An inquiry was posted regarding some trench art that was created by a "W. Collier". The inquiry was asking for assistance in finding the family of the soldier that created the trench art. This trench art is very unique. It was created by a W. Collier and has the 18th Battalion crest on it. Trench... Continue Reading →
Mitigating the Ennui of Trench Life
Romance from the trenches. Below is a story relating to one unknown member of the 18th Battalion who, with his first Christmas in the trenches in 1915, used a unique method to assuage and address his boredom and loneliness. This is related by Lieutenant Harry Anderson Secord during an interview for the CBC Radio broadcast... Continue Reading →
He has been supplied with satisfactory peg and artificial leg.
Private Arthur Wilfred Hardcastle of Chatham, Ontario, lost part of his right leg on August 28, 1918 at an action at the Sensee River. The Battalion was located on the Sensee River Line and was involved in an attack on this date. This was a particularly hard day for the 18th Battalion as the War... Continue Reading →
A Painful Duty
Form letter informing Mrs. W. Maberley that one of her sons has died. A full transcription of this letter at the end of this entry. Some time shortly after April 7th, 1917 Mrs. W. Maberley, the mother of Private Henry Kiddle, reg. no 745109, was informed of his death from pneumonia on April 2nd, 1917.... Continue Reading →
3 Boys From Blenheim
3 boys of Blenheim, Ontario, did not come home. All of them served with the 18th Battalion and one of the other connections they share is the display of their original grave markers at the Blenheim and District Freedom Library and Museum. This discovery all began with entering the data for Private James Peter Pegg,... Continue Reading →
The Elliott Brothers of Cape Croker
The Elliott brothers came for Cape Croker, in the Bruce Peninsula, and if one looks at their service records it may show the concern of an older brother over that of the younger. Daniel and Joseph Elliott joined the 160th Battalion in Cape Croker. This village was approximately 90 kilometers from the headquarters in Walkerton,... Continue Reading →
News Story Puts Light on the Carthy Brothers
Pte. Eric Carthy would be the first brother to perish on December 26, 1915. Pte. Percy Carthy survived his brother only to be killed at the Somme on September 15, 1916. A recent news article by Jeff Outhit hi-lights two brothers who served with the 18th Battalion. A strongly recommended read. "'To Avenge his death.'... Continue Reading →
Being a Mason Brings Biographical Pay Dirt
On researching Private Maurice Arthur Searle his involvement as a Mason helped land some quality biographical information. Often when researching the soldiers of the 18th Battalion they are lost to history. Sometimes this is not the case. This is one of those times. Private Searle survived the war and became involved in Freemasonry. He became... Continue Reading →
“Come and kiss me, mother,” she heard Morris say…
The sad story of the Searle brothers is brought into sharp relief in the news story below. Two men, far from their native land, join the Canadian Army and the eldest, William, lands in England the very day his mother leaves for Canada. It makes one wonder what the intent was? Was there a miscommunication... Continue Reading →
Another Connection with the HMHS Anglia Sinking
Another member of the 18th Battalion was on board the HMHS Anglia when she sank. Wilfred "Grit" Laurier Callander, one of the originals, was on board being transferred to England to have a case of trench foot treated. He was able to survive the sinking and the war.
A Birthday at the Front
The 18th Battalion was in the trenches near Vierstraat 1oo years ago today on December 13, 1915. The company cook for Lieutenant George Kerr did something special for him: On December 13 Lieutenant George Kerr had a special celebration in the trenches. For his twenty-first birthday the company cook scrounged all the chocolate he could... Continue Reading →
The Mystery of Quarter-Master Sergeant H. McGinley
Francesca, a writer of a blog regarding the history of Kingston, Ontario, has sent me a mystery. Us (me at least) amateur historians/historiographers can be a canny bunch of information gathers. Francesca wrote me: "...I've attached a photo that I took several months ago in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery here in Kingston. It's of a... Continue Reading →
Database File
Attached below is an Excel spreadsheet of the database used to keep a record of the soldiers of the 18th Battalion that have been found so far. I have stripped any unnecessary columns off so that the raw data is available. I will make updates. Please feel free to use this file in your research.... Continue Reading →
“A” Company, 18th Battalion Mystery Photo
A photograph posted previously, purporting go be of "A" Company, 18th Battalion. The photograph is addressed to a Mrs. Paris Anderson of Crediton, Ontario. The inscription reads: ""Sandling Camp, September 1.4.1915. Tuesday evening 5 p.m. Dear Paris, This will let you know the time we are leaving England. This shows 'A Co' y ' 18th... Continue Reading →
Private Goodier Died 100 Years Ago Today
On November 24th, 1915 the following entry outlines the activity of the 18th Battalion on that day: "'B' [and] 'D' Coys [companies] relieved 'a' [and] 'C' Coys in trenches. But that day was to have more import for Private Edward Goodier, reg. no. 53678. His "Circumstances of Death" card outlines what happened: At about 6.30... Continue Reading →
The Sadness of a Mother
Private Cecil Grant died of wounds on April 11, 1917. His family showed their grief through a poem that was printed in the Southwestern Ontario Memorial Album. The poem reads: Sleep on dear son, in your soldier’s grace, Your life for your country you nobly gave, No friends stood near you to say good-bye, But safe... Continue Reading →
Sleep On Dear Brother and Take Thy Rest
Private Alexander Dempsey, reg. no. 53217, late of the King's Own Scottish Borders, felt compelled to answer the call to serve the Empire again when he attested for service with the Canadian Expeditionary Forces on October 28, 1914 in Windsor, Ontario. He was one of the first of the 18th Battalion to join.... Continue Reading →
Brothers in Arms: The 18th Battalion Men that Died on November 11th
There will be a post that will be generated on November 11, 2015 commemorating the personnel of all branches of Canada’s military that served and died on November 11th during World War 1. Of these soldiers there are two 18th Battalion soldiers that died on the last day of the conflict. These men are Privates... Continue Reading →
The Accidental Death of Private James Aitken reg. no. 769314
On December 23rd, 1916 Private James Aitken, reg. no. 769314, was standing outside of a cook house waiting for a meal. He had been assigned to the 18th Battalion but found himself assigned to the 4th Field Company, Canadian Engineers and then to the 2nd Canadian Entrenching Battalion. It was in the service of this... Continue Reading →
18th Battalion Connection to Pancho Villa
Adding soldiers to this blog involves some work, often repetitive. But more often than not an unexpected gem of history is illuminated. In this case it all started with a simple war diary entry for November 26, 1916: "Battalion pay and clothing parades. 1 o.r. admitted to hospital. 54145 Sgt. C.J. JACKSON posted to commission as... Continue Reading →
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 