The Christmases of the 18th Battalion

The 18th Battalion’s formation began in the latter part if 1914 after the 1st Canadian Contingent set sail. 3 days after the 1st Canadian Contingent set sail the then Governor General of Canada, H.R.H. The Duke of Connaught, sent a telegram to the Secretary of State for the Colonies and offer by the Dominion of Canada “…to place and maintain in the field a second overseas contingent of twenty thousand men.”

From its nucleus the 18th Battalion was to experience 5 Christmases.

The first one was in 1914 and occurred in London, Ontario. The Women’s Canadian Club of London appears to have organized a Christmas Dinner for the Battalion and below is the Program:

Putting on a dinner for a 1,000 man battalion would have been quite an undertaking and the program is illuminating of the spirit of the community at this time in Canada, particularly in London, Ontario. The toasts, in particularly, are emblematic of the spirit of the times.

The 18th Battalions next Christmases would be much different.

On December 25th, 1915 the Battalion had been in service in Europe since the middle of September of that year and had been blooded in the trenches of Belgium. The Battalion was in the line at VIERSTRAAT.

The War Diary for that day read:

“Battn as of yesterday – Everything very quiet tonight and all day. Very little firing but no liberties were taken by either side.”

Indeed, it was a quiet 24 hours at the front. No 18th Battalion troops were killed that day and during that entire day the Canadian Expeditionary Forces only suffered 9 deaths on that day.

A year later the Battalion had shifted to the CALONNE II sector and the War Diary is even more succinct in its description of that day:

“Position same. LIEUT. P.C. Might admitted to hospital. Enemy seems to have a very much water in his trenches. Patrol reports all quiet.”

Again the 18th Battalion was spared any deaths that day but 26 Canadian soldiers perished that day.

Christmas Day 1917 was a welcome change. After a very active November the Battalion was off the line that day and was able to experience its Yuletide in the relative comfort of a rest area and was able after the 18th of December billet in “…barns and houses around the village [of Febrin-Palvart]. Further, the Battalion had the following “Syllabus of Training for that date:

6.30 a.m.  Reveille.

7.00 a.m.  Sick Parade.

7.30 a.m.  Breakfast.

9.00 to 9.30 a.m.  Physical Training.

Voluntary Communion Service will be held in the school-room at 9.40 a.m.

The War Diary related that day:

“Christmas Day. No training today. A Christmas Dinner of Turkey and Pork was arranged for all men of the the Battalion, and everything was done by the Officers to make the men comfortable for this occasion.

Again the Battalion was saved from the loss of any men that day, but 12 soldiers of the Canadian Expeditionary Forces lost their lives this Christmas day.

December 1918 found the Battalion in the ALLNER area. The war had been over for over a month and the battalion was able to enjoy a more involved Christmas celebration (note:  the diary entry has be set in paragraphs for ease of reading):

“‘A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL’. Christmas  Day dawned bright and clear, with just a touch of snow upon the ground, which gave the vicinity a very “Christmas-like” appearance.

The members of the Battalion were in excellent spirit and thoroughly prepared for anything the day might bring forth. The Officers of the Battalion made every preparation for a fine Christmas Dinner and the men were awaiting it with very keen anticipation. At the appointed hour the tables in the different Company mess-rooms, especially selected for the day, were teeming with good things to eat, and they assuredly presented a most pleasant sight.

“A” Company Mess-room was located in a large hall in the Northern section of the town. “C” Company enjoyed its dinner in a very picturesque theatre in the centre of the town, while “D” Company had theirs in one of the schools the town affords. “B” Company being on duty as Outpost Company, had arranged to  have dinner in one of the schools in the village of Brohl.

Each of the mess-rooms was decorated in a most pleasant and “Christmas-like” style and tended to heighten the then very high spirit of the men. The tables were loaded with Apples, Oranges, Nuts, Ginger-ale, Cakes, etc. and from the serving tables in the rear came the most appetizing odours of Turkey, meats, vegetables, Christmas Plum Pudding and other items to be served as the dinner progressed.

The men took their places at the tables in a very business-like manner, the different platoons being kept together, and then began what was their first Christmas dinner and also, in all probability their last one in German Territory.

Lt.-Col. L.E. Jones and ad Staff Officers and the Officers of the different Companies were in attendance at each of the dinners of the Companies and during the progress of the dinner Lt.-Col. Jones made a very clever littleshort [entered in pencil] speech of good will, wishing the members of the Battalion a “Very  Merry Christmas” and every prosperity for the coming year, which as he remarked would be the one year that would never be forgotten by any one present or by the world in its entirety, being the Anniversary year of the Ending of the War. He again complimented the members of the Battalion upon their share of the conflict and expressed himself as being more than pleased with their conduct in the past and present.

At the close of his address the men express their appreciation of his remarks by rising and giving him three of the most hearty cheers and a “Tiger”.

At the close of the dinner the faces of the men showed, very glowingly, their entire satisfaction. Altogether the occasion was carried off in an excellent manner and it will be one that will never be forgotten by any of the members of this battalion.

2 O.R.s on leave and 3 O.R.s returned.

The 18th Battalion was to serve 3 more months in the European Theater until the boarded trains on March 31s, 1919 for Le Harve for the journey home.