“History has a way of repeating itself.” Oft said and often a collective groan emanates from those that have to hear this statement. The realization of this is frequently ignore as our collective psyches note new events in the social, economic, and political world that we may have seen before in our lifetimes, or some... Continue Reading →
A Poem for His Sons: A Briton through and through.
Lance-Corporal Henry James Smith. Circa 1916. A father at war. At 39-years of age he was almost too old to enlist at St. Thomas, Ontario in the winter of 1916. Married with children we can not directly derive at the reasons for his enlistment, but being British born, he perhaps had a strong patriotic streak... Continue Reading →
“Freedom’s Cause Still Holds Us Here…”: A 1918 Christmas Card
The 18th Battalion experienced Christmas as a unit from 1914 to 1918. Each Christmas was a different experience for each year. The first Christmas was a gala event in London, Ontario and hosted by The Women’s Canadian Club replete with boiled ham, mashed potatoes, and green peas. The following Christmases would not be the same... Continue Reading →
“He was crucified on the iron cross of Kaiser Wilhelm II. …”: The Funeral of Captain Sale
Captain Frederick George Newton was an original member of the 18th Battalion when it was formed in the fall of 1914. His records indicate he joined the Battalion on December 28, 1914 and served with the Battalion until he was assigned to the 4th Field Company on October 21, 1917. During his service with the... Continue Reading →
Poetry and Regret
Some time after the Armistice in 1918 and July 1921 a former private of the 18th Battalion wrote a poem and published it in pamphlet form. It is now an obscure document and would be lost to history save for the work of Canadiana Online. Hidden, waiting to be found was the pamphlet with its... Continue Reading →
Christmas, 1916.
Christmas, 1916.[i] Another Christmas Day is here, The day of kindness and good cheer. ‘Spite of many a past misgiving. There are some of us still living. So everyone now gladly sends A Christmas greeting to his friends. And in a land that’s far away, May we all meet next Christmas Day. To all whose... Continue Reading →
“Knapsack his pillow…”: The Grief of Mrs. McMullin
Private Leonard Calvin McMullin was killed May 25, 1918 by a “fishtail” bomb. Yet, the 18th Battalion War Diary makes no mention of this event and it is lost into obscurity. The War Diary Entry for that day: “Working parties again furnished by Bn. for works during the night on trenches. Our party of 1... Continue Reading →
A Swim Binds Three 18th Battalion Soldiers in Time
This is a follow up post from a prior post entitled A Swim Binds Two Soldiers in Time in which the experiences of two members of the Battalion is examined. Further research has illuminated that there were three men of the 18th Battalion involved in this incident and this article is a response to the... Continue Reading →
Sports Days for the 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade
“Sports Days” were an integral part of British and Canadian Military life. In every area of operation, be it Flanders, Salonika, or Mesopotamia. For the Canadian troops, Sports Days were times of recreation and competition – a break from soldiering. Yet, the popularity of the Sports Days had a decidedly military purpose. They helped foster... Continue Reading →
Site of Interest: Saltwood Compendium, Odds, Queries and Curiosities
The author of this site contacted me looking for assistance in research he is doing: "I live close to West Sandling Camp and have been carrying out research on the practice trenches dug by C.E.F. I have recently found the trenches and their location, although now filled in for one hundred years. I consider them... 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 →
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 