Implementing a basic database has been a huge help in being organized. I have been able to systematize my workflow so that I prevent errors while being able to accurately record soldiers that have been included using Soldiers Pages and those that are waiting to be included into the blog. To date I have 383... Continue Reading →
The Attack and Battle of Vimy Ridge
To my recollection, the first time I learned about Vimy Ridge was when my Mother pointed out to me a page notated by my Uncle William Dewar in Pierre Burton's book Vimy. A notation my Uncle made on a page hi-lighting a mention of the 18th Battalion in regards to Sergeant Ellis Welwood Sifton and... Continue Reading →
Battling Tanks at Iwuy: The last German use of tanks in World War 1
Iwuy is a small commune in France, South East of Vimy and North East of Cambria. On October 11, 1918 the 18th Battalion was involved in an operation where they were able to repulse 3 German tanks. This action has the significance of being possibly the last action in World War 1 were the Germans... Continue Reading →
Status Update on Blog
Having committed to being more systematic in the research and the recording of such I am almost caught up with adding all the soldiers that I have found so far. I have on record 379 of the approximately 2,200 soldiers that served with the 18th Battalion during World War 1. Of those, approximately 85% are... Continue Reading →
The Vixen and the Virgin on CBC Ideas
Listen here... Mati Hari and Edith Cavell where both iconic figures in First World War history. Last night CBC Radio 1 had an interesting documentary about these women and their place in history. Specifically the documentary dealt with the women behind the myth. Strongly recommended...
Courts Martial in the 18th Battalion
Item number Name Regimental Number Rank Unit Date 1545 Jacques, John 53695 Sergeant 18th Bn 1917 4960 Jacques, John 53695 Sergeant 18th Bn 1917 9130 Johnstone, H. 139744 Inconnu 18th Bn Aucun détail 257 Larocque, James L. 928596 Private 18th Bn 1918 3325 Laver, B. 190067 Private 18th Bn 1918 9107 Laver, B. 190067 Private... Continue Reading →
Charley’s War: A site about Charley Bailey and his letters home.
On Twitter a user (@Charlie_WW1) retweeted a tweet of mine, and as habit is, I went to the profile to check it out. I found a treasure trove of historical information regarding a soldier, Charley Bailey, through the transcription of his letters home. Site located here. These sites are a labour of love and should... Continue Reading →
Updates on Blog
The journey continues... The organization taken to create some form of record keeping and organization for the soldiers' information has paid off dividends. I have tried to be more consistent in formatting the pages of the soldiers entered into the blog and have also tried to maintain this consistency with the inclusion of the Attestation... Continue Reading →
New Research Sources from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Please see full article here. The Regimental Rouge web site (one of the best sources for tips and ideas for research) has a comprehensive article about some of the changes to the CWGC site in regards to research resources. It is important to note the following disclaimer from the CWGC: CWGC Disclaimer This collection of... Continue Reading →
New Soldiers Pages as of February 2, 2015
Rowland, Arthur Edwin: Service no. 769139 McGovern, William: Service no. 226609 Campbell, John: Serivice no. 53324 Elliot, Robert Gordon: Lieutenant White, David Thomas: Service no. 53752 McInerney, Charles George: Service no. 657509 Bowen, Vincent: Service no. 53998 Ambrous, Archibald Charles: Service no. 53994 Snowdon, Johnston Lawrence: Service no. 651679 Berry, Ewart Gladstone: Service no. 675676... Continue Reading →
A SOLDIER AND A MAN
GAVE HIS LIFE FOR THE FLAG HE LOVED Pte. Herbert Morgan, Beloved Veteran, Dead in France SERVED EMPIRE FOR 22 YEARS Letter from "Pal" Tells of His Death and Funeral Greater love hath no man for his King and country than Pte. Herbert Morgan, of 23 Cartwright street, who game his live on May 1... Continue Reading →
Tips on Searching for Soldiers Who Did Not Perish in the War
Introduction The relative ease with which one can find basic biographical information regarding a Canadian soldier that was killed or died during World War 1 available because of the many online resources and databases is in sharp contrast to the work required for a soldier who survived the war. The original intent of this blog... Continue Reading →
Anatomy of a Soldier’s Page
Introduction In a recent post updating this blog and its progress Marika Pirie posted a picture on Twitter that initiated this post. Hopefully post will help others in their work to discovering soldiers of the Canadian Expeditionary Forces that they are researching. This post will show step-by-step the process taken to create a Soldier's Page... Continue Reading →
Update on Blog
The blog is progressing well and I am learning a lot along the way. At this time I have approximately 44 soldiers to be added to the Soldiers Pages in the blog where I have done the initial research and now need to go back and redo the research and properly document this in a... Continue Reading →
New Soldier Pages as of January 5, 2015
Ludwig, Aaron Gilbert: Service no. 126835 Atherton, Peter: Service no. 406465 Hatcher, Charles Robert: Service no. 489238 Hatcher, Charles Robert: Service no. 489238 Moore, Edward T.: Service no. 802016 Brown, John: Service no. 54333 Skilton, Lloyd Tom: Service no. 409655 Johnson, Harold Bainbridge: Lieutenant Parker, Arthur Cuthbert: Service no. 675437 Newton, Frank: Service no. 2334334... Continue Reading →
Some Images…
...from the Historic Niagara Digital Collections, Niagara Public Library.
Hoskins, Frederick William: Service no. 524246
One of the great joys of my career is I get to meet many people and a lot of them identify with my passion for history and either have a small idea of the contributions their family members had made in World War 1, or they have a more complete idea as they have had... Continue Reading →
2014 in review
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog. Here's an excerpt: A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 6,100 times in 2014. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 5 trips to carry that many people. Click here to... Continue Reading →
Christmas Cards of The Canadian Expeditionary Forces
Thanks to Wartime Canada for collecting these:
The Christmases of the 18th Battalion
The 18th Battalion's formation began in the latter part if 1914 after the 1st Canadian Contingent set sail. 3 days after the 1st Canadian Contingent set sail the then Governor General of Canada, H.R.H. The Duke of Connaught, sent a telegram to the Secretary of State for the Colonies and offer by the Dominion of... Continue Reading →
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 