One hundred years ago on 6 May 1917
31st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a sub-unit of the 8th Canadian Field Artillery Brigade in the 3rd Canadian Division. It is in the process of being transferred to the 9th Canadian Field Artillery Brigade. The 8th Brigade war diary records: In the Field. VIMY & LA CHAUDIERE 36.c.S.W.3 Ed. 8A. 1/10,000. Headquarters and 30th Battery under tactical command of 10th Brigade, CFA. 32nd and 43rd Batteries under Tactical Command of 9th Brigade C.F.A. The 9th Brigade war diary records the following: Visibility good. Enemy Artillery fire has been normal today. Particular attention has been paid, by him, to VIMY and roads leading to it. Enemy Planes were very active and numbers of them were over our lines throughout the day. One of our Scout machines was engaged by three hostile Aeroplanes at 10 A.M. Our machine was hit and although it turned over and over six or seven times, the pilot regained control and made a safe landing. 58th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a sub-unit of the 14th Canadian Field Artillery Brigade in the 5th Canadian Division. The Division was training in England and the Brigade war diary records: WITLEY – Church Parade in TIN TOWN. G.O.C.R.A. inspected the horse lines and appeared pleased with them. MR. MATTHEWS artist for MONTREAL STAR took some photos around camp. LADY BYNG visited camp in afternoon. ? ? being turned in ? were warned for a test mobilization. Two NCOs SGT WRAY 61st & BDR DRENNAN 66th on GUN COURSE. Four men for S.S. course at SHORNCLIFFE. Fine weather. Full moon. 5th Canadian Siege Battery, Canadian Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force war diary records: SOUCHEZ – At 3.30.a.m we received an S.O.S. call and fired 15 Rounds on N31b 4.2. No 3 Gun was registered during the morning on T3a 3.8 observed by F.O.O. 16 Rounds were also fired into AVION at T3aO.9. to T3a 3.9 there were 6 O.K’s on Houses. During the afternoon we fired 116 rounds on LA COULOTTE West of Arras Road in N31c (Communication trench). The 15th Field Artillery Regiment RCA perpetuates the following sub units: 31st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force, 58th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force, 5th Canadian Siege Battery, Canadian Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force, 68th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, North Russia Expeditionary Force, was not authorized to be formed until 3 August 1918, and 85th Battery, Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force was not authorized to be formed until 12 July 1918. The I's were a lot fewer than the previous H's! Only three new names and a couple of amendments.
Ihloff, Ronald Leslie Karl; Ingram, William James; Ivins, Christopher Mark. I also came up with a few more profile photos. Can you find them in the nominal roll? Discovered a Military Medal awarded to a soldier in the 31st Battery for his actions at Vimy Ridge!
Signaller Thomas Leroy Chambers, MM was a member of 31st Battery Canadian Field Artillery and was awarded the Military Medal for his actions at Vimy Ridge. The citation reads: For gallant and meritorious service. This man was one of the two who accompanied Lieut. Scott (since killed) with the first waves of the Infantry attack at Vimy April 9th., 1917. In spite of great difficulties he succeeded in establishing telephone communication with Group Headquarters from a forward O.P. on the far slope of the RIDGE. The information he thus made it possible to send back as to the disposition of our own and enemy troops was of the greatest value. Throughout the day under heavy shellfire Signaller Chambers steadily patrolled the line, repairing many breaks, and succeeded in maintaining constant communication with Group Headquarters. One hundred years ago on 5 May 1917
