private	France	‘412755’	SON OF WILLIAM AND SARAH HART, OF COLWALL, MALVERN, ENGLAND.
HENSON			30/01/1916	Private	Belgium	‘54139’
REEVES			30/01/1916	Private	Belgium	‘53847’
SALE	CHARLES EDWARD	38	17/01/1916	Major	France		SON OF EDWARD KNIGHT SALE, OF LONDON, ONTARIO; HUSBAND OF KATE HUGHES CAMPAIGNE (FORMERLY SALE), OF ST. GEORGE’S CRESCENT, GODERICH, ONTARIO.