War Diary of the 18th Battalion: April 1918

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

From 1st April to 30th April, 1918

Volume 32
With appendices 1 – 16

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
51c SE	1		Maps for Reference 51c NE and SE and 51b SW 18^th Canadian Battalion in support to 21^st Canadian Battalion.
	Night 1/2		During night of 1^st/2^nd 18^th Canadian Battalion relieved 21^st Canadian Bn. in front line at Neuville Vitasse. Disposition on completion of relief being, “C” company in Right Front line at N.13.c.60.80 and D coy left Front line at N.13.a.45.60 B coy in left close support and A coy in right close support. This relief was completed at 4 am without casualties. H.Q. being located at M.18.b.15.50.
	2		Position as shown yesterday. There was no shelters in any of the trenches for the men, so funk holes were dug and improved as opportunities occurred. In answer to S.O.S. on our left flank we opened up a heavy barrage on Enemy front and support lines, which drew retaliation from the enemy. We suffered several casualties. Lieut. G.N. TUCKER being wounded. 3 ors. killed in action. 30 wounded. Owing to erratic shelling by the enemy it was impossible to keep telegraphic communication with each company but this communication was kept up with Brigade H.Q. with the exception of short intervals. Communication to companies was done by Runners working at night but some dangerous trips were made during daylight, part of the way being overland in direct view of the enemy, and over ground continually swept by M.G. fire.
M.18.b.c. and d to N.13.a and c	3		Considerable movement was observed in village (NEUVILLE-St-VAAST) which is just in front of our line, and our artillery were very active, putting several barrages on the village, but one time making two direct hits on enemy parties. A patrol of 6 ors under Lieut. Spencer on returning from a reconnaissance patrol ran into an enemy M.G. which opened fire wounding 2 of the scouts. Patrols covered the whole Battalion frontage during the night. 1 o.r. killed in action, 3 o.r.s wounded. 6 ors arrived as reinforcements.
	4		During night of 3/4^th A coy frontage (Right Support) was heavily shelled and barraged from 1 am to 9.30 am, a considerable number of gas shells being [used] in this shelling. Our artillery retaliated with a barrage of heavies on enemy front and support lines. A patrol penetrated enemy front line and reported trenches unoccupied with the exception of one M.G. LIEUT. R.E. LAWRANCE and 7 ors were wounded during enemy shelling. 2 ors. killed in action
	5		A patrol of 18 men under Lieut. S.G. Stokes and Sgt. V. Burns set out 5 pm to clear out the trench running S.W. through N.19.s.60.85 in order to establish a protection on the flanks of both our front and support lines. They successfully bombed down 150 yds but withdrew a short distance and established a post at N.19.a.70.90. The inflicted many casualties on the enemy all of whom belonged to the 15 R.I.R. which identification was normal. The party carried out this piece of work without casualty. At 9.30 this morning the Enemy attempted to raid the trenches of our right flank Battalion (19^th Canadian Bn.) coming over in 3 waves (about 200) but only succeeding in reaching our wire and suffering very heavy casualties. During afternoon a German was found in a sap leading from post on our fight flank, he was brought into our lines and sent to H.Q. Considerable artillery activity on both sides. 6 ors Killed in Action. 15 ors wounded.
[Relief]	6	3.45 am	During night of 5/6^th Battalion was relieved by the 26^th Canadian Battalion. The relief was delayed owing to the exceptional darkness of the night. The [extra] bandoliers of ammunition carried by each man was turned over to the incoming unit in order to create a greater reserve in the forward area. Our relief being completed Battalion marched to billets at Berles-au-Bois.
	7		Battalion Bath and Pay parades occupying the whole day. A Party of 1 Officer and 50 ors attached to 4^th Brigade as working party in the forward area. 3 ors. admitted to hospital.
	8		Battalion parade for clothing and replacement of shortages or damaged equipment. Inspection of arms and Respirators. 2 ors. admitted to hospital.
Covering Squares M.30 M.31 M.32 M.25 R. 30 and 36	9 {VIMY RIDGE DAY}		Battalion moved off in fighting order to relief 31^st Canadian Battalion in PURPLE LINE System (Brigade Reserve) see map attached. Relief being completed about 8.15 pm. Disposition of companies as per map attached. Bn. H.Q at R.30.a.3.5. Rations were sent up to the men in this line ready cooked and the men were issued with Tommy Cookers in the rear to enable them to heat their meals. 19^th Battalion in Front line. Grenadier Guard on right flank in reserve.
