On January 24, 1916 a man from Hastings, Ontario enlisted with the 93rd Battalion, so beginning his military career. We have one postcard and three letters from his overseas service, and they give us the opportunity to look a bit deeper into the war experience of Private John Edward Parker (reg. no. 195573).[i] Private Parker... Continue Reading →
“Oh, to hell with it.”: Memories of Passchendaele
18th Battalion Association[i] Windsor and Detroit Branch *MEMORIES[ii]* On the night of November 5th[iii], 1917, our “A” Company was rushed into the line to relieve a company of a battalion of the 4th Division, who had been severely mauled and had suffered many casualties. Our own Company was only at half strength with four Officers... Continue Reading →
His Parents Must Have Known…
Percy Scanlan enlisted with the 91st Battalion at Chatham, Ontario on December 6, 1915. He was one of many eager recruits joining the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the second year of the war. Even the news of the Canadian experience at 2nd Ypres and the use of gas by the Germans did not dissuade him... Continue Reading →
The Men of the Menin Gate
Date of First Casualty: January 30, 1916. Privates Emerald Broadwell (reg. no. 53892) and Albert James Reeves (reg. no. 53847). They would both perish under unusual circumstances: "Previously reported missing, now for official purposes presumed to have died. About 9 a.m. on January 30th, 1916, he and a comrade [Private Broadwell] left their trench under... Continue Reading →
The Greatest Devotion to Duty: Casualties at Passchendaele
The 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade (4th C.I.B.) was engaged at Passchendaele in November 1917. Compared with some other Canadian Brigades and Battalions it was not as heavily engaged but the costs to the Brigade was high. The 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade suffered a total of 1,268 casualties (killed in action and wounded) with 73 men... 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 →
November 1917 Casualties
The 18th Battalion was active in the Passchendaele Sector and the number of men in the 18th that have no known grave bears witness to the terrible conditions and ferocity of the fighting in that sector. Rank Surname Forename Date of Death Reg. No. Private ABERCROMBY J 09/11/1917 123978 Private AKINS J 09/11/1917 770008 Private... Continue Reading →
“…the most severe conditions possible.”
Corporal Frank Bryant died on November 9, 1917 along with 14 other comrades from the 18th Battalion. They were only a portion of the 45 men of other ranks killed along with a further 6 officers and 60 other ranks wounded and 1 officer and 25 other ranks gassed in Passchendaele. Thus over only 5... Continue Reading →
A Young Girl Remembers into Adulthood
Anges McVittie was a young girl when Alfred Steggles boarded with her family before he joined the CEF and the 186 Overseas Battalion on March 13, 1916. Eventually assigned to the 18th Battalion he was to be killed in action exactly one year before the Great War's end. He was one of 154 Canadian soldiers... Continue Reading →
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 