38th CEF War Diary

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Officers of "A" Company who had been brought up with the reinforcements from Chateau de la Haie were put in charge.

5.30 p.m. New dispositions were ordered by Brigade making this Battalion responsible for CYRUS Trench from the Junction of CLUTCH to the Junction of CYRUS and CLUCK and for No.6 crater. "C" Company moved over here to strengthen this line, the 46th Battn becoming responsible for crater No.5, and posts in front.

Situation during the night was normal and on Wednesday morning the 11th I inspected our new dispositions and found all posts as ordered. Situation again throughout the day was normal with the exception of machine gun fire from junction of CLAUDE and CLUCK, and remained so throughout the nighht. A party of Bosche were seen on the morining of the 12th trying to get away at daylight but were driven back by our Lewis gun fire casualties being inflicted on them.

The afternoon of the 12th instant about 4 p.m. our Stokes Guns fired on CLAUDE trench and a bombing party of the 73rd Battalion were supposed to attack under cover of this barrage, along CLAUDE trench from the north. It wasreported that our men had been seen in CLAUDE trench at S.15 a.85.80 but this proved on investigation to be incorrect. A patrol was ordered out to investigate, but were fired upon. At 8 p.m. a message was received from Brigade that the Bosche intended counter attacking so "A" and "D" Companies were ordered up fron Blue Bull Tunnel to reinforce our position. The counter attack did not materialise, the situation remaining normal throughout the night except for very heavy artillery fire behind the enemy's lines.

At 5.45 a.m. 13th I was advised of a series of explosions behind the enemy's lines. Brigade was immediately advised of this and at the same time a patrol was ordered to be sent forward to try and ascertain the cause. They reported that owing to our artillery fire they could not get forward.

At 6.30 a.m. I was advised that our men had occupied CLAUDE trench, shortly after this was confirmed by Brigade stating that 72nd occupied CLAUDE trench. A patrol was ordered to be pushed northward along CLUCK trench to connect with the 72nd also another patrol to push along CLUCK forward in a north easterly direction. Colonel Clarke C.C. 72nd Battalion came along and got a patrol with Lewis Gun from us and pushed forward to a point where CYANIDE and CLUCK trenches meet at S.15 b.81/2.9, patrols of the 38th and 78th Battalions also entered CYCLIST and BABY trenches and established posts there, all these patrols being covered by strong supporting bodies. About 10 a.m. our patrols in conjunction with patrols of the 72nd and 78th Battalions entered GIVENCHY. Patrols were then pushed by us to the south of GIVENCHY and by the 72nd through the northern parat of it and along to the N VIMY)ANGRES Line which they reached about 12.30 p.m. About 1.P.M. I received an urgent message from Colonel Clarke for support on his right so brought up the covering parties arriving at S.10.d.8.6 about 1.30 p.m. where we established joint Battalion Headquarters, the 72nd Battalion taking over the line from this point to the north and we taking it over from the south for about 800 yards establishing strong points along the same. Our right was still not connected up but the 78th were covering it from the rear and later the 11th Brigade advabced along the lint. Communication was kept up by telephone with the front line throughout and on the advance to GIVENCHY, lines were run to that point.

CARRYING PARTIES - Tump line party consisting of one Officer and 52 other ranks were used in connection with the bringing up of rations and acting as stretcher bearers, also a carrying party of 16 men for the 12th Machine Gun Company for bringing up ammunition. Carrying parties were detailed from reinforcement up and from stragglers of ours who had got

-4- 35 mixed with other Battalions and reported to Headquarters, and ration parties were sent in from the line. Ammunition was sent up and dumps established along our new line CYRUS and BABY trenches and No. 6 crater. Ammunition sent up amounted to :-

S.A.A 175.000 rounds No. 5 Mill bombs 900 No. 23 " " 350 Red S.O.S. 84 White Very Lights 500

Strength taking part in operations covering this period was as follows :-

Officers who went over with waves ………………………………… 12 Officers at Battalion Headquarters …………………………………... 7 Officers brought up as reinforcements …………………………….. 3 Other ranks going over with waves ………………………………….. 550 Other ranks brought up as reinforcements ………………………. 60 Signallers and Runners …………………………………………………….. 24 Medical Staff ……………………………………………………………………. 5 Headquarters details ………………………………………………………. 5 Tump Line carrying party ………………………………………………… 52 Carrying party for 12th machine gun coy …………………………. 16 Other ranks as Tunnel Guard …………………………………………… 11 ------- Total …………………. 744

Casualties during the period April 9th to 13th were

Officers Other ranks

Killed 4 54 Wounded 9 214 Missing - 44

Total 325

MATERIAL CAPTURED

5 Tons perdite 1 Heavy Trench mortar 1w No. 1729 2 Light “ “ (brought in and placed on dump in 3 Machine Guns (ZOUAVE VALLEY) 1 ½ Doz .S.W.W. discs with tape 100 German rifles 11.500 S.A.A. in belts 2 doz rifle grenades 4 spare barrels for machine gns 1 sap winch 1 sap barrel 6 Coils Cable 35 Stick Bombs 3 Telephone sets

Prisoners taken 2 officers 145 other ranks

I have the Honor to be Sir Your Obedient servant W.S. Ward Major O.C. 38th Canadian Inf Battn

War Diary, April Battle reports sent in Appendix by Capt T. W. MacDowell

April 9/17 61 10.30am

O.C. 38th Battalion.

Have been along the line. The dug out we occupy is at the corner of CYRUS and BABY. It has three entrances well distant from each other and will hold easily 250 men at the very [cross xx] least. The tunnel leads down towards our line which I did not explore. It has a winch and cable for hoisting. There are only 15 men with me of whom two are stretcher bearers. The rifles are one mass of mud. I have two Lewis guns and only four pans. Both guns are out of action on account of the mud. We have a very few bombs as we had to bomb several dug outs.

The 78th I have no trace of but there are two German machine guns just in front of us. They are firing constantly. Snipers are also busy. We cannot locate them as yet. The 72nd are on the left and seem to be spread along fairly well. The ground is practicably impassable. His aeroplanes come over and saw a few on my men at the dug out entrance and now we are getting his heavies from our right on his left.

I have no Subalterns or N C O’s. and unless I get a few more men with serviceable rifles I hate to admit it, but we may be driven out. Three of my men are wounded as it is do I might as well tell you the facts of the case.

The runner has just come in with your message. We are in BABY trench slightly to the right of CYRUS. I was wrong in my other message as to my location as I had just arrived. I will try to get in touch with Major Howland “D” Coy. 38th but dont like to leave here as I mentioned above have not an Officer or N.C.O. There are a lot of wounded out in front of here and I can see by the rifles sticking up. The heavy battery from the right is working vety well at present.

(signed) T.W. MacDowell, Captain 38th Battalion