War Diary of the 18th Battalion: June 1918

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

From 1st June to 30th June, 1918

Volume 34
With appendices as listed

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Support Line. 4/17.a.30.40 to M.15.c.60.30	1		Maps for reference 51c S.E. 51b N.W 1/20000 51c 1/40000 Battalion in Brigade Support. Left sub-sector, NEUVILLE VITASSE frontage. Situation quiet, with nothing unusual to report. Battalion furnished working parties improving and cleaning trenches in this area. 2 o.r.s admitted to hospital “wounded”.
	2		Position as yesterday. Enemy artillery active on battery positions in vicinity of Bn. H.Q. with all calibres. Working parties again furnished as yesterday. 2 o.r.s admitted to hospital.
	3		Battalion relieved in support by the 26^th Canadian Battalion. Relief completed at 12.20 a.m. 4^th. On relief Battalion moved into Divisional reserve, being billeted at BRETENCOURT (E.26.d) 1 o.r. wounded. Lieuts. J.H. Barkley and M.M. Wilson arrived as reinforcements.
BRETENCOURT R.26.d Map 51.c	4		The second series of four letter codes were taken in throughout at m/n ¾th. Company parades and inspections of Kit, Clothing and Equipment. Pay parades occupied the remaining part of the day.
	5, 6,7, 8, 9		Battalion training as per syllabi attached. Recreational training, games such as Baseball, Football etc. indulged in each afternoon. Lieut. C.S. Woodrow and 12 other ranks arrived as reinforcements 5^th inst. This officer was hit in the head by a fragment of enemy shell which burst near Battalion Orderly Room and was evacuated to hospital on same day. 4 other ranks admitted to hospital sick, on 6^th inst. Lieut. T.V. Milford proceeded on leave to U/K on 6^th and 2 o.r.s returned from hospital same day.
RELIEF Ref. Map 51.b N.W.	9/10		The Battalion relieved the 27^th Canadian Battalion in front line, Right Sub Sections, Divnl. Section. Battalion moved off from BRETENCOURT at 8.30 p.m. in fighting order, taking up positions as follows: “C” and “D” Coys. In Front Line from S.6.a.05560 to S.12.c.75.96, “B” Coy. being in close Support from S.11.b.30.55 to S.5.d.05.60 and “A” Coy. in reserve from S.5.c.23.30 to S.5.a.50.70. Battalion H.Q. located at S.4.a.20.60 in deep dugout recently constructed under Cdn. Engineers supervision. Relief complete at 1.35 a.m. 10^th inst. Two patrols covered the Battalion frontage during the night No. 1 patrol consisting of Sergt. Manby and 13 Bns. Scouts were out from 1.00 a.m. to 3.30 a.m. No. 2 Patrol consisting of 1 N.C.O. and 12 Scouts from “C” and “D” Coys. Were out from 1.00 a.m. to 4.00 a.m. No enemy were seen or encountered by either patrol.
FRONT LINE S.6.a.05.06 to S.12.c.7596	10		“C” Coy. Lewis Gun at S.12.a.58.17 moved to 2.12.a.25.22 to cover dead ground and approaches up the COJEUL RIVER. Conditions & Defences. Trenches on the whole in good condition as regards to depth, width and fire bays. Wire on frontage of two line Coys. in fair condition. Accommodation. Coy. H.Q. in good shelters in sides of sunken roads, and funk holes in trenches in good shape. Our artillery was active during the day on enemy forward area and rear country. Lieut. McRae and four Battn. Scouts made a daylight reconnaissance leaving our lines at S.12.b.29.62 at 4.30 p.m. and proceeded down the bank of the COJUEL RIVER to S.12.b.25.79., Reconnoitering wire in that vicinity, returning to our lines at point of exit at 10.45 p.m. 1 o.r. killed – 1 o.r. wounded. Capt. Jackson and 1 o.r. to hospital.
	10/11	Night	During the night two protecting patrols covered our frontage. Patrol No. 1 of 1 N.C.O. and 14 o.r.s. No. 2 Patrol of 1 N.C.O. and 15 o.r.s. These patrols went out at 10.00 p.m., returning at 3.00 a.m., reporting situation quiet. Working party improving trenches.
	11		Visibility good. Our artillery active throughout the day in enemy forward areas, and on movement in T.2 and T.3 Lieut. A.T. Fergusson and 28 o.r.s arrived as reinforcements. 2 o.r.s sick to hospital.
Night	11/12		Working parties furnished by “A”, “B” & “D” Coys. For deepening trenches in their respective areas, “B” Coy. also supplying a carrying party bringing material up to new Coy. H.Q. dugout in course of construction under C.E. supervision at S.11. b.40.80. “C” Coy. parties improved front line trenches and funk holes and filled gaps in wire at S.2.a.75.20, also cleaning of C.T. in S.6.c. which had been blown in by enemy retaliation to a successful raid carried out by the 15^th Battn. Lancs. Fusiliers on our right.
