War Diary of the 18th Battalion: October 1917

CONFIDENTIAL
WAR DIARY
of
18th CANADIAN BATTALION – 2nd CANADIAN DIVISION

From 1st October to 31st October 1917

Volume 26

With appendix A

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
VILLERS-AU-BOIS	1		Battalion in billets at VILLERS CAMP. Company parades and inspection of rifles & equipment. 2 ors admitted to hospital. Mapes of Reference: 36c S.W., 36b S.W., 51b N.W., 51c N.E.
	2		During the night of 2/3^rd 18^th Battalion relieved the 28^th Canadian Bn in reserve on VIMY RIDGE, with Battalion H.Qrs at S.23.a.4.5.
VIMY RIDGE	3		Position as yesterday. “C” Coy, 1 Platoon of “A” Coy and 1 platoon o “B” Coy (335 men) and 5 officers attached to 185 (T) Coy R.E.s[i] on working party repairing trenches and building new dug-outs. “D” Coy furnished carrying parties for carrying material to the front line. 5 ors admitted to hospital.
	4		Working parties and fatigues as yesterday. Nothing unusual occurred. 3 ors returned from hospital.
	5		Battalion furnishes working parties as yesterday. Situation in Reserve quiet. Lieut. D.M. NORTHCOMBE returned from hospital.
	6		Carrying and working parties as yesterday. 3 ors returned from hospital.
VIMY RIDGE	7		Battalion still furnishing working parties. Nothing unusual to report.
	8		During the night of 8/9^th the 18^th Battalion relieved the 19^th Canadian Bn in Front line in the Right Section of CHAUDIERE. “D” Coy holding the Front line with details of A & B in close support. Working party with 185 Coy R.E. not being relieved.
	9		Nothing unusual occurred. Position quiet. Battalion frontage patrolled by our Scouts during night, no enemy encountered. Lt. J. Irons attached to 2^nd Divisional Training Battalion as Instructor.
Villers Camp	10		During night of 10/11^th 18^th Canadian Bn was relieved by the 28^th Bn. Battalion move to VILLERS CAMP by light railway. 9 ors admitted to hospital sick.
	11		Battalion pay parades occupied the whole day. 11 ors rejoined from 4^th T.M. By.[ii]
	12		Bath and clothing parades. Lt. H.L. Mitchell returned from hospital.
Villers Camp	13		Coy parades and inspections. Recreational games during afternoon.
	14		11 ors arrived as reinforcements. 9 ors (casuals) rejoined the Battalion.
	15		4^th Canadian Infantry Brigade moved back t Ourton Area, 18^th Battalion marched to Frevillers, arriving at destination at 4 p.m.
Frevillers	16		Company parades and Platoon Training. Recreational games in afternoon.
	17		Bath parades for Battalion. Capt. W.C. MICHELL proceeded on leave. 7 ors admitted to hospital.
	18/19/20/21/22[iii]		Company parades. Specialized training by Bombers, Lewis Gunners, and Grenadiers. Lieut. J.F. PERKINS arrived as reinforcement. 27 ors arrived as reinforcement. Lieut. W.S. Caldwell and Lieut. W.H. Fenton proceeded on leave.
Frevillers	23		A Coy and kitchen entrained at LIGNY-ST. FLOCHEL to proceed in advance of Battalion and act as detraining party.
	24		Battalion marched to LIGNY-ST. FLOCHEL and entrained for CAESTRE area.
GODEWAERSY EIDT	25		Battalion detrained at GODEWAEKCVELDT and marched to camp at CAESTRE. 2 ors admitted to hospital.
	26		Company parades and Platoon training. Recreational games during the afternoon.
	27		Battalion bath and clothing parades. 5 o.rs returned from hospital.
	28		Battalion pay parade occupied whole of day.
	29		Parades and inspection by Company Commanders.
	30		Parades as yesterday. Recreational games in afternoon.
	31		Company parades and training.

[i] Royal Engineers.

[ii] 4^th Trench Mortar Battery.

[iii] It is unusual to group days together into one diary entry, especially for more than two consecutive days. Sadly the War Diary appendices do not have any supplemental content to indicate the training and activities of the Battalion over these days.