Confidential War Diary of 18th CANADIAN BATTALION - 2nd CANADIAN DIVISION From 1st September to 30th September 1917 Volume 25 With appendicis 1 - 4 Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information VILLERS AU BOIS 1 Battalion in billets at VILLERS AU BOIS (Villers Camp). Company parades and inspections. Platoon and specialists training carried... Continue Reading →
LOOKING EVERY INCH A SOLDIER
The 18th Battalion was nearing the end of its training. As it was formed in the latter part of October 1914 from South-Western Ontario the soldiers were collected in London, Ontario for training. As the Battalion was about to leave for England via Halifax on the S.S. Grampian on April 18, 1915. Thus, the Battalion... Continue Reading →
“The narrow escapes that some fellows have are nothing short of marvellous”: A Letter from the Front
Private (later Lieutenant) Wesley Strang Caldwell was yet to earn the Military Medal for his actions at Courcelette, the Somme, when this letter was published in the Huron Expositor on March 10, 1916. He was 20-years old, just shy of his 21st birthday by 40 days. He was a combat veteran claiming to have served... Continue Reading →
3 Officers. One Action. 3 Results.
Charles Herbert Kerr had family ties in the Brussel, Ontario area and lived in Clinton until he eventually moved to Welland, Ontario. He enlisted with the C.E.F. and after being posted to the 36th Battalion in England was taken on strength with the 18th Battalion on December 14, 1915. It was during a fateful operation... Continue Reading →
Cholera Belts for the 18th Battalion
On page 4 of the Wingham Times a short article relates: “Nearly all medical men in the West Indies advise wearing of thin woolen and not cotton underwear. Many persons wear “cholera belts” of flannel.” This garment was considered important enough that Sir Adam Beck's wife, Lady Beck, contributed enough of these belts to outfit... Continue Reading →
Apparently, it is an actual hell out there at times: The Letters of Sergeant Wallace
A photograph of 18th Battalion soldiers training. These soldiers are are members of "C" Company. Sergeant John Wallace stands at the ready with a Ross Rifle and Bayonet with other members of his company. He is standing front row, 3rd from the right. Lance-Sergeant Sifton, VC, is standing to the extreme right with the tip... Continue Reading →
Faces of August 1917
The pictures of men of the 18th Battalion who perished during the month of August 1917.
War Diary of the 18th Battalion: August 1917
ConfidentialWar Diary of 18th CANADIAN BATTALION - 2nd CANADIAN DIVISION FROM 1st August to 31st August 1917 Volume 24 With appendicis 6 - 13 PlaceDateHourSummary of Events and InformationMap reference, 36B Edition 6, 1/40,000. BOVIGNY 1st. R.19.central.1 18th. Canadian Battalion at BOVIGNY village in billets, the Brigade being in Divisional Reserve. Owing to heavy rain,... Continue Reading →
Expert Witness for the Defence: The connection between “Fatty” Arbuckle and the 18th Battalion
The front page of the December 1, 1921 of The Deseret News of Salt Lake City, Utah had numerous important news stories on that day. A British native force on the Afghan frontier was massacred, along with two of the British officers commanding it. Vienna, Austria is subject to bread riots due to the rising... Continue Reading →
What the Photographs of C.W. Boyd Tell Us
A wonderful and treasured set of photographs of Charles Wesley Boyd have been contributed to the 18th Battalion Facebook Group and they help tell this soldier’s story. Biography Charles Wesley Boyd was born on October 11, 1896 in Campbellford, Ontario. Campbellford is located on the Trent-Severn Waterway 28 kilometers north of Trenton, Ontario. His parents... Continue Reading →
The Raid at Hill 70
4th Canadian Infantry Brigade Order No. 142 outlined the details of a raid on the German lines in detail. The order specifically directs the Battalion in the intention and actions during the raid and was an important preparatory step for the Battalion, and the other Battalions of the Brigade for the attach on Hill 70... Continue Reading →
War Diary of the 18th Battalion: July 1917
Confidential 18th Canadian Battalion War Diary Original Copy July 1917 Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information BARLIN 1 9 am Brigade Church Parade at HERSIN-COUPIGNY Sports ground. Divine service conducted by Maj. Gen. Simms, C.S.D. Chief Chaplain of British armies in the Field. 2 Canadian Corps sports at Camblain-le-Abbe[i]. 18th Canadian Battalion... Continue Reading →
One-Thousand Four-Hundred and Seventy Days
Walter Perry, of Highland Creek, Ontario, decided to join the Canadian Army. His previous military experience consisting of serving three-and-a-half years as a Bugler. He joined the 81st Battalion in Toronto, Ontario on September 18th, 1915 and was assigned the regimental number 157659. From this point in time he served and trained in Canada until... Continue Reading →
“Just a hole in the ground…”: Context Matters
I don’t know much about TripAdvisor member “MarkAlles”. His profile is new on this site. He has visited 9 cities and from those visits he has written 13 reviews, 6 of them attraction reviews. The reason he is on my radar is that, quite by accident, I stumbled onto a family member who is quite... Continue Reading →
Training Mistake Wounds 18th Battalion Soldier
Private James Abercrombie, reg no. 123978 enlisted in Chatham, Ontario at the age of 19 years, 6 months, enlisting with the 70th Overseas Battalion on October 1, 1915. After initial training in Canada he transited the Atlantic via the S.S. Lapland, arriving in England May 5, 1916. Over a month transpired where his whereabouts were... Continue Reading →
“Right Off Their Game”: The death of Shoeing Smith Mills
Shoeing Smith Mills joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force March 10, 1916. His residence at 9 Elm Street in Belleville, Ontario shared some geographic similarities with his father’s home in Long Eaton, Derbyshire, England. Both residences were close to water and both residences were on the west side of a water course. But, other than that... Continue Reading →
December 1917 Casualties
There were no casualties that resulted in death due to action, wounds, or illness. The Battalion started its service in the Acheville Sector in support at the beginning of the month and was in the front lines as of December 3, 1917. They were active with wiring parties in the front line. A group of... Continue Reading →
Letter Home Describing Attack on Vimy and Wounding of Lt. S.C. Kirkland
Stuart Cameron Kirkland was a 33 year old barrister who joined the 91st Battalion at St. Thomas on April 26, 1916. Less then a year later, assigned to the 18th Battalion, he was to participate in the attack on Vimy Ridge where he was wounded. Eventually invalided back to Canada were he served on a... 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 →
War Diary of the 18th Battalion: June 1917
CONFIDENTIAL WAR DIARY -OF- 18th CANADIAN BATTALION – 2nd CANADIAN DIVISION From 1st June to 31th June 1917 Volume 22 With appendicies 1-3 Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information 1 Map reference WILLERVAL 1/20,000 Battalion in Brigade Support with H.Qrs at T.27.d.3.5. During the night Battalion was relieved by 15th Canadian... Continue Reading →
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 