History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth"
Articles, war diaries, and recognition to the Men of the "Fighting 18th"
Witley Camp. January 1918. It had just snowed 4 inches and Private Charles Arthur Reed (reg. no. 651593), formerly of Eden Grove, Ontario was responding to a letter from his mother. Letter dates 14 January 1918 from Private Reed to his mother, Isabella Ann (McNaugthon) Reed (1871-1953) His primary concern at the beginning of the... Continue Reading →
“In Ticklish Places…”: A sniper writes to his Reverend. On December 7, 1915, Private James Parker, reg. no. 54357, having finished having his feet inspected for trench foot, settled down to write a letter to his Reverend, H.H. Bingham while the 18th Battalion was in Divisional Reserve at La Clytte (De Klijte). Source: The London... Continue Reading →
4TH CANADIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE NARRATIVE OF OPERATIONS. SOUTH OF SCARPE 26TH, 27TH, AND 28TH AUGUST, 1918.[i] CONFERENCE, DIVISIONAL H.Q. 23RD AUGUST. During the afternoon the G.O.C.[ii] and Brigade Major attended a conference at Divisional Headquarters, ETRUN where proposed operations for the advance South of the SCARPE were outlined. BRIDGE CONFERENCE, BERNEVILLE, 23RD AUGUST. During the... Continue Reading →
Private (later Lieutenant) Wesley Strang Caldwell[i] 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 →
The Worth family has quite a history and some rare photos of one of their members brings part of his recuperation after being wounded a Vimy Ridge into a sharper focus. Walter Garlick Worth was part of a family that was industrious. His father, Dyson, was involved in the yarn industry, beginning at the ripe... Continue Reading →
Confidential War Diary of 18th CANADIAN BATTALION – 2nd CANADIAN DIVISION From 1st September to 3oth September, 1918 Volume 37 With appendices 1 – 23 Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information H.Q. Reserve SIMECOURT 1 Battalion carried on with training as per syllabus attached. 2 O.R.s. reinforcements. 4 O.Rs. awarded bar to M.M.... Continue Reading →
Confidential War Diary of 18th CANADIAN BATTALION – 2nd CANADIAN DIVISION From 1st August to 31st August, 1918 Volume 36 With appendices 1 – 15 PlaceDateHourSummary of Events and InformationG.H.Q. RESERVE PISSYMap Sht. 62.M.1 Battalion moved off, in battle order, to attend Tank Demonstration. “A” Coy. participated in afternoon. Remainder observed demonstration. Lieut. M.R. Sloan returned... Continue Reading →
Major Sale was an active and influential member of the Goderich, Ontario community as a dentist. He was active in the Canadian Militia with the 33rd Regiment and joined the 18th Battalion as a captain shortly after its inception in October 1914. He served his Battalion diligently and was earned a promotion to major in... Continue Reading →
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 →
Private Alexander Edward Blue of Paisley, Ontario joined the 18th Battalion at it's inception. On October 27, 1914 he enlisted and began his journey to war. He would become wounded on June 29, 1916, 612 days into his service with the Canadian Expeditionary Force. His war experience is offered in digital format which allows us... Continue Reading →
In two previous posts the war experience of Private Alexander Blue was reviewed. The first post offered a brief biographical sketch written in pen in long-hand and was part of the Kincardine, Ontario Royal Canadian Legion’s archives. The second post offered, from the same source, letters of assurance from a casualty clearing station immediately after... Continue Reading →
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 →
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 →
Caption Reads: WHERE WE SCORE: A CANADIAN SNIPER IN THE OPEN USING A RIFLE WITH A TELESCOPE - SIGHT. Many notable marksman are serving in the ranks of the Canadian forces at the front, and the enemy, it is on record, has had experience of their deadly accuracy of aim. In the above illustration one... Continue Reading →
These are the soldiers' pages created since November 27, 2014. Please take time to view them and remember them. Of particular interest will be 18th Battalion snipers Crookshanks and Siddle. First, these are the first identified snipers in the Battalion that I have found. There is an interesting resource written by, possibly, the father of... Continue Reading →
Clipping from the Calgary Daily Herald May 8, 1916 LIEUT. F. DAWSON DIED LIKE SOLDIER DECLARES HIS O.C. F.J. Lawson Receives Letter Telling How Son Was Fatally Wounded That Lieut. Frank Lawson, of Calgary, who was mentioned a short time ago by The Herald, was killed in action in the St. Eloi fight, made the... Continue Reading →
Confidential War Diary Of M.O. 18th Infantry Battalion From 1st October To 31st October 1915 Volume No. 4 PlaceDateHourSummary of Events and InformationR.E. Farm E of DRANTURE1 Very quiet. 54321 Pte. G. RUSHMERE [Rushmer] shot himself through left [hand?] while cleaning rifle + L.CPL. O’DYWER shot himself through fore arm. Both cases accidental. 2 LIEUT. F.G. NEWTON in... Continue Reading →
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 