In November of 1915 a 32-year-old single man enlisted with the 91st Battalion. With the help of a biography written in 1971 we can fill in the blanks of this long dead officer of the 18th Battalion. Lieutenant G.G. Brackin. Circa 1916. Garnet Garfield Brackin came from an established middle class Canadian family. His brother,... 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 →
4TH CANADIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE NARRATIVE OF OPERATIONS. SOUTH OF SCARPE 26TH, 27TH, AND 28TH AUGUST, 1918.
4TH CANADIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE NARRATIVE OF OPERATIONS. SOUTH OF SCARPE 26TH, 27TH, AND 28TH AUGUST, 1918.[i] CONFERENCE, DIVISIONAL H.Q. 23RD AUGUST. During the afternoon the G.O.C.[ii] and Brigade Major attended a conference at Divisional Headquarters, ETRUN where proposed operations for the advance South of the SCARPE were outlined. BRIDGE CONFERENCE, BERNEVILLE, 23RD AUGUST. During the... Continue Reading →
The McDermids/MacDermids of Glammis Ontario
In a letter written in the fall by Private Joseph Edgar McAfee, regimental number 651738 the news that Neil McDermid[i] late of Glamis [Glammis], Ontario was wounded made its way across the Atlantic to find its way into the Paisley Advocate as “news from the front.” In the letter, Private McAfee relates that a fellow... Continue Reading →
Strong-Point on the Arras-Cambrai Road
In the previous blog post “Tip of the Sword on the Arras-Cambrai Road” one of the positions on the disposition map was conjectured to be a strong-point that was created from an existing structure. Evidence has come to light that indicates that the units of the 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade, comprising the 18th and, possibly... Continue Reading →
August 1918 Casualties
August 1918 will be the worst month for men killed in action or died or wounds during the entire war. 131 soldiers would perish in this month, the vast majority were killed in action. On August 8, 1918 the War Diary records an action in which "...approximately 30 killed and 120 wounded were sustained in... Continue Reading →
Commemoration of the Battle at Iwuy
A group of local residents in the Iwuy, France area are working to commemorate two events that took place during the closing stages of the First World War. At Iwuy there was the last cavalry charge for Canadian forces in the war and the German tactical use of their A7V tanks to combat elements of... Continue Reading →
Laurier Military Speaker Series: Colonel (Ret’d) Patrick M. Dennis, OMM, CD
Patrick will be speaking about his recent research and subsequent book "Reluctant Warriors: Canadian Conscripts and the Great WarReluctant Warriors: Canadian Conscripts and the Great War". The LCMSDS site describes his presentation as: “What stubborn-hearted virtues they disguised!” Canadian Conscripts at War – 1918 (talk to be followed by a book signing) In this the... Continue Reading →
“But should I die serving my country…”
John Archibald McCallum was old by the standards of the average Canadian soldier enlisting in 1916. The attestation papers remark that his hair was “Black sprinkled with grey” when he joined the 160th Battalion at Lion’s Head, Ontario. Regardless of this sign of age the doctor examining him declared his physical development as “excellent.” The... Continue Reading →
The Spirit Shown By All Ranks Was of the Highest Order
18th Battalion War Diary November 1918 Appendix 9 Narrative of Action for November 8/9 1918 Map Ref. Sheet 45 1/40,000 The night of 8th November 1918 the Battalion was billeted in ELOUGES (T/10) in close support to the 5th [Canadian] Infantry Brigade. On the 9th at dawn the 4th [Canadian] Infantry Brigade were ordered to... Continue Reading →
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 