These letters (transcribed in full below) are interesting as they represent the perspectives of two of the major demographic groups that enlisted in the 2nd Canadian Contingent in the latter part of 1914 with the 18th Battalion: British and Canadian born soldiers writing their first letters from England after their transit to prepare to fight... Continue Reading →
“A proper exciting time…”
This is the first of a 4-part series of the analysis of articles relating to Private Frederick Hodson, who served with the 18th Battalion. 476 days had passed since the enlistment of Private Hodson and the publishing of his letter in the Rushden Echo. Frederick Hodson, a shoemaker from Galt, Ontario, had joined the 18th... Continue Reading →
War Diary of the 18th Battalion: February 1919
Confidential War Diary of 18th CANADIAN BATTALION – 2nd CANADIAN DIVISION From 1st February 1 1919 to 28th February 1919 Volume 42 With appendices 1 – 28 Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information Fosses I.35.75 1 Map for Reference: Namur 8 1/100,000 Battalion training as per Appendix No. 1 attached. In accordance with... Continue Reading →
“He was a Canadian to the fingertips…”
Private William J. Bartlett was a wizened 35-years old when the letter transcribed below was published. He was a journalist by profession and the object of his letter was 13-years his junior. The former survived the war, the latter did not. “HE DID HIS BIT”[i] [BY W.J. BARTLETT.] Pte. W.J. Bartlett of the 18th Battalion,... Continue Reading →
Going Overseas…
A letter[i] written by Private David Aikin reg. no. 880497, of the 186th Overseas Battalion[ii], gives wonderful insight into the process involved for soldiers of the reinforcing battalions of the C.E.F. being transported from Canada to England. The letter shares the travels of a soldier from Canada to England at the start of 1917. The... Continue Reading →
The Last Meeting
On October 10, 1975, a full 61 years since the beginning of the Great War, a group of men ranging in age from 84 to 81 years old met in London, Ontario. These eight men, all of the veterans and members of the 18th Battalion were meeting the last time as members of the 18th... Continue Reading →
The War Keeps Up Its Everlasting Grind…
Above: Photos of St. Elois Craters. Captain Frederick Gilbert Newton, late of Windsor, Ontario, was an accountant that had been employed by the Canadian Bank of Commerce, now the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, may not have known that his employer would publish his letter in a pamphlet[i] for its employees and customers of the... Continue Reading →
War Diary of the 18th Battalion: January 1919
Confidential War Diary of 18th CANADIAN BATTALION – 2nd CANADIAN DIVISION From 1st January 1919 to 31st January 1919 Volume 41 With appendices 1 – 30 Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information ALLNER 6-G.90.90 Germany 8-L 1 “New Year’s Day”---- A Most Prosperous New Year to Everyone. The Battalion continued training as per... Continue Reading →
A Letter Between Comrades-in-Arms
Those who have not served will never experience that bond developed by soldiers in a military unit, especially one involved in active combat operations. A letter has come to light that offers a glimpse at this bond and gives illuminating insight into the maw that was Passchendaele. Thanks to Michael Ritchie[i] the experiences of the... Continue Reading →
War Diary of the 18th Battalion: December 1918
Confidential War Diary of 18th CANADIAN BATTALION – 2nd CANADIAN DIVISION From 1st December, 1918 to 31st December, 1918 Volume 40 With appendices 1 – 30 Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information Maps for reference: Marche 9, Germany 1 M, 1 L, 2 L. 1/160,000 attached. Appendix No. 27. 28.... Continue Reading →
“This Colassal Struggle”
William Henry Fenton was relatively “old” soldier of 32-years when he wrote his uncle, Joseph M. White, in February 1916. His uncle forwarded a copy of the letter to the Walkerton Telescope and they felt that some war news from the front would be of interest to its readers. When it is paired with the... Continue Reading →
Pte. Thomas Neill and Hill 70
Used with permission of Iris Russak (www.irisrussak.com) and The Kingston Association of Musuem Art Galleries + Historic Sites Blog. The original article is here (Broken Link). Thomas Neill had joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force along with his brother James in March 1916, when he enlisted with the 111th South Waterloo Battalion. They had completed basic... Continue Reading →
Fritz mush have got his eyes on us…
The letter below is a wonderful example of the process Canadian Expeditionary Force soldiers experienced during the Great War when they were transferred from their training bases in England to active duty with a combat unit on the Continent. Private Frank Allan Westlake had enlisted with the 161st Huron Battalion on January 10, 1916 and... Continue Reading →
Private Charles Bigler, A Dane in the Service of Canada
It was a Friday, the end of the work week perhaps for Charles Bigler when he went to the local recruitment centre in Sarnia and enlisted. He was not the typical man of the 2nd Contingent to enlist. He was not British or Canadian born and he was 12-years older than the average age of... Continue Reading →
Tragically, He Got His Wish…
Edgar Berwick of Kitchener, Ontario was very much the Englishman. A product of his times he emigrated to Canada and worked for the Arthur Pequegnat Clock Factory when war was declared. He enlisted in Galt, Ontario as member of the 18th Battalion listing his trade or calling as a mechanic. He served with a spotless... Continue Reading →
War Diary of the 18th Battalion: November 1918
ConfidentialWar Diaryof18th CANADIAN BATTALION – 2nd CANADIAN DIVISION From 1st November, 1918 to 30th November, 1918 Volume 39With appendices 1 – 26 PlaceDateHourSummary of Events and InformationANICHE G.6.a.7.3 1 Map for reference: 51.A 1/40,000 VALENCIENNES 12 and NAMUR 8 1/100,000, & MARCHES 9 attached. Appendix No. 24, 25, and 26. Battalion Training as per... Continue Reading →
A Stunt?: Lieutenant Eastwood’s Military Cross
Lieutenant Vincent McCarter Eastwood was a young University of Toronto student aged 19 years and 3 months when he enlisted with the 93rd Battalion at Peterborough, Ontario. His uncle, a medical doctor, signed his attestation papers certifying his medical fitness for duty with the Canadian Expeditionary Forces. His father, Vincent Senior, was the Royal Bank... Continue Reading →
New Page at the Blog
A new page has been created at the blog. The page (highlighted in yellow) will be have links to all the monthly war diary transcriptions from April 1914 to March 1919. If they don't exist the transcription is not complete and will come due on the 100th anniversary of the month being transcribed.
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 