	12		Situation fairly quiet. Lieut. [G].J. Spencer and four O.R.s made a daylight patrol, leaving our lines at S.6.b.10.25 at 2.00 p.m. and proceeded N.E. up old C.T. to S.6.d.25.88, where they were stopped by a strong block of concertina wire. Appearance of long grass in vicinity showed no signs of enemy patrol movement. About 400 rounds of our 4.5 howitzer ammunition was found in old gun pits in vicinity of S.6.c.65.50. Party returned to our lines at point of exit at 4.30 p.m. and reported no enemy seen. 1 o.r. to hospital, sick.
FRONT LINE S.6.a.05.60 to S.18.c.75.96	Night 12/13		A patrol consisting of Lieuts. MacRae and Stokes and 6 Battn. Scouts, covered by a party of 1 Sergt. And 12 men with Lewis Gun, left our lines at S.12.a.29.62 at 6.30 p.m. and proceeded down the Bank of COJEUL RIVER to approximately S.12.b.42.72, from which point they crawled out in the long grass towards hedge, in an endeavor to location a post which three of the enemy were seen holding after the raid of the morning of the 12^th. Though patrol remained at this point until 10.45 p.m., none of enemy were seen. Patrol returned to our lines at point of exit at 11.30 p.m., reporting enemy machine gun at S.6.b and two in S.12.d. very active. A protective patrol consisting of one officer and 14 O.R.s covered our frontage from S.12.a.15.90 to S.5.b.85.10 between 11.00 p.m. and 2.30 a.m., reporting no enemy seen. Working parties of all Coys. employed during the night improving their trenches. “B” Coy. also supplied a party to carry material to new Coy. H.Q. 96^th Inf. Bde. On our right carried out a raid at 12.00 midnight on enemy’s posts. Gas was projected into NEUVILLE VITASSE at 2.00 a.m., targets being dugouts in sunken road at N.20.a.20.50.
	13		Our artillery very active on enemy forward area and on movement. Considerable aerial activity. 1 O.R. to hospital, sick.
	Night 13/14		Following patrols covered the Battn. frontage during the night: Lieut. MacRae and 3 Battn. Scouts left our line at B.12.a.29.62 at 6.30 p.m. and proceeded down the bank of the COJEUL RIVER to approx. 12.b.46.70. After reconnoitering, they returned to our lines at point of exit at 12 M.N. reporting no enemy seen and some enemy machine gun activity. Lieut. Stokes and 4 Battn. Scouts with a covering party of 1 N.C.O. and 14 men with Lewis Gun, left our lines at S.12.a.29.62 at 9.30 p.m. and proceeded down bank of river to approx. S.12.a.05.72 where covering party was left. They reconnoitered this vicinity but returned owing to enemy machine gun activity, the whole party returning to our lines at point of exit at 12. M.N. reporting no enemy seen. A protective patrol on 1 N.C.O. and 13 men covered our frontage from S.12.a.15.90 to S.5.b.85.10 between 10. p.m. and 1.30 a.m. No enemy seen. All Coys. Worked during night improving trenches and posts. “B” Coy also supply party to work on new Coy. H.Q. Enemy retaliated on our front to our artillery barrage coving raid by 5^th C.I.B.
FRONT LINE S.6.a.05.60 to S.18.c.75.96	14		Our Artillery was active on enemy forward areas and movement. 3 O.R’s admitted to hospital. 2 O.R’s returned from hospital. 1 O.R. Wounded and 1 O.R. Accidently Wounded. Captain G.W.F. Hodgins M.C. (Transport Officers) attached to the 5^th C.I.B. , as Staff Learner.
	Night 14/15		The following patrols covered the Battalion Frontage during the night. Lieut. S.G. Stokes and 3 Bn. Scouts left our lines at S.6.c.15.15 at 6.00 p.m. proceeding up old C.T. to S.6.b.20.90. Patrol returned to point of exit at 9.30 p.m. reporting no enemy seen and took out a Battle Patrol of 15 other ranks with Lewis Gun, patrolling Battalion frontage, returning to our lines at midnight reporting no enemy seen. Lieut. J.N. MacRae and 5 Bn. Scouts left our lines at S.12.c.71.98 at 10.00 p.m. proceeding up Road to Hedge at approx. S.12.b.05.20 to located M.G. This M.G. is not very active. Patrol returned to our lines at 11.30 p.m. reporting no enemy seen. “A” and “B” Coys. supplied working parties to improve trenches in their area.
	15		Our artillery active on enemy forward area and considerable movement in enemy rear Country. Lieut. G.H. Williams proceeded on leave to England. 213203 Arm/Cpl. Kelley, D.A., awarded the D.C.M. for gallantry in attacking enemy post near NEUVILLE-VITASSE in the latter part of May.
	Night 15/16		“A” and “B” Coys. supplied working parties for trench improvements in their areas. Two protective patrols covered the Battalion frontage until Bn. was relieved by the 19^th Canadian Battalion at 12.07 a.m. On relief “Complete” Bn. moved back into Brigade Support, taking over positions vacated by 19^th Cdn. Bn. Companies were reported in position by 2. a.m.
