History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth"
Articles, war diaries, and recognition to the Men of the "Fighting 18th"
Robert Wallace Austin reg. no. 113067 joined the Canadian Army at 8:45 a.m.[i] on July 23, 1915 in the city of Ottawa.[ii] He was just shy of one month past his twenty-first birthday when he joined the 8th Canadian Mounted Rifles (8th C.M.R.) and he was to be transported to England in October 1915 to... Continue Reading →
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 →
The Christmas of the 1915 was the second Christmas that the Battalion had experienced since it formation in the Fall of 1914. Since that Christmas in London, Ontario the Battalion had moved from Canada to England in April, 1915 where it trained and the embarked to France and thence, to Belgium for its baptism... Continue Reading →
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 →
CONFIDENTIAL WAR DIARY OF 18th Canadian Battalion 2nd Canadian Division From 1st May to 31st May 1916 Volume 9 Place May Hour Summary of Events and Information 1 Battalion in camp. Bath and clothing Parade. CAPT C.P. Laing returned from Hospital. 1 o.r. died. Fatigue party of 350 men out during night. 2 Battalion in... Continue Reading →
18th CANADIAN BATTALION REPORT OF OPERATIONS - - NIGHT 0F 9/10 APRIL UNDER 4TH BDE. ORDER Situation before operations: 'B' Company was holding aline as indicated by Lieut. Lawson (since killed), with about 50 men. Map reference ST. ELOI 0.2.D21/2.8 and 'C' Company with 1 Officer, 21 men, was spread along old 'Q' line 14... Continue Reading →
Iwuy is a small commune in France, South East of Vimy and North East of Cambria. On October 11, 1918 the 18th Battalion was involved in an operation where they were able to repulse 3 German tanks. This action has the significance of being possibly the last action in World War 1 were the Germans... Continue Reading →
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 