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

Somme Front -- 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. -- RBOS

Somme Front -- 3 -- -- Batt. returned from trenches to Transport Lines - Wet. -- RBOS

Somme Front -- 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. -- RBOS

Somme Front -- 5 -- -- Batt. at Bouzincourt - Paid by P.M. - High wind. -- RBOS

Somme Front -- 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 -- RBOS

Somme Front -- 7 -- -- Batt at Bouzincourt - Wet weather - Our gains in vicinity very active through the day & preceding night -- RBOS

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

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

Bouzincourt -- 1916 Nov 9 -- -- Batt at B. Transport lines at Tara Hill - Brigade manoeuvres . No rain. Severe enemy shelling in afternoon - German aerial activity - Quiet at night. -- RBOS

Bouzincourt -- 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. -- RBOS

Bouzincourt -- 11 -- -- Batt at B - Heavy bombardment by our guns. No rain but heavy moist mist. -- RBOS

Bouzincourt -- 12 -- -- Batt at B. Heavy bombardment by our guns from early morning - Fair weather. -- RBOS

Bouzincourt -- 13 -- -- Batt at B. Good weather. Vicinity transport lines shelled. -- RBOS

Bouzincourt -- 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 morning -* (*Crossed through). Fires started in Albert in the afternoon - Large* (*Crossed through) number of casualties. -- RBOS

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

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

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 -- RBOS

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 -- RBOS

Pozières -- 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. -- RBOS

Pozières -- 19 -- Batt. being revielved - Stragglers returning - Wounded being sent out as rapidly as possible -- RBOS

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

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

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 -- RBOS

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

Bouzincourt -- 24 -- -- Reinforcement of 118 other ranks paraded before the Pay Master at Bouzincourt. Fine weather. -- RBOS

Bouzincourt -- 25 -- -- Batt at Bouzincourt - Transport lines still at Tara Hill. Notice to move received. -- RBOS

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. -- RBOS

Robompré -- 27 -- -- Batt left Varennes at 12.15 noon, arriving at Robompré at 5.15 pm. Went into billets. -- RBOS

Robompré -- 28 -- -- Batt resting - Physical drill. Heavy fog - very cold. -- RBOS

Robompré -- 29 -- -- Batt resting - cold weather. -- RBOS

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