31st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a sub-unit of the 8th Canadian Field Artillery Brigade in the 3rd Canadian Division. The 8th Brigade war diary records: In the Field. VIMY & LA CHAUDIERE 36.c.S.W.3 Ed. 8A. 1/10,000. Comparatively quiet. A little shelling of Vimy.3rd C.D.A. re-organized into three groups. Hqrs., 8th Brigade, CFA becomes Hqrs. Of Goodeve’s Brigade with – 30th Battery – 6 18 pdr. Guns, 32nd Battery, - 6 18 pdr. Guns, and 43rd How. Battery, 4-4.5” Hows. The 9th Brigade war diary records the following: Visibility Poor. Doubtless owing to low visibility, considerable movement was observed in the enemy forward lines during the day. Numerous parties were taken on by our Batteries, dispersed and in some cases inflicted casualties. O.O. No. 70 issued today orders a co-operation between Heavy Artillery, Field Artillery and Aeroplanes in order to carry out a concentrated offensive on hostile Batteries. By this means at least three of our Batteries will fire at the same time upon an enemy one. Corrections for the shoot will be given by Aeroplanes and it is planned to have a machine for every five hundred Square yards. 58th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a sub-unit of the 14th Canadian Field Artillery Brigade in the 5th Canadian Division. The Division was training in England and the Brigade war diary records: WITLEY – OC’s Inspection of lines. BULLEN return from detention at WOKING obtained 4 days reprieve of sentence for G.C. Lovely weather still continues. Very windy today and dusty. The 66th Battery won from the 61st at Baseball by 4-2. 5th Canadian Siege Battery, Canadian Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force war diary records: SOUCHEZ – At 11.40.a.m. we registered 2 Guns on Trench Junction, Embankment and Road in N33c 97.90 by ground observation. 216 Rounds were fired in the afternoon on trenches in M36d 4.7 to 3.9 and M36d 5.8 to 5.0. many rounds were seen to fall into the trench and shoot was very satisfactory. During the evening 58 Rounds were fired on LA CHAUDIERE in N31c 45.10 to 80.45, this was again repeated at 10.15.p.m. The 15th Field Artillery Regiment RCA perpetuates the following sub units: 31st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force, 58th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force, 5th Canadian Siege Battery, Canadian Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force, 68th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, North Russia Expeditionary Force, was not authorized to be formed until 3 August 1918, and 85th Battery, Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force was not authorized to be formed until 12 July 1918. Wow, I didn't realize that there were so many names that started with H!
Hale, Clayton Jonathan; Hall, David Andrew; Hall, Michael Kevin Scott; Halliday, Matthew Robert; Hammel, James Austin; Hanker, Rene Kurt Bernard; Hanlon, Erin Patricia; Hanlon, Lee; Harding, Brian Russell; Harper, Garner Cameron Ian; Harper, Roland Edgar; Hart, Blair Joseph Lee; Haskell, Peter Raymond; Hawkshaw, Robert Stephan; Hawrylecki, Michael James; Hayden, Earle Brenton; Hayes, Travis Mitchell; Heartz, John Edward; Hefti, Stephanie Elisabeth; Hendry, Jeremy Alexander Norman; Hermann, Thomas Charles; Hesselgrave, Ian Barry; Hetherington, Alan Fraser; Hicken, David Lloyd; Hickey, Charles Hartwell; Hildebrandt, Robin Walline; Hill, Robert Anthony; Hine, Ernest Herbert; Hinz, Dieter William; Hogan, Joseph Henry; Holm, Ellen Roberta; Holt, Stephan Robert; Hood, Cory James; Horner, Beverly Ruth; House, Aaron Drew; Hovorka, Jamie Francis; Howatt, Harold Keith; Hu, Zheng Qiao; Hucke, Steven Michael; Hufanda, Abel Sarabia; Hughes, Joseph Dave; Hun, Sarah Katalin; Hunt, James Gordon; Hunter, Richard Chant; Hurry, Robert; Hurt, Andrew Michael; Husband, Laurie Jean These are all newly added without an equivalent number of amendments. Hope fully there are fewer I's! The Battery Captain 68 Battery, Captain Isaac Skuce, and the Battery Captain 31 Battery, Captain Rob Wishnicki.
