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 →
No Liberties Were Taken: Christmas 1915 for the 18th Battalion
The Christmas of the 1915 was the second Christmas that the Battalion had experienced since it formation in the Fall of 1914. Since that Christmas in London, Ontario the Battalion had moved from Canada to England in April, 1915 where it trained and the embarked to France and thence, to Belgium for its baptism... Continue Reading →
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 →
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 →
100 Years Ago: November 11, 1915
One hundred years ago today the 18th Battalion had been in active service on the Continent in Belgium and since September 25, 1915 had been in active service at the front. During that time 13 members of the 18th Battalion were killed. 1 officer, a captain; 2 lance corporals and 10 privates. This was to... Continue Reading →
Canada Day for the 18th Battalion
As we enjoy the freedom the valiant men and women fought for it is fitting on this Canada Day to reflect back the the experiences of the soldiers of the 18th Battalion. The Battalion, being formed as part of the 2nd Contingent, did not celebrate Canada Day (it was called Dominion Day at this time)... Continue Reading →
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 →
Christmas Truces: “…our German friends were quite friendly.”
A recent viewing of the movie Joyeux Noël made me curious as to the involvement of Canadian troops in the Christmas truces that sprung up after the well documented truces that occurred in 1914. Since the First Canadian Contingent did not arrive in the theater of operations until February 1915 they were not involved in... 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 →
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 →
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 →
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: 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 →
War Diary of the 18th Battalion: April/May 1915
Confidential War Diary Of 18th Canadian Infantry Battalion From April 29th 1915 To May 31st 1915. Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information Avonmouth West Sandling Camp 4/29/15 6:00 AM 3:00 PM Arrived on R.M.S. Grampian. Arrived at WEST SANDLING CAMP and allotted quarters. West Sandling Camp 4 ... Continue Reading →
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 