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 27

38th Canadians

Original Confidential

War Diary Month April 1917

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

Front Line 1917 Ap. 27 cont. Special patrols, at nights, should be told off for the purpose of locating and watching every move of the enemy. It is considered quite possible to push forward the block on our right flank very considerably. Immediate steps should be taken to this end. The following Operation Order is issued by the 38th Can. Inf. Batt. - no 68. Major R.F. Parkinson C.O.

1- The Canadian Corps will carry out an attack in two stages. Tomorrow the 28th April.

2. The first stage consists of the capture and consolidation of objective for 1st Can. Division on extreme right. The Second Canadian Div. will also be engaged in this.

3- The secodn stage conssits of the capture of FRESROY and ACHEVILLE by the same two Division.

4- The 3rd and 4th Can. Divisions will co-operate & simulate attack on their respective fronts by every possible means.

5- The 12th Can. Inf. Bde has been ordered to establish its trench lines as if for attack. Intense Lewis Gun

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

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 28

38th Canadians

Original Confidential

War Diary Month April 1917

Place -- Date -- Hour -- Summary of Events and Information Remarks and references to Appendices 29

Front Line 1917 Ap. 27 cont. and Rifle fire will be employed against the enemy's lines and posts during the attack. Field Artillery barrages will also be arranged.

6- Action of 38th Battalion. Policy to be followed. Keep as many men as possible under cover. At zero hour, which will be notified later, open up with burst of Lewis Gun and rifle fire from those men on duty with Lewis Gun from all along our front line for, roughly, five minutes. After this, maintain our front line with a few Lewis gun posts, all others getting under cover, before the enemy artillery fire for retaliation opens. 4 Lewis Gun posts should be sufficient to maintain our front line. All troops in rear of Front Line will, of course, keep under cover from zero hour.

7. All copies of above order received by Officers in the Front Line will be destroyed after taking notes from same for guidance purposes. RBO'S

Reports and Orders for 28th 29th 30th will be submitted in a Supplementary Report. RBO'S

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

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 29

38th Canadians

Original Confidential

War Diary Month April 1917

Place -- Date -- Hour -- Summary of Events and Information Remarks and references to Appendices 30

Field Vimy Ridge 1917 Ap. 30

Appendices

no I. Account of "The Battle of Vimy Ridge" 3 copies. author - Capt. R.B. O'Sullivan

2. Report of Operations of 38th Can. Inf. Batt. April 9th to 13th 1917. Author Major W.S. Wood.

3. Operation order for Battle of Vimy Ridge.

4. Battle reports from Capt. F.W. MacDowell D.S.O

5. Phone Tabs in first part of battle.

6. Tracings of Craters S.15. Central. RBO'S

R.F. Parkinson Major Commanding 38th Can. Inf. Bn

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

JCF/COPY May 17th, 1917 P. 896 31

A.A.G., Canaidian Section General Headquarters, 3rd Echelon, France.

Reference No. K.F.12039

Appendix 1 referred to in the attached was merely an unofficial story of this operation written by one of our officers.

Through an over-sight it was mentioned in our War Diary, but it was pointed out by Brigade that same had no official connection with same, and for this reason it was detached.

(sgd.) R. F. PARKINSON, Major, Commanding 38th Canadian Inf.Battn.

A.G's.Office at the Base Canaidan Section.22-5-17, K.F. 12039

In the field April 19th 1717 W-400 Appendix “2”

Headquarters 12th Canadian Infantry Brigade. 32

REPORT ON OPERATIONS OF 38TH CANADIAN INFANTRY BATTALION APRIL 9TH. TO 13TH. 1917 -----------------------------------------------------------

By Major W.S. Wood

STRENGTH GOING OVER ON APRIL 9TH. 1917.

The 38th Canadian Infantry Battalion attached the enemy’s position at 8:30am. April 9th, in four waves, with a total strength in the waves of 12 Officers and 550 O.R.. In addition to this there were the Commanding Officer and six other officers at Battalion Headquarters, the R.S.M. 3 Orderly Room Clerks, 14 Signallers, 16 Runners, 5 Medical Staff in Blue Bull Tunnel.

REINFORCEMENTS During the day three Officers and 60 Other Ranks, specialists were ordered up from Chateau de la Haie, thesevtaking parts in subsequent operations.

DISPOSITION Point of Assembly Blue Bull Tunnel. Battalion Headquarters, Blue Bull Tunnel. Disposition on jumping off point was “A” and “D” Companies in the first wave, “A” Company in MANDORA SOUTH from VINCENT STREET exclusive, S.15.c.15.18 to OAKLEY Ave, MANDORA CENTRAL S.14.d. O.65 inclusive: “D” Company in MANDORA CENTRAL at OAKLEY AVE, exclusive to ERSATZ ALLEY S.14 b. 75.20 MANDORA NORTH: “C” COY in “A” Assembly trenches on the right immediately behind “A” Company, “B” Coy in “A” Assembly trenches immediately behind “D” Company.

THE ATTACK 5.30am The Battalion jumped off at 5.30 a.m

5.45 a.m. Lieut. Colonel C.M. Edwards reported the Battalion as having taken its first and second objectives Retaliation not very heavy but a good deal of shrapnel.

6.05 a.m Lieut. Colonel C.M. Edwards reported having a Signal Station established at No.6 crater and that front line was taken without opposition.

6.13 a.m. Report that we had walked right through the craters. Everything all right on left but no report from right. 7 prisoners of 261st Regiment brought in.

6.25 a.m. Telephone report from No.6 crater that all objectives taken.

6.54 a.m. Report telephoned that one of aeroplanes working on # our left flank flying very low. Everything seems very good.

7.25 a.m Report from forward phone that we have lines staked and are proceeding with consolidation. Cannot get information of exact line but can see picks and shovels working. Aeroplanes flying very low over us.

8.25 a.mLieut.Crowell came in wounded reporting a great deal of sniping from our right. Lieut. Colonel Edwards took this information to Brigade and was wounded about 8.35 a.m. on his way over.