BRIGADE SUPPORT (Bn. Hdqrs at S.2.b.40.10)	16		Bn. in Brigade Support. Disposition as per Disposition State & Sketch attached. Lieut. H.B. Krug arrived as reinforcement.
	17		The following Work Parties were employed last night under 2^nd Cdn. Divnl. Engineers. “A” Coy. party working on trench improvements at M.35.c. “B” Coy. party working on trench improvements in C.T. and S.11.b. “C” Coy. party improving C.T. at M.36.a. “D” Coy. party digging trench at M.35.c. 1 O.R. returned from leave to U/K.
	18		The following Work Parties were supplied last night: “A” Coy. party digging trench in M.35.c and carrying materials to M.35.c.10.40. “B” Coy. party digging trench in S.11.a and working on new Coy. H.Q. at S.11.b.40.80. “C” Coy. party improving trenches in S.35.a and digging tunnels under roads in S.4. “D” Coy. party digging C.T. at M.35.c. At 2.30 a.m. the 32^nd Divn. On our Right put down a false S.O.S. barrage on their front in order to mislead the enemy. At 9.00 p.m. enemy shelling vicinity of “A” Coy. (M.28.c.) with Yellow Cross Gas shells. 1 O.R. admitted to hospital.
	19		The following Work Parties were supplied last night: “A” Coy. party deepening trench in M.29.d and carrying materials for C.E.’s to Divnl. O.P. at M.35.c.10.40. “B” Coy. party digging trench in S.11.b and working on new Coy. H.Q. at S.3.a.00.55. “C” Coy. party digging new C.T. (Lance Ave.) in M.36.a. “D” Coy. party digging trench at M.35.a & c. and tunnels under road at m.34.d.50.40. Enemy shelling S.5.c. & d. and S.11.a & b. with gas shells from 10.30 to 11.00 p.m. 1 O.R. admitted to hospital, 1 O.R. returned from hospital. 9 O.R’s reinforcements.
	20		The following Work Parties were supplied last night: “A” Coy. party carrying material to Divnl. O.P. “B” Coy. party digging trench from S.11.a to S.11.c. At 12:45 a.m. enemy aeroplane dropped six bombs in M.34.a.20.70, no damage being done. At 1.00 a.m. party of the 20^th and 21^st Bns. Under cover of Artillery, T.M. & M.G., barrage, raided enemy positions on 20^th Bn. frontage, inflicting numerous casualties and securing 1 prisoner. At the same time parties from Div. on our right raided enemy posts inflicting casualties and taking prisoners.
	21		The following Work Parties were supplied last night: “A” Coy. party improving trenches in M.35.a and carrying materials to Divnl. O.P. “B” Coy. party digging trench at S.11.b. “C” Coy. party deepening Lancs. Ave. C.T>. “D” Coy. party improving trenches in M.35.a. & c. and tunnels under road at M.34.d. At 1.40 a.m. the 19^th Bn. raided enemy positions in S.12.b. under cover of a barrage. Found the enemy outpost deserted. At night “A” Coy. supplied work party for work on Divnl. O.P. The Bn. was relieved in Brigade Support by the 29^th Cdn. Bn. Relief was complete at 11.00 p.m. On relief the Bn. moved to Divnl. RESERVE and took over billets in WAILLY WOODS R.10.d. 1 O.R. Wounded.
	22		Bn. in Divnl. Reserve in WAILLY WOODS. The day was occupied with bathing at BRETENCOURT baths and Pay parades. Lieut. S.F. Ferguson arrived as reinforcement. Lieut. T.V. Milford admitted to hospital. 1. O.R. to hospital.
	23 24 25 26		Bn. training as per syllabi attached. Afternoon devoted to recreational training, Baseball, Football, Cricket, and other games. On[e] O.R. to hosp. 24^th. Lt-Col. L.E. Jones DSO, proceeded on leave to England. 25^th 2 O.R’s to hosp. 25^th 2 O.R’s retd from hosp. 26^th 3 Officers & 83 O.R’s comprising 4^th Bde. Permanent Work Party, WAILLY, rejoined Bn.
G.H.Q. Reserve LATTRE-ST-QUENTIN J.23, 24, 29 & 30 Map 51.c.	27		Bn. relieved in Div. Reserve by P.P.C.L.I. and moved vial Light Railway to billets in LATTRE-ST-QUENTIN, (G.H.Q. Reserve). See order No. 219 attached, and Brigade Orders. 1 O.R. retd. from leave. Lieut. G.E. Hosford arrived as reinforcement.
	28		Training as per syllabus attached. All billets in town are exceptionally good. The town itself is clean and located in a rich agricultural country.
	29		Training as per syllabus attached. Afternoon devoted to recreational training, games etc. Major C.M.R. Graham assumes command of “D” Coy. from this date.
	30		Bn. attended Brigade Church Parade at J.29.b.5.2 in field near this village. The Hon. N.W. Rowell was present at this service at which Major Kidd M.C. Brigade Chaplain officiated.