18th Battalion Association[i] Windsor and Detroit Branch *MEMORIES* At one of our Reunion Dinners some years ago, one of he speakers mentioned Lieut. John Clarke[ii], but placed him in the wrong Company. Lieut. Clarke was the Officer in charge of Thirteen Platoon. The other “D” Company Officers were Lieut’s Ambery, McIntosh, and Dillon. Lieut. Clarke,... Continue Reading →
War Diary of the 18th Battalion: April 1918
Confidential War Diary of 18th CANADIAN BATTALION - 2nd CANADIAN DIVISION From 1st April to 30th April, 1918 Volume 32 With appendices 1 – 16 Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information 51c SE 1 Maps for Reference 51c NE and SE and 51b SW 18th Canadian Battalion in support to 21st Canadian... Continue Reading →
War Diary of the 18th Battalion: February 1918
Confidential War Diary of 18th CANADIAN BATTALION - 2nd CANADIAN DIVISION From 1st February to 28th of February, 1918 Volume 30 With appendices 1 – 6 Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information HILLS CAMP (Neuville St. Vaast) 1 Battalion in Reserve at Hill Camp near Neuville St. Vaast. Company parades and training. Specialist... 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 →
99 Years Ago: The 18th Battalions Attack at Vimy Ridge
At Zero hour[i], vis 5.30 a.m., the advance was made. Simultaneously with the opening up of the Artillery Barrage the Battalion left the “Jumping-off” trenches[ii] and attacked the German front line. Very little opposition was met with whilst capturing the first line system of trenches. The enemy barraged “No-man’s-land” for about 15 minutes, after which... Continue Reading →
Report of a Minor raid, Night of Dec. 1/2
The 18th Battalion entry for December 1/2 1916 records: Place: Calonne II (Most probably opposite the German Lines astride the Lens - Bethune railway near Cite Calonne) Date: Dec 1/Dec 1/2 8 pm 18th Canadian Battalion in front line at Calonne II sector. On the night of December 1/2 a minor operation was directed against... Continue Reading →
“Silent Death”: The Canadian Style of Trench Raiding
In a recent book I found at the California University Digital Library entitled Sniping in France - With Notes on the Scientific Training of Scouts, Observers, and Snipers by Major H. Hesketh-Prichard D.S.O., M.C. there was an interesting reference: "For instance, there was the"Silent Death," as it was called, invented by the Canadians, who, under... Continue Reading →
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 