On November 28, 1917 Lieutenant McLean, a banker from Montreal Quebec, was on duty as a member of the 3rd Canadian Divisional Ammunition Column. The day had started out with a frost but was characterized as a "fine day" in the Unit's War Diary. McLea, with 200 pack mules had collected ammunition at "B" Dump... Continue Reading →
Remembering
Each Remembrance Day brings a different meaning to my experience with my conception and perception of war. Last year I was able to attend my local Remembrance Day ceremony on a bright, beautiful Fall day. This year I wanted to work. I was going to take a vacation day off to go to the ceremony... Continue Reading →
100 Years Ago: November 11, 1915
One hundred years ago today the 18th Battalion had been in active service on the Continent in Belgium and since September 25, 1915 had been in active service at the front. During that time 13 members of the 18th Battalion were killed. 1 officer, a captain; 2 lance corporals and 10 privates. This was to... Continue Reading →
November 11th Canadians Killed or Died by Year
1914: 0 1915: 8 1916: 99 1917: 154 1918: 41 1919: 4 1920: 0 1921: 0 Rank Surname Forename Age Unit Country of Burial Reg, No. Year: 1915 Lance Corporal COCHRANE T H 21st Bn. Belgium 59175 Private GOODLAND HUBERT VICTOR 25 49th Bn. France 437411 Private HARDS BRIAN 18 "C" Coy. 24th Bn. Belgium... Continue Reading →
Boys of the 18th Battalion Learning to Pick Off Germans
Caption reads: Four companies of the 18th Battalion were taken to the Cove rifle ranges this morning under Major Milligan and Major Ingram and were given instruction in musketry by Qt-M-Sergt. Instructor Carter. Sergt. Instructor Prouse and Capt. T.J. Murphy, of the 7th Regiment, who is giving his time generously to the preparation of the... Continue Reading →
Sleep On Dear Brother and Take Thy Rest
Private Alexander Dempsey, reg. no. 53217, late of the King's Own Scottish Borders, felt compelled to answer the call to serve the Empire again when he attested for service with the Canadian Expeditionary Forces on October 28, 1914 in Windsor, Ontario. He was one of the first of the 18th Battalion to join.... Continue Reading →
The First and the Last
Below is a brief outline of the "first and last" Canadians to sacrifice their lives according to the alphabetical listing of Circumstances of Death Registry, First World War. The online database sadly only goes to Sims and any records after that are not available at this resource. Alphabetically, according to this source, the "first" casualty... Continue Reading →
Brothers in Arms: The 18th Battalion Men that Died on November 11th
There will be a post that will be generated on November 11, 2015 commemorating the personnel of all branches of Canada’s military that served and died on November 11th during World War 1. Of these soldiers there are two 18th Battalion soldiers that died on the last day of the conflict. These men are Privates... Continue Reading →
The Accidental Death of Private James Aitken reg. no. 769314
On December 23rd, 1916 Private James Aitken, reg. no. 769314, was standing outside of a cook house waiting for a meal. He had been assigned to the 18th Battalion but found himself assigned to the 4th Field Company, Canadian Engineers and then to the 2nd Canadian Entrenching Battalion. It was in the service of this... Continue Reading →
Men of the 18th Battalion Starting On Their Long Cross-Country Grind
Captions reads: This picture was taken by the Free Press camera man from the head of two-mile hill this morning as the troops proceeded south from the city via the Wharncliffe road. The company to which the St. Thomas men are attached broke from the main body at Lambeth and proceeded to St. Thomas while... 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 →
In the Trenches
Below is an letter pertaining to the 18th Battalion scanned and posted at the Ow.ly profile of LdnOntWWI (On Twitter @LdnOntI). The year of publication of this letter is unknown and is it is unknown if this it is complete. It gives us a glimpse of an experience a soldier of the 18th Battalion had.... 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 →
Digitized Service Record Links Added
The following 18th Battalion soldiers have digitized service records available online in PDF format and their pages have been updated accordingly: Drummond, Charles: Service no. 124363 Dryden, Walter Davidson: Service no. 730635 Dudley, William Howard: Service no. 404827 Duke, Henry Gilbert: Service no. 3130431 Duncan, Robert: Service no. 163816 Dunlop, James Alvin: Service no. 880598... Continue Reading →
Service Summary for Private John Taylor Dewar Regimental No. 730016
Born Leith, Scotland October 28, 1897. Immigrates to Canada and family is living at 14 Norfolk Avenue, Galt, Ontario. Galt is later to become the amalgamated City of Cambridge (1974). At the age of 18 joins the 111th Battalion attesting on November 11th, 1915 in Galt, Ontario. He is 5’ 4.5” tall. Weighs 112 pounds... Continue Reading →
Soldiers Added Since July 1, 2015
Reg. No. Rank Last Name First Name 123480 Sergeant Bate Charles Lieutenant Bates Bernard John Lieutenant Bawden Henry Norman 189580 Private Beddle Roy Craig 823109 Belcher Russell William 189487 Corporal Bishop Matthew 880036 Private BLACKBURN ALFRED JOHN 54343 Lance Corporal Blanford James 880568 Private BONE Frank Captain Brackin Garnet 880009 Private BRAGG John 3130123 Private... Continue Reading →
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 