The Elgin Military Museum at St. Thomas, Ontario works very hard to preserve and recognize the military history of the men and women of Elgin County. One of the efforts was a transcription by Joseph O'Gorman of the Elgin County Book of Remembrance. This document lists those that served and gives short biographical descriptions of... Continue Reading →
A Smashed Revolver: The Actions of Armourer Corporal Kelley Leads to a D.C.M.
4th Brigade, which the 18th Battalion was part of, after an opportunity in early May to clean up, rest, refit, and make up equipment shortages after their last engagement in the front line moved into the Mercatel sector of the line south-west of Arras. Of note was the arrival of two United States Army officers[i]... Continue Reading →
The Mosaic of Life: Bigamy and Fraud in the 18th
Note: Additional information will require amendments to this blog. A member at the 18th Battalion Facebook Group found more information. The Players Private, later Sergeant Alfred Brittle Eliza Brittles, wife of Sergeant Brittle Private Charles Brookman Minnie “Brookman” Clark, wife of Private Brookman and William Clark William Clark, a rigger at a munition plant in... Continue Reading →
Letter Home: “…the poor Germans run like a lot of mice.”
Sergeant William Mowatt was wounded in the foot and this letter describes his experiences during the fighting in the Lens, France sector in August 1917. The Tilbury Times, Thursday 18 October, 1917. Letters From the Front. Mrs. Frank Mowatt (nee Martha Billings) is in receipt of the following letter from Wm. Mowatt, who went overseas... Continue Reading →
Private David Knight Died Because of His Service
Creating the 18th Battalion Facebook Group has paid dividends in many ways. In this specific case a member of the group forwarded an image that officially recognizes the illness of Private David Knight, reg. no. 888057 as being directly related to his service. Private Knight attested to the 186th Battalion on March 7, 1916 and... Continue Reading →
…and only 219 are left of the gallant 18th: A Letter of Condolence
219 OF 18TH LEFT, WRITES PTE. BETTS Stratford Soldier Says Col. Wigle’s Men Are Hard Hit. LETTER IS DATED APRIL 3. Following Battle in Which Three Stratford Men Fell. Stratford, April 22 – A first-had Tribute to the gallantry and sacrifice of the men of the 18th Battalion in their recent glorious but costly achievement... Continue Reading →
A Letter From a Soldier Who Served During the Vimy Attack: Graphic Description of Vimy Ridge
A letter from Lieutenant Stuart Cameron Kirkland published in the Aylmer Express, May 24,1917 and edited for clarity: GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF VIMY RIDGE Some of the Sights Encountered Lieut. Stuart C. Kirkland, who is now in England recovering from a wound in his arm received at the battle of Vimy Ridge, writes the following... Continue Reading →
The Postcards of Private Blue to Miss Ella Mitchell, A Teacher in Paisley
One soldier. One life. The evidence of the war experiences for Private Alexander Edward Blue of the 18th Battalion is greater than most, and less than others. One gets a sense of the man, but how much of that is our projection and perspectives from our perspective influencing our perception of the evidence presented before... Continue Reading →
The Wounds of Private Blue
Private Alexander Edward Blue of Paisley, Ontario joined the 18th Battalion at it's inception. On October 27, 1914 he enlisted and began his journey to war. He would become wounded on June 29, 1916, 612 days into his service with the Canadian Expeditionary Force. His war experience is offered in digital format which allows us... Continue Reading →
We Shall Not Forget to Pray for Him: News reaches home in Paisley, Ontario regarding the condition of Private Blue
On June 29th, 1916 in the Dickenbusch sector of the Belgium front Private A.E. Blue was wounded in the chest by a sniper's bullet. The family was informed by telegraph on July 4th of the nature of his wounds and the service records indicates he was "dangerously ill" on June 30th with that status being... Continue Reading →
He Was a Young Lad Frightened and About To Go “Over the Top”: A Simple Biography of Private A.E. Blue
Private Alexander Edward Bruce in an undated photo. Source: Bruce Remembers. Sometimes the simplest information about a soldier can yield facts and insight into the life of that soldier, and by extension, the lives of his comrades-in-arms. Private Alexander Edward Blue. reg. no. 54004 has information at the Bruce Remembers site which is an absolute... Continue Reading →
German Trench Raid Action on March 13th, 1917
The beginning of February 1917 was a chance for the Battalion to rest and refit. From the 1st to the 11th of February the Battalion billeted in Auchel, France and trained and recreated until it moved with the 4th Brigade forward from Auchel towards Arras and the Vimy Sector of the Front. The Battalion moved... Continue Reading →
March 1917 Casualties
March 1917 involved 1,036 casualties resulting in death. Of those 11 where of the 18th Battalion. Rank Surname Forename Age Date of Death Reg. No. Additional Information Corporal BUCK ARTHUR LAWRENCE 28 24/03/1917 124539 SON OF FREDERICK WILLIAM BUCK AND ELLEN BUCK, OF 6, RICHMOND TERRACE, NORTHGATE, PONTEFRACT, YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND. Private BUCKLEY JOHN... Continue Reading →
Many Socialistic Tendencies
On March 12, 1917 in Wallaceburg, Ontario a 19-year-old man by the name of Herbert Royal Herbert, reg. no. 2334321 joined the Canadian Army. He had a dark complexion with dark hair and eyes. He was a glass worker, a unique trade of calling and perhaps he worked at the Dominion Glass Company factory in... Continue Reading →
British Home Children and Barnardo Boys Who Paid the Ultimate Price
Until quite recently this blog only recognized one British Home Child. Private William Edwin Hunt, reg. no. 54081 was an 18th Battalion “Original” having enlisted in Guelph, Ontario on October 27th, 1914[i]. Sadly the research notes I have do not indicate the source as to how this soldier was discovered but his daughter, Mary Hunt... Continue Reading →
Casualty List: February 1917
Source: Commonwealth War Graves Commission 517 Canadian Army service personnel lost their lives in February 1917 or 18 per day. Rank Surname Forename Date of Death Bn. Country Reg. No. Private BEAVER AUSTIN HENRY 22/02/1917 18th Bn. France 195813 Private JENKINS WESLEY JAMES 22/02/1917 18th Bn. France 802590
Private Skelly Joins the C.E.F. 100 Years Ago
Private Lawrence Russell Skelly, reg. no. 803015 joined the 135th Overseas Battalion in London, Ontario 100 years ago today. He was an 18 year old, 5' 7.5" lad with dark brown hair. Eventually he would transfer overseas and into the 18th Battalion where he would die in combat just over 1 year after his enlistment.... Continue Reading →
The Entomologist
George Johnston Spencer was a well known entomologist based at the University of British Columbia and became Professor Emeritus after his retirement in 1953. His collection of insects, at 600,000 specimens, is the second largest in Western Canada and his work led, in part, the the creation of an entomological museum that now is part... Continue Reading →
Re-examining the Pantall/Symonds File
Re-examining the Pantall/Symonds File This is a post expanding on and correcting a previous post in order to expand on that post and correct some of the initial conclusions made in that post. Summary Private Bernard (possibly Barnard) Pantall of the Royal Canadian Regiment was discharged and re-enlisted using his cousin, George Symonds', identity. He... Continue Reading →
The Harvard Class of ’19 Student: Private David Sidney Laird
Question 10 on the Attestation Paper filled out for each man that enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force asks: Have you ever served in any Military Force? If so, state particulars of former Service. In the majority of cases this question, if answered, involves a recruit’s involvement in either the Canadian Militia or in the... Continue Reading →
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 