War Diary of the 18th Battalion: March 1918

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

From 1st March to 31st March , 1918

Volume 31
With appendices 1 – 3

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Map Sheet 36c. S.E.	1		Battalion in front line. Right subsection of LENS sector. H.Q. being located at M.30.a.40.85. Enemy artillery active on whole front. 7 ors arrived as reinforcements, 6 ors rejoined from hospital.
	2		Position as yesterday. 6 ors wounded by shrapnel, desultory shelling by enemy over whole area.
	3		During the night of 3/4^th Battalion was relieved in the front lines by the 20^th Canadian Bn. 18^th Canadian Bn. moved back into right support with H.Q. at M.23.c.50.60. See O.O. D191 attached.
	4		Position as shown. Battalion in support. Nothing unusual occurred. Battalion furnished working parties repairing trenches and carrying material to the front line.
	5		Position as yesterday. Nothing unusual to report.
LAWRENCE CAMP	6		18^th Battalion relieved in support during the day by 31^st Canadian Bn. On relief 18^th Battalion moved into Reserve billets at St. LAWRENCE CAMP, CHATEAU de la Haie. See O.O. d. 193.
	7		Battalion pay and clothing parades occupied the whole of the day.
	8		Company parades and inspections of Rifles and equipment. Platoon training by Platoon Officers. Syllabus attached.
	9		Company parades Training in Bayonet Fighting and close order drill. Recreational training in the afternoon.
	10	9 am	Battalion parade for Divine Service, after which the men were dismissed for the day.
	11	12 noon	Battalion moved from Chateau de la Haie to Le Pendu Huts, Bios de Alleux [sic]. 1 or returned from hospital. Lieut. C.J. Jackson to be Acting Captain from 28 January 1918.
LE PENDU	12		Company parades commencing at 9 AM. Physical training and Bayonet fighting. During afternoon Recreational Training arranged by sports officer Capt. W.C. Michell.
	13	9 am	Company parades. Training in Bombing and Lewis Gun instruction. 2 ors returned from hospital. Recreational training in afternoon.
	14	8.30 am to 12:30 am	Company Parades. Instruction on Lewis Gun and Bombing. Respirator drill. Physical training and bayonet fighting. 2 or rejoined from hospital. Recreational training in afternoon.
	15	8.30 am to 12:30 am	Company inspections of rifles and equipment. Summarized training as per syllabus attached. 91 ors arrived from 5^th Canadian Division arrived as reinforcements. 2 ors returned from hospital. Recreational training in football, baseball etc during afternoon.
	16		Parades and training as yesterday. 8 ors arrived as reinforcement. 2 or returned from hospital.
	17	10 am	Battalion Parade for Divine Service. Bathing Parades from 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm. 3 ors returned from hospital.
	18		Company training in Bombing, Lewis Gun, Musketry and wiring. Recreational training in afternoon. 1 or rejoined from hospital.
	19		Battalion pay parades occupied greater part of the day. Recreational training and games during afternoon.
	20		Training and parades as per syllabus attached. 1 or admitted and 1 or returned from hospital.
	21		Parades and training per syllabus attached.
	22		Battalion “Standing to” prepared to move under orders at 3 hours notice.[i] Training carried out as usual. 10 ors arrived as reinforcement.
	23		Battalion still “standing to” but under 1 hour notice, to any place required. 2 ors admitted to hospital.
ROCLINCOURT	24	9.30	Battalion moved by Bus to STEWART CAMP (A.2.7.c.) near ROCLINCOURT. See O.O. No. II 200. 2 ors returned from and 1 or admitted to hospital.
	25		Battalion “standing to” in expectation of Hun attack. Reconnaissance of GREEN LINE and approaches made by Officers and N.C.O.s.
MAPS LENNS II	26	9 pm	600 ors again working on GREEN LINE. Battalion march to BAILLEULVAL, a distance of 14½ miles, the men being billeted in Barns and out houses.
BAILLEULVAL	27		Battalion “standing to”, in Billets. Reconnaissance of roads forward made by Officers. 2 ors admitted to hospital.
	28		Battalion “standing to” all day ready to move at 1 hours notice. Received orders to move and Battalion marched from BAILLEUVAL at 9 pm, and proceeded to AGNY a distance of 13 kilometers, being in support to 3^rd Imperial Division. Each man now carrying 170 rounds of ammunition instead of 120. Transport lines located in BELLACOURT.
NEUVILLE VITASSE Map 51c S.E.	29		No enemy attack developed and the 4^th Canadian Infantry Brigade relieved the 3^rd Imperial Division in the front line, in front of Neuville Vitasse. 18^th Canadian Battalion taking up from Railway cutting to Bauraines – Mecatel Road. Battalion in position by 9.30 pm. 2 ors reported wounded.
	30		Battalion in support. Situation quiet, further adjustment of Companies made as to obtain better command of the ground. 1 o.r. accidentally wounded.
	31		Position same. Enemy artillery active, shelling support and rear country. 1 o.r. killed in action. 2 o.r. wounded. 53631 C.S.M. Williams appointed to temporary commission as Lieut. In 18^th Canadian Bn. Battalion H.Q. moved into an old British trench about 100 yds down the railway cutting.