CONFIDENTIAL WAR DIARY
WAR DIARY
OF
18th Canadian Battalion – 2nd Canadian Division
from 1st November to 3oth November, 1916
Volume 15
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
| BULLY | 1 | 18th Canadian Battalion in Brigade reserve. Company and platoon drill. Units special training. Extract from D.R.O. 2976 “To be Acting Staff Captain 4th Canadian Inf. Brigade CAPT. D.E.A. RISPIN 18th Can. Bn.” LIEUT. COL. H.L. MILLIGAN taken on the strength of C.T.D. [Canadian Training Depot] and posted to GENERAL LIST from 9-1016. 2 o.r.s. returned from hospital. | |
| DO [ditto] | 2 | Battalion pay and clothing parades. MAJOR C.P. LAING to be HON CAPT and Paymaster the 18th Canadian Bn. from 27-9-16. | |
| DO | 3 | Foot inspection by Company Commanders. Inspection of N.C.O. by G.O.C. 4th Canadian Brigade. Marching order without packs. Inspection of all rifles by Brigade Armourer. LIEUT. A.S. ALLEN M.C. s.o.s. on account of being transferred to R.F.C. | |
| MOVE | 4 | 9 AM | 18th Battalion relieved 20th Battalion in front line. CALONNE II sector. A and C up in front line. B and D coys in support. Companies moved off by platoons at 200 yds interval. Completion of reliefs wire to Battalion H.Q. CODE R.C. 1 o.r. accidentally wounded. 3 o.r. admitted to hospital. |
| FRONTLINE | 5 | Position as yesterday. Nothing unusual. LIEUT. G.S. BROOKS to England sick and s.o.s. from 12-10-16. | |
| FRONTLINE CALLONE II | 6 | Position as yesterday. LIEUT. S.C. KIRKLAND admitted to hospital (sick). 4 o.r.s. sick admitted to hospital. Nothing unusual, all quiet. | |
| DO | 7 | Position as yesterday. Violent trembling of SOUTHERN CRASSIER was felt for 10 sec. at 9 AM. Two patrols under Sgt. DOUGALL noticed an enemy wiring party. He returned and got a Lewis Gun out to the lip of Crater M.4.C.6.6.1/4 and fired upon the party, who were only 30 yds away. Many were heard to cry out, and the Enemy immediately opened up with his M.G.s. British M.G.s from CRASSIER also opened up. 1 o.r. accidentally wounded) to hospital. | |
| DO | 8 | Position as yesterday. Two patrols covered Battalion frontage and reported all quiet. 1 o.r. returned from hospital. | |
| DO | 9 | Position as yesterday. Nothing unusual. CPL. HUNT, sniper, shot 1 Hun. 2 patrols covered battalion frontage and reported all quiet. 1 o.r. admitted to hospital, 1 o.r. returned from hospital. MAJOR G.F. MORRISON proceeded on leave. | |
| 10 | 18th Canadian Battn. relieved by 20th Canadian Bn. in front line. 18th Battalion moved into Brigade support at CALONNE. LIEUT. S.C. KIRKLAND returned from hospital. | ||
| CALONNE | 11 | Battalion in Brigade support. Rifle inspection by Company Commanders. 2 o.r. admitted to hospital. | |
| DO | 12 | Position as yesterday. Routine. 3 o.r. admitted to hospital. | |
| DO | 13 | Position as yesterday. LIEUT. R.G. ELLIOT returned from leave. 3 o.r.s. admitted to hospital. | |
| DO | 14 | Position as yesterday. Routine. 8 o.r.s. previously reported Wounded now reported “Wounded and Missing.” | |
| DO | 15 | Position as yesterday. 3 o.r.s. arrived as reinforcements. | |
| DO | 16 | 18th Battalion relieved 20th Battalion in front line CALONNE II sector. Right Front “B Coy”. Right Support “A Coy”. Left Front “D Coy” Left Support “C” Coy. MAJOR J.A. McINTOSH admitted to hospital. | |
| FRONTLINE | 17 | Position as take up yesterday. Situation quiet. 1 o.r. admitted to hospital. | |
| CALLONE II | 18 | Position as yesterday. Patrol under Sgt. DOUGALL examined crater at M4.C.6.7. They were spotted by the enemy who opened up with Bombs and rifle fire. Four other patrols coved the frontage and examined our wire. Enemy reported quiet. | |
| CALLONE II | 19 | Position same. LIEUT. F.E. BECKEL arrived as reinforcement. 2 o.r. returned from hospital. Enemy very alert near the Crassier. Our patrol was unable to get close owing to numerous flares used by the enemy. The enemy was reported to be very alert on the whole front. | |
| DO | 20 | Position as yesterday. Nothing unusual. 4 o.r.s. admitted to hospital. 1 o.r. returned from hospital. | |
| DO | 21 | Position quiet. Four patrols covered whole frontage and a Protective patrol remained out until dawn. Enemy working party was dispersed by our Lewis guns. 1 o.r. wounded admitted to hospital. | |
| 22 | 18th Can. Bn. relieved by 20 Can. Bn. in Calonne II sector. 18th Battalion moved into Brigade Reserve at BULLY. Enemy very busy repairing wire entanglements. | ||
| BULLY | 23 | Battalion in Brigade Reserve. Company + platoon drill and instruction. MAJ. J.A. McINTOSH returned from hospital. 2 o.r.s. returned from hospital. | |
| DO | 24 | Brigade reserve Routine. 1 o.r. returned from hospital. | |
| BULLY | 25 | Positions same. Instructional parades. 2 o.r.s returned from hospital. | |
| DO | 26 | Battalion pay and clothing parades. 1 o.r. admitted to hospital. 54145 Sgt. C.J. JACKSON posted to commission as Lieut. In 18th Canadian Bn. | |
| Do | 27 | Battalion in Brigade reserve. Routing, instructional parades. MAJOR L.E. JONES proceeded on leave. 1 o.r. admitted to hospital. | |
| 28 | 8.30 am | Battalion moved into Brigade Support in CALONNE. Completion of relay notified by code word “XTRA”. LIEUTs DUPUY and ROWE arrived as reinforcements. | |
| 29 | 11.00 am | 18th Battalion relieved 20th Canadian Bttn. In the MAROC sector. Position of units Right Front A coy. Left front “C” coy. Right support “B” coy. Left support D coy. | |
| 30 | Position as shown yesterday. Patrols covered frontage and reported all quiet. 3 o.r. admitted to hospital. Capt. J.W. [J.W.] BAXTER proceeded on leave. |
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