War Diary of the 18th Battalion: January 1918

Confidential
War Diary
of
18th CANADIAN BATTALION- 2nd CANADIAN DIVISION

From 1st January to 31st of January, 1918

Volume 29
With appendices 1 – 5

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Febvin-Palfart	1	9 am to 10:30	Company parades and inspections. Physical Training until 10:30 when battalion was dismissed for the day. Being New Years Day.
“	2	am	Training as per syllabus attached. A & B coys proceeded to Ranges for musketry in the morning and C & D coys in afternoon. Lt. J.M. Hammond [unknown] proceeded on leave to England.
“	3	9.15 am	Battalion parade in marching order for Route march, returning to Billets about 1.30 pm.
“	4	9 am	Bathing parades occupied the whole of the day. Major J.A. McIntosh proceeds to England for Service Officers Course. Capt. J.S. Bell taking over command of the Battalion. 2 o.r. admitted to hospital.
“	5	8.30	Company parades and Inspection of Arms and Equipment. Training as per Syllabus attached. Capt. C.P. Laing proceeded to A.G.s officer for tour of duty. 4 o.r.s to hospital.
“	6	9 am	Battalion Parade of Divine Service. Inspection of companies by Commanding Officer after which Battalion was dismissed for the day.
“	7	8.30 to 11 am	Training in Bayonet Fighting with platoons in attack. 11.30 Battalion parade in Full marching order for inspection by Commanding Officer.
“	8	8.30	Battalion parade in Heavy marching order for inspection by Divisional Commander. Officers and men were complimented on the clean and smart turn out of the Battalion. Notification of award of M.C. to Capt. G.W.F. HODGINS and R.S.M. GARROD.
“	9		A and C coys proceeded to Ranges for firing practice. A and D coys training as per syllabus attached. 2 o.r. rejoined from hospital.
“	10	8.30 am to 12:30	Training in Assault and Attack. 2 pm to 4 pm Recreational training. 1 o.r. returned from hospital.
“	11		Clothing parades and cleaning kit, owing to wet weather no training was carried out. 2 o.r. rejoined from hospital.
“	12		Battalion parade in Fighting order for inspection by the G.O.C. Canadian Corps. Battalion again being complimented on its smart and efficient turnout. Lieut. J.M. Fisher to England on Special Duty.
“	13	9.30	Battalion Parade for Divine Service after which men were dismissed for the day. 2 o.r.s returned from hospital.
“	14		Company inspections and training in live bomb throwing.
MOVE	15	9.30	Battalion Parade in Full marching order for move the AUCHEL, passing via Nedonchelle [Nédonchel], Ammetts [Ametts], Ferfay and Cauchy le Tour [Cauchy-a-la-Tour], arriving at Auchel about 2 pm. Rain all day.
	16	a.m.	Battalion marched from Auchel to Camblain L’Abbe via Divion, Houdain, Gauching Legal, arriving at Camblain about 3 p.m. Battalion billeted in Huts for one night.
	17		Battalion marched from Camblain L’Abbe into Reserve at HILL CAMP (Neuville-St-Vaast) arriving there about 1 p.m. 6 o.r.s admitted to hospital sick.
	18		18^th Canadian Bn. relieved the 47^th Canadian Bn. in the front line AVION Sector. Disposition being A coy in Left Front. D coy in right front. C coy left support and D company right support. The front line was held by a series of outposts, 34 in number. 16 of these being occupied by Left company and 18 by the right coy. Owing to cloudy and misty weather, the Battalion was able to move along the LENS-ARRAS road to Communication trenches in daylight, completing relief by 7.25 p.m.
	19		Position as shown yesterday. Trenches being a poor condition owing to recent rainstorms and bad weather. Situation quiet. 19 o.r.s attached to 1^st Cdn. Tunnelling Coy. 1 o.r. slightly wounded.
	20		Position as shown. Nothing unusual occurred. 2 o.r.s admitted to hospital sick.
	21		During night of 21/22 intercompany relief was completed, disposition now being “C” coy left front, D coy right front, A coy left support and B coy right support. Relief completed 10.05 pm.
	22		Position as shown yesterday. Situation quiet. 4 o.r.s admitted to hospital sick.
Front Line	23		During night of 23/24 the 18^th Battalion was relieved in front line by the 20^th Battalion. On relief 18^th Bn. took up position in right support. See O.O. 181 [illegible]. 2 o.r.s wounded.
	24/25/26/27/28		During this tour in right support Battalion furnished working parties, improving and cleaning trenches and communication trenches in Battalion Area. See detailed work reports attached. Lieut. D.St.J. Wigle joined Battalion d25-1-18. Lt. Col. L.E. Jones returned from leave 24-1-18.
Night of	28/29		Battalion was relieved in support by the 29^th Cdn. Bn. On relief 18^th Battalion moved into reserve at HILLS CAMP (Neuville St. Vaast). See O.O. 182 attached.
	29		Pay and bath parades occupied the whole of the day. Battalion furnished working party (see work report attached).
HILLS CAMP	30		Bath and clothing parades. Battalion again supplied working party (see work report attached). Lieut. G.G. Brackin admitted to hospital sick.
HILLS CAMP	31		Battalion in reserve. Company inspection of arms and equipment. 2 o.r.s returned from hospital.