The First World War
War Diary of The Royal Canadian Regiment

Transcription by Captain Michael O'Leary, The RCR.

AUGUST 1918

APPENDIX 15

THE ROYAL CANADIAN REGIMENT.

NARRATIVE OF OPERATIONS.
25/28th August 1918.

7.20 p.m. - The Battalion moved from Divisional Reserve in "Y" Camp to trenches in G.30. (1500 yards EAST of ARRAS.)

11.20 p.m. - Move complete.

11.45 p.m. - Commanding Officer proceeded to Brigade H.Q. for instructions.

26th August, 1918.

12.05 a.m. - Company Commanders arrived at Battalion H.Q. for instructions.

2.20 a.m. - Commanding Officer still at Brigade Headquarters.

3.00 a.m. - Barrage commenced for the attack by 8TH Canadian Infantry Brigade. No further instructions received.

5.40 a.m. - Message received from Captain THOMPSON, timed 5.10 a.m. - states, no word from 8TH Canadian Infantry Bde. Battalions. Line N.35. N.5. appears to have been reached. Retaliation light.

5.45 a.m. - 4TH C.M.R. wounded state that have [sic] taken enemy second line.

5.50 a.m. - GREEN objective taken. Picked up from Lamps.

6.25 a.m. - Commanding Officer returned from Brigade H.Q. with orders for Battalion to move to H.34. WEST of ORANGE HILL.

8.21 a.m. - Orders issued to Companies to proceed to H.34. in order "C", "B", "A", "D" at 7.00 a.m.

7.01 a.m. - Move complete, reported to Brigade. Slight shelling of CAMBRAI road in rear. Otherwise quiet.

8.45 a.m. - Tanks reported to Battalion Headquarters.

8.50 a.m. - Captain WILBY reports MONCHY le PREUX taken by 8TH Canadian Infantry Brigade.

9.10 a.m. - Heavy rain. Shelling increased.

9.35 a.m. - Order received verbally from Captain WILBY to attack at once.

9.37 a.m. - Commanding Officer gave final instructions to Company Commanders.

9.45 a.m. - Battalion moving forward, "C", "B", "A", and "D" Cos.

10.30 a.m. - Battalion Scouts sent forward to establish an Observation Post. Heavy shelling of MONCHY.

10.35 a.m. - Battalion clear of MONCHY (reported by Battalion Scouts.)

11.00 a.m. - Message from "C" Company, timed 10.45 a.m. - that they have reached CIRCLE TRENCH and were held up. No troops on their RIGHT FLANK.

11.15 a.m. - Captain BALDERS sent forward to gather information on progress of attack.

11.30 a.m. - "A" and "B" Cos. meeting heavy machine gun and rifle fire. Still moving forward.

11.45 a.m. - Enemy artillery fire increasing.

12.35 p.m. - Capt. BALDERS returned with following information:-

"C" Co. in CIRCLE TRENCH with nobody on their RIGHT Flank. Machine Gun and Rifle Fire very heavy. "A" and "B" Cos. meeting with heavy opposition but still going forward.

12.50 p.m. - Capt. BALDERS and Scout Officer went forward to try and get in touch with "A" and "B" Cos.

1.15 p.m. - Enemy Machine Gun and Rifle Fire very heavy from BOIS du SART. Enemy snipers very active.

2.20 p.m. - Capt. BALDERS and Scout Officer returned. Report "A" and "B" Cos. in advance of LONG TRENCH.

3.30 p.m. - Large enemy Air Forces over MONCHY, bombing Machine Gunning and registering their Batteries on occupied tenches.

4.10 p.m. - Word received that 42ND Can. Inf. Bn. (R.H.C.) would move forward at 5.00 p.m. - and make good the right flank.

5.00 p.m. - "D" Co. sent forward to reinforce "A" and "B" Cos.

6.30 p.m. - Battalion H.Q. moved to approx H.36.c.90.00.

7.15 p.m. - Medical Officer with three Squads proceeded forward to evacuate wounded.

8.05 p.m. - Commanding Officer left Bn. H.Q. to visit "A" and "B" Cos.

8.15 p.m. - "A" Co. counter-attacked from front and rear and forced to take up a position in LONG TRENCH. "D" Co. moving forward met enemy party attacking "A" Cos. rear and forced them to withdraw, after inflicting heavy casualties.

11.30 p.m. - Enemy Machine Gun and Rifle Fire still very heavy.

27th August

3.00 a.m. - 58TH Can. Inf. Bn. went through Battalion and attacked enemy.

10.00 a.m. - Orders given to "C" Co. to occupy LONG TRENCH.

11.00 a.m. - Orders received from Brigade for two Cos. to take over left flank of Brigade from 49TH Battalion and to come under command O.C. P.P.C.L.I. Orders given to "D" and "B" Cos. to move at 2.00 p.m. - and relieve 49TH Battalion on left flank of Brigade.

4.30 p.m. - Word received from "D" Company that they would be unable to proceed further until dark as 49TH were not evacuating trenches until 8.30 p.m.

5.00 p.m. - Commanding officers of 2ND Lancs. Fusiliers and 1ST Essex visited Battalion headquarters with a view to relief.

7.00 p.m. - Guides sent to Brigade Headquarters for Pack Mules with S.A.A. and Bombs etc.

7.15 p.m. - Commanding Officer left to visit "B" and "D" Cos.

11.15 p.m. - Telephone message from C.O. stating "B" and "D" Cos. were all right.

11.30 p.m. - Enemy activities much quieter.

28th August

9.00 a.m. - Orders received to place remaining two Companies at disposal of 9TH Canadian Infantry Brigade.

12.45 p.m. - Message from Commanding Officer at P.P.C.L.I. Headquarters that "B" and "D" Companies were moving forward in support of P.P.C.L.I.

1.15 p.m. - Order received from Brigade that we would be relieved night 28th/29th August 1918 by a composite Brigade of Machine Guns.

1.30 p.m. - Medical Officer and Padre proceeded forward with party of five to bury the dead.

2.10 p.m. - Orders received from Brigade for "A" and "C" Companies to reinforce 9TH Canadian Infantry Brigade.

2.12 p.m. - Captain BALDERS and Scout Officer proceeded to 9TH Canadian Infantry Brigade for instructions as to dispositions of "A" and "C" Companies.

2.45 p.m. - Orders received from 9TH Canadian Infantry Brigade for "A" and "C" Companies to proceed forward and reinforce 58TH Cdn. Inf. Bn. EAST of BOIRY, and make good the left flank of 9TH Canadian Infantry Brigade.

3.10 p.m. - Captain BALDERS proceeded forward to 116TH Can. Inf. Bn. Headquarters. Lieut. BARKER proceeded to "C" and "A" Companies Headquarters to give instructions re move and operations to be carried out by them.

4.45 p.m. - "C" Company moved off.

5.00 p.m. - "A" Company moved off.

5.45 p.m. - "C" Company met by Captain BALDERS and sent to reinforce 58TH Cdn. Inf. Bn. which had been counter-attacked on left of BOIRY. "A" Company left in support in O.3.c.

29th August

5.00 a.m. - Orders received from Brigade to withdraw. Battalion moved to Billets in ARRAS.

CASUALTIES

Lieut. Col.
Commanding The Royal Canadian Regiment.