The year 2015 has been a productive one.
- The database of soldiers found is at 959 records with more to come.
- In rough terms this blog has added and recognized 460 members of the 18th Battalion using Soldiers’ Pages. Each page has information pertaining to that soldier.
- Approximately 100 blog posts relating to the 18th Battalion have been written and posted.
- The combined output of the above work translates to at least 533 discrete pages of information regarding and/or relating to the 18th Battalion.
- 5,568 visits with 13,640 pages views. This is a 224% and 220% increase over 2014.
- More resources and contacts have been made that had added such value and support to the work being done.
- A number of blog posts ideas germinating and sitting on the back-burner that need to get done.
As always, the challenge is being organized and taking the time. I have been neglecting the war diary transcription as two book resources have become a valuable impetuous to adding individual soldiers to the blog. Patrick Dennis, author of “A Canadian Conscript Goes to War – August 1918: Old Myths Re-examined” , brought an indispensable book to my attentions. He was good enough to take time to contact me and direct me to “Duty Nobly Done: The Official History of the Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment” by Sandy Antal and Kevin R. Shakleton. This has been a most valuable resource to this blog and the wealth of information in the book and the end-notes will only help to make this a better blog.
I also cannot thank enough Patrick for his kind support and guidance. A great coffee companion with different interests and focus but with a connection made by having relatives serve in the 18th Battalion. Thanks Patrick so much!
The second book is “Kiss the Kids for dad, don’t forget to write: The Wartime Letters of George Timmins, 1916-18” edited by Y.A. Bennett was acquired as a Christmas gift from my family. They seem to understand the need to keep feeding this passion, this mission. This book will be another means to illuminating the mind’s picture of the wartime experience of the men in the 18th Battalion.
There now is a ever growing list of commitments on my part to help others who have contacted me regarding specific areas of interest regarding the 18th Battalion and you are NOT forgotten!
Looking forward to 2016.
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History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 
Eric, thank you for your kind words. More importantly, congratulations to you on your very successful blog, and on your fascinating and informative tribute to the officers and men of the 18th Battalion. You give new meaning to the phrase ‘we will remember them.’ Sic itur ad astra.