May the Fourth be with you! A new recipient of the Military Medal has been found in the on-line Canadian Expeditionary Force files for the 5th Siege Battery. Sergeant Joseph Henry Hogan, MM was a member of 3rd Brigade Canadian Garrison Artillery when awarded the Military Medal on 24 Jan 1919. Gunner Hogan had been an original member of the No 5. Canadian Siege Battery when formed in Prince Edward Island in 1916. In the Second World War he was commissioned and commanded the 2nd Battalion Governor General's Foot Guards. His citation for the Military Medal reads: The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the field: Now we just need to find a photo of him from his Gunner days....
One hundred years ago on 4 May 1917 31st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a sub-unit of the 8th Canadian Field Artillery Brigade in the 3rd Canadian Division. The Brigade war diary records: In the Field. VIMY & LA CHAUDIERE 36.c.S.W.3 Ed. 8A. 1/10,000. A normal day. Hostile fire somewhat less. No day firing, but usual night firing. 35th Battery put over 30 gas shells during the night. 58th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a sub-unit of the 14th Canadian Field Artillery Brigade in the 5th Canadian Division. The Division was training in England and the Brigade war diary records: WITLEY – About 40 men of 66th inoculated. Training in Gun Park carried on. 5th Canadian Siege Battery, Canadian Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force war diary records: SOUCHEZ – From 12 Noon to 12.45 P.M. we fired 17 Rounds on T3a 3.8 to check error of day. At 1.45 p.m. started a shoot on Machine Gun Emplacement in T1b 1.3 ½ . This shoot was observed by F.O.O. Lieut. May 100 Rounds were fired, F.O.O. reporting 4 O.K’s and emplacement totally destroyed. At 5.30. p.m. a plane registered us on a Telephone exchange near Cross Roads at M33c 7.5, 16 Rds were fired for registration and 160 Rounds were then fired for effect. Registration was very good. A Concentrated shoot of 10 Rounds on N27c 8.1 was fired at 8.20.p.m. The 15th Field Artillery Regiment RCA perpetuates the following sub units: 31st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force, 58th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force, 5th Canadian Siege Battery, Canadian Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force, 68th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, North Russia Expeditionary Force, was not authorized to be formed until 3 August 1918, and 85th Battery, Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force was not authorized to be formed until 12 July 1918. QF 18- pounder guns Sir Robert Borden Bramshot UK Apr 1917. Library and Archives Canada Photo MIKAN No. 3642847
The G's have been updated with the addition of the following names and a multitude of changes to some of the existing ones. Check out some of these new additions:
Gagne, Donald; Galdames, Eduardo; Gallant, Cyrus; Gallant, Emmanuel John; Gamage (Drinnan), Janet Elizabeth; Gamai, Emil John; Garrett, Chester Fenton; Gass, Laurence Henderson; Gau, Joanne Leah; Gaudet, Cornelius Joseph; Gaudet, Joseph James; Gauthier, Charles Oswald; Ghag, Manohar Singh; Gibson, Chad Everret; Gibson, William Osmund; Gladue, Bella Franciss; Glaspine, Lauren Gail; Goes, Chris John; Goodfellow, Jennifer Karen; Graham, Charlene Cheryl; Graham, Richard Alfred; Graham, Scott Andrew; Grangeaud, Christian Charles; Grant, Pat Conrad; Gray, Nicholas Thomas; Grewal, Kulbir Singh; Griffith, Sydney; Guildford, David Adams Guildford, David Adams There's all sorts of interesting material in the archives. Not all of it has been placed on our website including the attached charge sheet. Is that one of the BSM's ancestors? The war diary of 31 Battery has revealed 5 names that have been added to the nominal roll. Cochrane, Hew Grant; Gibson, William Osmund; McKay, Mark Harold; Robertson, Donald Graham; Ryerson, Arthur Connaught; Sherlock, Earle Victor The following file is the nominal roll of the 8th Canadian Field Artillery Brigade as they embarked from St John NB on 5 Feb 1916. Unfortunately it does not show the Battery that each person was assigned to.
|
Archives
June 2024
|