38th_War_Diary_Complete

Instructions regarding War Diaries and Intelligence Summaries are contained in F.S. Regs. Part II. and the Staff Manual respectively. Title Pages will be prepared in manuscript.

WAR DIARY or INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY (Erase heading not required.)

Army Form C. 2118.

Page 7

38th Canadians

Original Confidential War Diary for month of March 1917

Place -- Date -- Hour -- Summary of Events and Information Remarks and references to Appendices

Trenches 1917 March 27 cont.

a height of probably fifty feet in No Man's Land and the simultaneous subsidence of the ground left a hole between 20 and 30 feet in diameter at about s.15.c.10.45. It is worthy of note that the Artillery of the enemy during the past 24 hours has shown greater activity than previously. Several shells landed in the vicinity of our Front Line and also in Zouave Valley. In the course of the morning, quite a number of H.E. and shrapnel were fired on our front line area. In the afternoon Zouave Valley was heavily bombarded with shrapnel and H.E., Ersatz Communication Tranch at the West side of Zouave Valley being blown in in two or three places. Our left front received some attention from the enemy's Trench Mortars, a few Whiz Bangs being thrown over in the morning. Our working parties last night were fired on by Machine Guns. Our Lewis and Brigade Machine guns fired on two enemy machines that flew over our lines this morning. When we made a trial last night with coloured flares, the enemy evidently feared an

2449 Wt W14957/M90 750,000 1/16 J.B.C. & A. Forms/C.2118/12.

Instructions regarding War Diaries and Intelligence Summaries are contained in F.S. Regs. Part II. and the Staff Manual respectively. Title Pages will be prepared in manuscript.

WAR DIARY or INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY (Erase heading not required.)

Army Form C. 2118.

Page 8

38th Canadians

Original Confidential War Diary for month March 1917

Place -- Date -- Hour -- Summary of Events and Information Remarks and references to Appendices

Trenches 1917 Mar. 27 cont attack as he immediately put up yellow or golden rockets, which brought down his artillery in about six minutes. Weather cold with occasional sleet & snow. RBO'S

do 28 Batt. in trenches. Vincent to Ersatz C.T. Our Artillery has been very active during the past twenty four hours, firing almost continually during last night and about five am very heavily. Also, at about noon, and again in the afternoon, both the heavies and 18 pounders put a heavy bombardment on the German front line. Suspicion having been aroused that the Germans had placed Machine Guns in certain positions our Stokes searched the suspected localities during the night and in the morning our 60 pouners fired for one hour on the enemy's lines at about s.15.c.90.60 & in that vicinity. Brigade Machine Guns and the Lewis Guns were active during last night, and through the day were used against enemy aircraft. One of our aircraft was lost this afternoon in an encounter with four hostiles, being forced to

2449 Wt W14957/M90 750,000 1/16 J.B.C. & A. Forms/C.2118/12.

Instructions regarding War Diaries and Intelligence Summaries are contained in F.S. Regs. Part II. and the Staff Manual respectively. Title Pages will be prepared in manuscript.

WAR DIARY or INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY. (Erase heading not required.)

Army Form C. 2118.

Page 9

38th Canadians

Original Confidential

War Diary for the month March 1917

Place -- Date -- Hour -- Summary of Events and Information Remarks and references to Appendices

Trenches 1917 Mar. 38 cont.

descend behind the enemy's lines. The Huns this afternoon pounded our trenches very severely. They succeeded in blowing our Front Line between Vincent and International in four places. Vincent C.T. near Front Line in five places, Snargate? near Vincent in several places. They registered direct hits on Right Battalion Headquarters, the Headquarters of the 12th Stokes Mortar Company, and one Company headquarters. There are all located on Hospital Ridge between International and Granby. The enemy fire from his larger gun, seems to come obliquely, as though fired from the neighbourhood of Givenchy and Bois de la Folles, thus enabling him to practically partially enfilade our lateral trenches. In conjunction with the Heavis?, the Germans this afternoon apparently used a light Trench Mortar and the use of a few Rifle Grenades was also noticed. Machine guns were used in the day time against our aircraft and against our lines during the night. Opposing aircraft have been busy all day. The efforts of the enemy to come over our

2449 Wt W14957/M90 750,000 1/16 J.B.C. & A. Forms/C.2118/12.

Instructions regarding War Diaries and Intelligence Summaries are contained in F.S. Regs. Part II. and the Staff Manual respectively. Title Pages will be prepared in manuscript.

WAR DIARY or INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY. (Erase heading not required.)

Army Form C. 2118.

Page 10

38th Canadians

Original Confidential

War Diary for Month March 1917

Place -- Date -- Hour -- Summary of Events and Information Remarks and references to Appendices

Trenches 1917 Mar. 28 cont. our lines being frustrated by our fire. Owing to the heavy firing last night, our Patrols were unable to approach as close as usual. ? enemy line, but they were able to note that no enemy movement occured in his front line. The Stokes Mortars fired three times during the night on our front. March 31, being the end of the fiscal year, the PayMaster, under orders turned in all vouchers and cash balance to Field Cashier. His returns were shown in his Cash Book & after verification, marked "Correct" by the Field Cashier. RBO'S

Trenches 29 Batt. in trenches. Vincent to Ercatz C.T. Our Artillery was quite active at intervals during the preceding night. From 9.30 pm until 11 pm our 18 pounders shelled the enemy's line about s.15.c.3.6 and s.15.c.4.7. (approximately). From 10 am till 12 noon today our heavies fired about 60 rounds on the enemy's back area. From 2.45 pm until 12 noon today our heavies fired about 60 rounds on the enemy's back area. From 2.45 pm until 4 o'clock pm our guns were very active in retaliation.

2449 Wt W14957/M90 750,000 1/16 J.B.C. & A. Forms/C.2118/12.

Instructions regarding War Diaries and Intelligence Summaries are contained in F.S. Regs. Part II. and the Staff Manual respectively. Title Pages will be prepared in manuscript.

WAR DIARY or INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY (Erase heading not required.)

Army Form C. 2118.

Page 11

38th Canadians

Original Confidential

War Diary Month March 1917

Place -- Date -- Hour -- Summary of Events and Information Remarks and references to Appendices

Trenches 1917 Mar. 29 cont About 9.45 am today, our Stokes put a few shells over at s.15.c.3.8. and between 11.45 am and 12.45 pm our medium Trench Mortars threw seven shells towards s.15.c.8.9. cutting the enemy wire at this point. There was the usual amount of Machine and Lewis Gun activity during last night, but during the day quietude reigned. Owing to bad weather conditions, aircraft were reduced to an enforced idleness, and but one incident occurred during the last evening, when a hostile attacked one of our machines over Zouave Valley, but was driven off. With regret, it must be admitted that the recent bombardment by the enemy of Zouave Valley has produced results that have rendered our protective measures insecure and may result in a temporary change of communication ?ttrosh? Ersatz and Blue Bull C.T.'s have become practically impassable and Lt. Colonel Edwards, N.S.O. C.O. 38th has suggested that unless some ar-

2449 Wt W14957/M90 750,000 1/16 J.B.C. & A. Forms/C.2118/13.