Last year I had the pleasure to attend several of these lectures. They were very topical and of value to anyone interested in World War 1 from the Canadian perspective. Full details in the image below.
“He would bear himself like a soldier…” : The Service for Sergeant Swainsbury of Chatham, Ontario
Christ Church, Chatham, Ontario. Source: http://christchurchchatham.ca/ An article written in a local Chatham newspaper relates the service at Christ Church in honour of two local men who were killed in action gives us insight into the attitudes of the citizens through the address of Canon Howard. The date that this event transpired was after the... Continue Reading →
Baseball at Folkestone: “The play throughout was very spirited, and many fine catches were witnessed.”
The ties between Canadians and the sea-side town of Folkestone, England go back to the First World War. A popular image was of a soldier holding a rifle with a bayonet, advancing in front of the Union Jack with the assurance: “Don’t be Alarmed, the Canadians are on guard at Folkestone”. The impression made upon... Continue Reading →
February 1918 Casualties
As with the previous month, the 18th Battalion War Diary relates the Battalion in a sector of low activity. No combat mortal casualties occurred with the 18th Battalion. One former member of the Battalion did perish. Lieutenant Douglas Christie Wright, formerly of the 18th Battalion, was a member of the Royal Flying Corp and was... Continue Reading →
“…if what I have written seems rather callous and brutal…”: A Letter from the Front
“I cannot go into details but of late it has become easy to shoot down in cold blood a Hun with his arms above his head.”[i] It is not clear, without context, where Lt. Samuel Gladstone Stokes’ anger at the enemy has come from. His latter, dated April 18, 1918 has some very strong words.... Continue Reading →
War Diary of the 18th Battalion: February 1918
Confidential War Diary of 18th CANADIAN BATTALION - 2nd CANADIAN DIVISION From 1st February to 28th of February, 1918 Volume 30 With appendices 1 – 6 Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information HILLS CAMP (Neuville St. Vaast) 1 Battalion in Reserve at Hill Camp near Neuville St. Vaast. Company parades and training. Specialist... Continue Reading →
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 