On 2 September 1918, Colonel B. H. Belson would present a Military Medal[i] to a former 18th Battalion soldier, invalided home due to illness as he was discharged from service at Toronto, Ontario, on 15 April 1918. The circumstances of the act of valour from which he earned his medal speak for themselves: “MILITARY MEDAL... Continue Reading →
Not Forgotten in Tillsonburg
On 18 July 2025 Lieutenant Raymond Earl Rouse MM MC grave was visited. This man served with the 18th Battalion, earning two decorations for valour, one as an enlisted man, and one as an officer. His military service started with his enlistment with the 18th Battalion on 27 October 1914, at Woodstock, Ontario. He was... Continue Reading →
Is this Corporal Kelley of the 18th?
Tracking down information relating to the 18th Battalion can be challenging. There are some consistent sources of information, but when you are dealing with the service of up to 5,000 men who served in the Battalion during its existence from October 1914 to May 1919 that has no official war history and has all the... Continue Reading →
“A courageous act…”: The DCM of Armourer Corporal Kelley Revisted
May 26th, 1918. The 18th Battalion was, as part of the 4th Canadian Brigade, 2nd Division, located in the line left of Neuville Vitasse. The 18th Battalion had moved into the line 4-days previous, and this day was “Fine and warm,” according to the 4th Brigade’s War Diary. German artillery was more active than usual... Continue Reading →
Bivouac of the Dead: The 18th Battalion’s Experience at the Battle at Flers-Courcelette.
“On France's eternal camping groundTheir silent tents are spread.While glory guards with solemn roundThe Bivouac of the Dead.”Poem attached to Sergeant Chester P. Smiths Memorial Page. Adaptation of Bivouac of the Dead, Theodore O’Hara, 1851. There is a succinct, enigmatic entry in the pages of the 18th Battalion’s War Diary for September 1916. “NOT MUCH... Continue Reading →
Jolie’s Military Medal: He “was an excellent shot.”
As a civilian, the whole idea of experiencing combat is foreign to their experience. Watching intense war scenes in movies like Steven Speilberg’s Saving Private Ryan, or the gritty realism of Sam Mendes’ 1917 can capture aspect of combat, but not the visceral emotion and feeling an individual may have during engagements. War documentaries, such... Continue Reading →
“Tangible recognition…”
This is the third of a 4-part series of the analysis of articles relating to Private Frederick Hodson, who served with the 18th Battalion. Special thanks to Annette Fulford (@avidgenie) and Lizbet Tobin for assistance with this article. From the previous stories we can get a sense of Hodson. He is a dutiful son and... 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 →
“…it is an old trick of his…”: Sifton’s Actions in a New Light?
Special thanks to Michael Ritchie, the author and caretaker of the blog, Letters From Vincent, from which this material was sources. Lieutenant Eastwood was a member of the 18th Battalion from Peterborough, Ontario and Michael is diligently transcriping the letters from his Great-Grandfather. At 5:15 a.m. on the morning of April 9, 1917 the weather... Continue Reading →
“He is survived…”
Preface This article is a departure from previous biographical pieces about the soldiers of the 18th Battalion because of the personal experiences of the author in the geographic area in which this story unfolds. Thus, it is more personal and subjective with the attendant personal observations and valuations of someone that has been there and... Continue Reading →
“If it so happens that I am allowed to die for my country…”: The Unusual Will of Private R.H. Burgess D.C.M.
A will is a macabre document. It is a recognition by the object of the will, the living person (the testator) who is making the will out, that they will cease to exist. The will exists and enforces the conditions of the testator after they have died and invokes certain conditions at the distribution of... 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 →
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 →
Sergeant James Quaey Nelson and a Possible Connection with My Grandfather
A recent blog comment allowed this blog to find out about a member of the 18th Battalion. Sergeant Jame Quaey Nelson shared a lot of similar background biographical information just like my Grandfather and Great Uncle. All were born in the "old country" of Scotland and recent immigrants. Sergeant Nelson was 3 years older than... Continue Reading →
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 