On researching Pte. James Hislop (I am using this spelling as it is consistent with official government records) I was able to garner some more information from CEF Study group that helps illuminate not just this serving soldier but also 2 more soldiers. Please note the letter below. Pte. Jame Hislop had named his father... Continue Reading →
War Diary of the 18th Battalion: December 1915
Confidential War Diary Of 18th Canadian Battalion 2nd Division From 1st December to 31st December 1915 Volume 4 Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information 1 4:30 PM Battn. Relieved 19th Battn a VIERSTRAAT- “B” . “D” Coys in trenches and “C” . “A” Coys in battalion reserve – 6 other ranks struck... Continue Reading →
“Brickfields” and Death: The Battle of Fler-Courcelette Page Posted
Read about this major battle that led to casualties equal to or greater than a Canadian Division at that time.Why did 93 men of the 18th Battalion die and why was it not recorded?
Brothers
As I work through the War Diary and do my Soldiers research I have found several stories belying the terrible toll the Great War had on families. Several times there have been brothers serving together such as the Nelson brothers. Today I found the Cash bothers. See their soldier pages here and here for more... Continue Reading →
18th Battalion “D” Company, Western Ontario Regiment Photo
According to the source this picture was taken in May 1919 by A.P. Taylor of Milford, Surrey, U.K. The photo can be viewed in a "composite" view which gives better detail but looses the text outlining the position of each of the soldiers in the photo. This find was related to the soldier page for... Continue Reading →
Photos of the 18th Battalion?
Below are a series of photos I found online at New York Public Library Digital Collection. The caption refers to the unit as the 18th Br(Brigade) but according a post at C.E.F. Study Group this term was really only applicable to C.E.F. Army units serving in France and not to units stationed and training in... Continue Reading →
War Diary of the 18th Battalion: November 1915
Confidential War Diary Of 18th Canadian Battalion 2nd Canadian Division From 1st November To 30th November 1915 Volume 3 Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information 1 Battn in “D” trenches – [Wulverghem] 2 -Ditto- 3 6 pm Bn relieved by 19th Bn – “C” Coy remained at R.E. Farm in reserve – Bn Went to Div.... Continue Reading →
Medical Officer’s Diary of the 18th Battalion: October 1915
Confidential War Diary Of M.O. 18th Infantry Battalion From 1st October To 31st October 1915 Volume No. 4 PlaceDateHourSummary of Events and InformationR.E. Farm E of DRANTURE1 Very quiet. 54321 Pte. G. RUSHMERE [Rushmer] shot himself through left [hand?] while cleaning rifle + L.CPL. O’DYWER shot himself through fore arm. Both cases accidental. 2 LIEUT. F.G. NEWTON in... Continue Reading →
War Diary of the 18th Battalion: October 1915
Confidential War Diary Of 18th Canadian Battalion 2nd Canadian Division From 1st October To 31st October 1915 Volume 2 Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information 1 Battn in “D” trenches – [Wulverghem] 2 -Ditto- 3 6 pm Bn relieved by 19th Bn – “C” Coy remained at R.E.... Continue Reading →
Medical Officer’s Diary of the 18th Battalion: September 1915
Note: This is the Medical Officer's War Diary and offers some many illuminating insights into the life of our Canadian soldiers. Sadly, the war diary has a lot of parts that are illegible and consequently it is very difficult to deduce the writing and the mean there of. Included are the images downloaded from the... Continue Reading →
War Diary of the 18th Battalion: September 1915
Note: the war diaries for this month available online are in two parts. One part is the battalion diary kept by the Paymaster with the rank of Captain. As of the date of this entry his name is unknown as his signature is illegible on the form. The second diary to be posted later is... Continue Reading →
Trench Art
There is a query regarding some trench art that was created or signed by a W. Collier. The description of the trench art is as follows: On the surface of the matchbook trench art is carved the 18th battalions crest and below is W.Collier, on the back side is Ypres 1915, Somme 1916, Loos 1917... Continue Reading →
Starting September 1915
Starting to transcribe the September 1915 diaries. One of the "problems" with doing this work is that there are references to places, people, and other things that I want to research as I am transcribing the documents. For example, I found this interesting history on Canadian field artillery in PDF form. Sadly, it is not... Continue Reading →
George W. Neil Information Request
There is a plaque at a cenotaph in Camlachie, Ontario that bears the name of George W. Neil, 18th BN C.E.F. reports on viewer. My research from the web does not confirm this as the source and several photographs do not mention this solder at the cenotaph in the article and photos. If anyone has a... Continue Reading →
The War Diaries of the 18th Battalion, C.E.F.
What are war diaries? War diaries are the written, day-to-day record of a battalion or other organization that are kept to record the significant events and movements of personnel, individuals, and the unit as a whole. What format are they? The war diaries online are scans of paper sheets of a standardized form. The diaries... Continue Reading →
Feeling Guilty
I started this blog in part because of my daughter. She was doing a Remembrance Day speech with a school mate and I helped them with some of the research about her Great-Grandfather. She did a wonderful job and I was (and still am) proud of her. But after an initial flurry of activity... Continue Reading →
Update
Please be advised that I have not been active on this blog but intend to get more fully engaged in the near future.
War Diary of the 18th Battalion: August 1915
Confidential War Diary of 18th CANADIAN BATTALION – 2nd CANADIAN DIVISION From Aug 1st 1915 to Aug 30th, 1915 Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information West Sandling Camp 1 2 3 4 2nd. Division reviewed by MAJOR GENERAL HUGHES and MR. BONAR LAW. – address to officers in the evening. 5 6 Brigade... Continue Reading →
War Diary of the 18th Battalion: July 1915
Confidential War Diary of 18th CANADIAN BATTALION – 2nd CANADIAN DIVISION From July 1st, 1915 to July 29th, 1915 Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information West Sandling Camp 1 Dominion Day, Half holiday for Sports. 2 Lecture on entrenching by Major Battye. 3 Lieut. C.P. Laing detailed to attend course at Scarborough. R.S.M. White promoted... Continue Reading →
War Diary of the 18th Battalion: June 1915
Confidential War Diary Of 18th Canadian Infantry Battalion From June 1st 1915 To June 30th 1915. Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information West Sandling Camp 1 SERGT. INSTRUCTOR ECCLES attached as Instructor of Gymnasia. 2 CAPT. ROBINSON and LIEUT. D. St.J WIGLE detailed to attend Course at Staff College CAMBERLEY. Routine in Camp, First Post,... Continue Reading →
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 