Lead a patrol into "No Man's Land" night of December 1/2, 1916. Report on Minor raid, Night of Dec. 1/2. 18th Canadian Battalion Our patrol advanced within short distance of enemy wire but no party were there, so we lay in wait for several hours hoping it would appear. Information In the shell holes were... Continue Reading →
One Hundred Years Ago: November 11, 1916
There was no Remembrance Day in 1916. The concept of remembering the dead with a national day of recognition had not been conceived of until later and it would be a whole two years of conflict with its dead, dying, wounded, and damaged combatants. The 18th Battalion had been through the Somme and had suffered... Continue Reading →
Summary November 1916 18th Battalion War Diary
Link to November 1916 War Diary Transcription November found the 18th Battalion approximately 50 kilometers from the hell that was the Somme. Now located in the Lens Sector in the vicinity of Bully-Grenay the Battalion was able to find relative rest and recuperation after the actions of September and October. The first part of the... Continue Reading →
October 1916 Casualties
October 1916 finds the 18th Battalion still engaged at the Somme. October 3rd was a particularly bad day for the Battalion. Rank Surname Forename Age Date Reg. No. Private BARTON ALBERT 34 10/10/1916 415134 Private BROCK H E 27/10/1916 54003 Private BURTON SIDNEY 33 02/10/1916 157097 Private CLARKE ARTHUR RAYMOND 03/10/1916 124362 Private DANIEL... Continue Reading →
Blog Updates for September 2016
This past month a focus on the activities of the 18th Battalion with its involvement in the actions that occurred 100 years ago at the Somme was made. Several posts outlining with more detail the events that affected the 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade offered some insight into the actions of the 18th Battalion on that... Continue Reading →
Battle of Courcelette: Communications Record for September 15, 1916
Introduction The record below is a transcription of the 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade's appendices numbered 80 to 150. The appendices records the communications between the various units involved in the battle for Courcelette and relates to the units in the 4th C.I.B. as well as peripheral units attached or adjacent to the Brigade during the... Continue Reading →
The Butcher’s Bill: 18th Battalion Killed in Action, September 1916
September 1916 was a particularly bloody month of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. During the 30 days of September 1916 the Canadian Army suffered 4,759 deaths. The Canadian Army was transferred to the Somme and took part in that battle. Of the 4,759 Canadian soldiers killed in action 111 of them were from the 18th Battalion.... Continue Reading →
Report on raiding enterprise by 18th Canadian Battalion on the night 26/27 July, 1916
On the night of July 26/27th the 18th Battalion initiated a trench raid. Sadly, other then the report transcribed below, no further details, at this time, are known. The report was not signed making it uncertain who the author is but it is a valuable document. It makes mention of two private soldiers by name... Continue Reading →
War Diary of the 18th Battalion: December 1916
CONFIDENTIAL WAR DIARY WAR DIARY OF 18th Canadian Battalion – 2nd Canadian Division from 1st December to 31st December, 1916 Volume 16 Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information CALONNE II 1 18th Canadian Battalion in front line at CALLONE II sector. On the night of December 1/2 a minor operation was directed against... 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 →
The Butcher’s Bill: November 1916
After the veritable slaughter that was the action at Fer-Courcelette in September for the 18th Battalion, November 1916 was a time for exceptionally light casualties. 1.301 Canadian service personnel perished during November 1916. The 18th Battalion suffered 2 men killed in action. Private Belfry had been wounded in October 1916 only to survive to the... Continue Reading →
War Diary of the 18th Battalion: November 1916
CONFIDENTIAL WAR DIARY WAR DIARY OF 18th Canadian Battalion – 2nd Canadian Division from 1st November to 3oth November, 1916 Volume 15 Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information BULLY 1 18th Canadian Battalion in Brigade reserve. Company and platoon drill. Units special training. Extract from D.R.O. 2976 “To be Acting Staff Captain 4th... Continue Reading →
War Diary of the 18th Battalion: October 1916
CONFIDENTIAL WAR DIARY WAR DIARY OF 18th Canadian Battalion – 2nd Canadian Division from 1st October to 31st October, 1916 Volume 14 Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information SOMME 1 and 3.15 pm The night of 1st/2nd 18th Can Battalion relieved 21st Canadian Battn in line in front of Courcellette [sic]. 22nd Canadian... Continue Reading →
War Diary of the 18th Battalion: September 1916
Preamble: The Battle of the Somme was fought between July 1 and November 1, 1916. During this battle the total casualties for both sides have been estimated at approximately 887,000. The British Army on the opening day suffered 57,000 casualties. For the 18th Battalion this battle was one of it bloodiest engagements up until this... Continue Reading →
War Diary of the 18th Battalion: August 1916
CONFIDENTIAL WAR DIARY OF 18th Canadian Battalion – 2nd Canadian Division From 1st August to 31st August 1916 Volume 12 With appendices 1 [1] Corrected from CRYOTA to CHRYSTAL. Original transcription was incorrect. Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information ALBERTA CAMP 1 Battalion in reserve at ALBERTA CAMP. Pay and Bath parades. 20... Continue Reading →
August 1916: The Butcher’s Bill
August 1916 appears to be a relatively quiet month for the 18th Battalion. Appears. On August 8th Lieutenant Brown, during a grenade demonstration and training session was accidentally killed when a grenade he was holding exploded. 14 other men where wounded during this incident. It could have been much worse. With only 3 men killed,... Continue Reading →
“Despite even greater disappointments and tragedies…”: Letters home from Captain Jame Roy Grey
Letters to and from the Front give us a fascinating glimpse of the lives of the people that participated directly and indirectly with World War 1. Below is a letter from James Roy Gray that offers some insight into the experiences of a solider of the 18th Battalion and later as a member of the... Continue Reading →
War Diary of the 18th Battalion: July 1916
CONFIDENTIAL WAR DIARY OF 18th Canadian Battalion - 2nd Canadian Division From 1st July to 31st July 1916 Volume II With appendices 1 - 4 Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information Front Line 1 Battalion in trenches at BLUFF INTERNATIONAL TRENCH, BEAN and POLLOCK. 2 o.r.s. Wounded, 2o.r.s.sick, admitted to hospital 2 Position... Continue Reading →
July 1916 Butcher’s Bill
14 soldiers of the 18th Battalion were killed in action or died of wounds in April 1916. Compare this to the 22 officers and 658 other ranks who became casualties in one action of the Newfoundland Regiment at Beaumont-Hamel on July 1, 1916. Rank Last Name First Name Age Date of Death Reg. No. Private... Continue Reading →
Report on raiding enterprise by 18th Canadian Battalion on the night 26/27 July, 1916
On the night of July 26/27th the 18th Battalion initiated a trench raid. Sadly, other then the report transcribed below, no further details, at this time, are known. The report was not signed making it uncertain who the author is but it is a valuable document. It makes mention of two private soldiers by name... Continue Reading →
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 