Brigade Reserve	10		Day opened in cleaning, repairing trenches and building fire steps. At night reconnoitering parties reconnoitered assembly area of support position with a view of garrisoning in event of an attack.
	11		Fatigue Parties clearing and repairing trenches. At 6.30 am enemy laid heavy Barrage on our left Bn frontage til 9.30 am when he attacked and was repulsed with heavy casualties. 1 or wounded.
	12		Working parties repairing and improving trenches. Lieuts. W.K. ROONEY and E.L. ADDY and 4 o.r.s. wounded during enemy shelling. 60 o.r. arrived as reinforcements.
	13		Working parties repairing and improving trenches. Lieut. W.H.J. Kreitzer and 50 ors attached to new 2^nd Cdn. M.G. Bn. 2 ors admitted to hospital
	14		Usual working Parties repairing the trenches occupied. Lieut. O.B. Brown and 15 ors arrives as reinforcements. 5 ors returned from hospital.
	15		Working parties as usual repairing trenches, work was commenced on digging new trenches from S.11.a.60.90 to S.11.a.50.95. Situation quiet. 3 ors admitted to hospital.
	16		During night of 16/17^th Battalion was relieved in Purple line (Brigade Reserve) by the 22^nd Canadian Bn. Our relief 18^th Battalion moved to billets in Berles-au-Bois, relief was completed at 9.05 pm. 50 o.r.s. arrived as reinforcements.
Berles-au-Bois	17		Battalion Pay & Bath parades occupied the whole of the day. 2 ors returned from hospital.
N.13.b to M.13.b	18		Company Parades and inspection of arms and Equipment. Cleaning of arms and Lewis guns and equipment during the day.
	19		Company parades and inspections. Respirator drill and training.
	20		During night of 20/21^st 18^th Battalion relieved the 28^th Canadian Battalion in Front line. Battalion moved off from Berles-au-Bois in fighting order at 2.30 pm stopping at Wailly for a hot meal before proceeding to the line. Relief of the 28^th Battalion was completed at 11.45 pm. Disposition being A & B coys in front line with C & D coys in close support. Front line being from N.13.b to M.23.b. Battalion H.Q. being located at M.23.a.50.90. 2 ors returned from hospital.
	21		Position as shown. Considerable aerial activity. Enemy artillery active shelling over whole area.
	22		During night of 21/22 working parties from Battalion cleaning and repairing trenches. Lieut. G.J. Spencer (Scout Officer) Sgt. Manby and 4 scouts reconnoitered entire system of surrounding trenches to check our lines and posts. Our observers discovered what appears to be part of enemy new front line trench at N.19.b.35.85 and several of our scouts lying in shell holes in No Mans Land were able to snipe. Scout Rymal claiming one hun. At 12.30 German sentry was observed at N.19.2.80.20 and Sgt. Manby with 4 scouts set out to secure line but were held up by wire in front of this post. Sgt. Manby therefore shot the Sentry. Germans were observed in the Church at Neuville Vitasse which is being used as an O.P.
	23		Position same. Nothing unusual occurred. Usual aerial activity on both sides. 1 or wounded and 2 ors. admitted to hospital sick.
	24		Working parties during the night wiring and improving trenches in the intermediate line. Patrols covered Battalion frontage with nothing unusual to report. 3 ors wounded.
[Relief] Map Sheet 51b	25		During night of 24/25^th 18^th Battalion was relieved in front line by 21^st Canadian Bn. Relief being completed at 11.30 pm the 18^th Battalion moved back into Support trenches at Telegraph Hill Switch. H.Q. being located at M.15.a. 4.3. A, C and D coys being in front positions with B coy in support. (M.15.b.c.d and M.16.3) 3 ors admitted to hospital.
	26		Nothing unusual during the day. During night working [parties] of 150 ors. repairing and improving trenches. Party of 1 Officers and 50 ors. carried Stokes shells for 4^th T.M. By. For 5 hours. Enemy fired gas shells for 1 hour at night (10.30 to 11.30 pm. Capt. D.A.G. Parsons and Lieut. D.R. Oliver admitted to hospital. Lieut. J.A. MacMillan arrived as reinforcement.
	27		Working parties during the night repairing and improving trenches, wiring and also constructing dugouts. 1 o.r. Killed in Action. 4 o.r.s. wounded.
	28		Working parties during night improving trench system, deepening and widening trenches, building dugouts and wiring positions. Considerable artillery activity on both sides. Frequent barrages being put on enemy front and support lines. 2 ors. admitted to Hospital.
	29		During night of 29/30^th Battalion was relieved in Support by the 26^th Canadian Bn. 18^th Battalion in relief being completed (10.30 pm) moved to billets at Bretencourt (passing via Agny and Wailly) hot tea being served to all on arrival at billets.
	30		Battalion paraded from 8 am to 5 pm for Baths at Bellencourt.