38th_War_Diary_Complete

WAR DIARY

38th Cdn. Battalion 4th Canadian Division from 1st to 30th November, 1916. Volume 4. Diary Text 4 Pages.

WAR DIARY or INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY

Army Form C. 2118.

Page 1

38th Battalion Canadians

Original Confidential

War Diary for the month of November 1916

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

Somme Front 1916 Nov. 1 Transport Lines at Tara Hill - Battalion in Chalk Pits. Working parties supplied - Wet weather. RBO'S

2 Paymaster at Chalk Pits to pay Batt but orders having been received that Batt. would return to trenches that afternoon, pay was postponed - Brigade staff paid - Wet weather - RBO'S

3 Batt. returned from trenches to Transport Lines - Wet. RBO'S

4 Batt. received issue of clean clothing and paraded to battle in Albert - Part of Battalion paid before being moved to Bouzincourt at 2.30 pm - Wet. RBO'S

5 Batt. at Bouzincourt - Paid by P.M. - High wind - RBO'S

6 Batt. at Bouzincourt - Wet weather - Hostile airmen exploded trench ammunition dump - Heavy hostile shelling of vicinity of Transport lines - High explosive calibre - Bombs dropped in lines - No casualties - Tents nearly blown over by concussions - Short of coal and wood - RBO'S

7. Batt at Bouzincourt - Wet weather - Our gains in vicinity very active through the day & preceding night - RBO'S

8 Batt. at B - Showers through the day - Mutual firing in evening and night.

C M Edwards Lt Col. Commander, 38th Battn Canadians

WAR DIARY or INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY

Army Form C. 2118.

Page 2

38th Batt. Canadians

Original Confidential

War Diary for the month of November 1916

Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information

Bouzin Court 1916 Nov 9 Batt at B. Transport lines at Tava Hill - Brigade manoeuvres . No rain. Severe enemy shelling in afternoon - German aerial activity - Quiet at night. RBO'S

10. Batt at B. Fine weather - Brigade manoeuvres. German airmen very active. Heavy bombardment by our guns at night - aerial fight over transport lines. Vicinity shelled. Batt warned to leave B for trenches. Order cancelled later in the afternoon. RBO'S

11. Batt at B - Heavy bombardment by our guns. No rain but heavy moist mist. RBO'S

12. Batt at B. Heavy bombardment by our guns from early morning - Fair weather. RBO'S

13. Batt at B. Good weather. Vicinity transport lines shelled.

14. Batt at B. Transport lines paid. - Fine weather. Enemy shelled Albert & vicinity of transport lines both morn - ing and afternoon - *nearly got the Paymaster and cash in the mornings -* (*Crossed through). Fires started in Albert in the afternoon - Large* (*Crossed through) number of casualties. RBO'S

15. Batt at B - Paid by P.M. with exception of working parties - Fine weather - Transport vicinity shelled at night. RBO'S

16. Battallion at B. Working parties not paid on previous day paid by P.M. Notice received by Batt. at 12.30 pm

Instructions regarding War Diaries and Intelligence Summaries are contained in F.S. Regs., Par 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 3

38th Batt

Original Confidential

War Diary for the month of november

Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information 4

Bouzincourt 1916 Nov 16 cont that it was to move up to the front lines at 2.30 pm which was done and Batt proceeded to location near Pozières on Bapaume road. Cold weather RBO'S

x. BN in F.L.T. sw 17th

17 x Batt near Pozières - very cold weather, ground frozen. Enemy operated a gun from new direction on vicinity of Transport Lines & registered two direct hits on the Ordnance, causing a large amount of damage. Several killed and wounded in vicinity RBO'S

18. Batt in front line. Attack commenced at 6.10 am 87th Batt on right. East Surrey on left flank - All battalions obtained their objective. Large list of casualties Snow early in the morning, later turning to rain - Albert & vicinity of Transport Lines untroubled by enemy shelling or aeroplanes - Desite trench occupied. RBO'S

19 Batt. being revielved - Stragglers returning - Wounded being sent out as rapidly as possible RBO'S

20 Batt moved to billets in Albert & work of reorganisation of Batt, commenced. Transport lines remained at Tara Hill - Fair weather RBO'S

21 Batt. in Albert - counting losses & reorganising - Issue of clotting made - Fair weather - cold.

WAR DIARY or INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY

Army Form C. 2118.

Page 4

38th Batt. Canadians

Original - Confidential War Diary for the Month of November 1916

Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information

Albert 1916 Nov 22 Batt at Albert. - Moved to Bouzincourt at 2pm. Heavy bombardment by our guns at night and continued through the day - Weather fine. Heavy mist at night - Search parties sent out for bodies of Officers - three bodies recovered. Capt Sears - Lieut. Lumsden - Lieut Parker - Eleven casualties to search party - Fine weather. RBO'S

Bouzincourt 23 Funeral of 3 Officers at 10am. Gen. Watson & staff & Col. Edwards and officers of 38th attended funeral - Warm weather. RBO'S

" 24 Reinforcement of 118 other ranks paraded before the Pay Master at Bouzincourt Fine weather. RBO'S

"25 Batt at Bouzincourt - Transport lines still at Tara Hill. Notice to move received. RBO'S

Varennes 26. The Batt moved with Transport Lines from Bouzincourt at 2.30 pm under Major Fergusson. Col. Edwards acting Brigadier *General* (crossed through) of 12th Brigade. Batt arrived at Varennes at 6 pm and went into billets. Very cold. RBO'S

Robompré 27. Batt left Varennes at 12.15 noon, arriving at Robompre at 5.15 pm. Went into billets. RBO'S

28. Batt resting - Physical drill. Heavy fog - very cold. RBO'S

29. Batt resting - cold weather. RBO'S

Beauval 30. Batt started for Beauval at 11.45, arriving at 2 pm and were billeted for the night. Very cold and heavy fog. RBO'S