Just got some great photos from Al Yelland that I'll be putting on-line over the next couple of weeks. Here's what the Warrant Officers' and Sergeants' Mess looked like back in 2000. Check out the rest of the photos in the 2000 Yearbook.
One hundred years ago on 4 August 1917
31st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a sub-unit of the 9th Canadian Field Artillery Brigade in the 3rd Canadian Division. The 9th Brigade war diary records: Visibility fair. Enemy artillery fairly active at irregular intervals on Loos, F ?, Maroc and the rear areas. Some movement of men was seen in the German trenches. No enemy planes or balloons up. 3rd Canadian Divisional Artillery war diary records: BRAQUEMONT - Rain all day; very poor visibility. Enemy devoted some attention to back area, shelling BRAQUEMONT twice during the day but doing no damage. This was probably in retaliation for the activity of our heavies. Germans do not seem to be repairing the wire in front of our brigade. Our aeroplanes were active several times during the day. Ammunition expended A.56. HX. 300. Guns in action 32 18-pdrs., 4 13-pdrs., 12 4.5" how. 5th Canadian Siege Battery, Canadian Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a sub-unit of 1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group for administration and under command 2nd Canadian Heavy Artillery Group for Counter-Battery. Their war diary records: ANGRES - During the month of August the Battery took part in the capture of Hill 70, also the taking of the Green Crasier and all the fighting on the Lens front. During this time the Battery was twice heavily shelled by 8” and on several occasions we were bombarded with Gas Shells. 1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group war diary records: Cabaret Rouge – Feint barrage at 5.35 p.m. by all batteries. Forward observers report much damage done. Concentrations and harassing completed day's program. 2nd Canadian Heavy Artillery Group was placed in tactical control of 5th Canadian Siege Battery for counter battery work. The 2nd CHAG war diary records: X.23.b.1.5 - Wet and dull, clearing towards afternoon. Little hostile artillery activity. Visibility poor. A number of destructive shoots successfully carried out. Concentrated shoot at noon on CITE ST. AUGUSTE. Considerable harassing fire throughout day and night. Ammunition expended:- 60-pr. 8”How 6”How 9.2”How 4.5”How 632 128 614 395 704 General Officer Commanding, Royal Artillery, Canadian Corps war diary records: In the Field - WEATHER: cloudy & misty, some rain with bright intervals. The 15th Field Artillery Regiment RCA perpetuates the following sub units: 31st 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. One hundred years ago on 3 August 1917
31st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a sub-unit of the 9th Canadian Field Artillery Brigade in the 3rd Canadian Division. The 9th Brigade war diary records: Visibility fair. The day was very quiet except for a hostile barrage about 4.00am on LOOS and LOOS CRASSIER. Our artillery very active against wire and enemy defences. No balloons or aeroplances observed up. 3rd Canadian Divisional Artillery war diary records: BRAQUEMONT - Bad weather is still keeping up interfering with visibility, and making conditions more and more unsuitable for an attack. The usual night firing by our artillery was carried out. The enemy did some scattered shelling during the day and night, one 4.1 shell hitting just behind the 33rd battery horse lines at LES BREBIS. Eighteen horses died or were destroyed and four were wounded. One man was killed. Ammunition expended A.42, HX.300. Guns in action 32 18-pdrs., 4 13-pdrs., 12 4.5" how. 5th Canadian Siege Battery, Canadian Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a sub-unit of 1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group for administration and under command 2nd Canadian Heavy Artillery Group for Counter-Battery. Their war diary records: ANGRES - During the month of August the Battery took part in the capture of Hill 70, also the taking of the Green Crasier and all the fighting on the Lens front. During this time the Battery was twice heavily shelled by 8” and on several occasions we were bombarded with Gas Shells. 1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group war diary records: Cabaret Rouge – Sergt. Vice, 72nd. SAHA., of this group was decorated with the Military Medal. This N.C.O. repaired telephone lines and kept communication up with an advanced O.P. in front of our lines under constant heavy shelling. Good observation was thereby obtained on enemy wire which was destroyed to the satisfaction of the infantry. Harassing fire on railway lines and embankments around LENS carried out during day. 2nd Canadian Heavy Artillery Group was placed in tactical control of 5th Canadian Siege Battery for counter battery work. The 2nd CHAG war diary records: X.23.b.1.5 - Wet and rainy. Visibility nil. Little counter battery work, but a good deal of harassing fire throughout day and night. Ammunition expended:- 60-pr. 8”How 6”How 9.2”How 4.5”How 417 106 279 72 505 General Officer Commanding, Royal Artillery, Canadian Corps war diary records: In the Field - WEATHER: cloudy with frequent showers - cool. The 15th Field Artillery Regiment RCA perpetuates the following sub units: 31st 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. One hundred years ago on 2 August 1917
31st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a sub-unit of the 9th Canadian Field Artillery Brigade in the 3rd Canadian Division. The 9th Brigade war diary records: No enemy planes or balloons up today. Enemy artillery less active than usual. Our Heavies very active all day. Visibility poor. 3rd Canadian Divisional Artillery war diary records: BRAQUEMONT - Visibility poor on account of rain. No aeroplanes were observed. Artillery was quiet on the enemy side, active on our side on enemy wire and defences. Loos was shelled by the enemy, but the day was comparatively quiet. Ammunition expended A.46. HX. 200. Guns in action 32 18-pdrs., 4 13-pdrs., 12 4.5" how. 5th Canadian Siege Battery, Canadian Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a sub-unit of 1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group for administration and under command 2nd Canadian Heavy Artillery Group for Counter-Battery. Their war diary records: ANGRES - During the month of August the Battery took part in the capture of Hill 70, also the taking of the Green Crasier and all the fighting on the Lens front. During this time the Battery was twice heavily shelled by 8” and on several occasions we were bombarded with Gas Shells. 1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group war diary records: Cabaret Rouge – Feint barrage at 4.45 a.m. Rainy weather for the past two days necessitated the postponement of operations against Hill 70 until more favourable weather. Concentrations on Cite du Nord, Cite St. Auguste, etc. took place during day. 2nd Canadian Heavy Artillery Group was placed in tactical control of 5th Canadian Siege Battery for counter battery work. The 2nd CHAG war diary records: X.23.b.1.5 - Wet and Rainy. Visibility nil. Considerable artillery activity. A good deal of concentration on hostile batteries. Large explosion seen in LENS – apparently enemy destruction. Ammunition expended:- 60-pr. 8”How 6”How 9.2”How 4.5”How 582 85 534 189 582 General Officer Commanding, Royal Artillery, Canadian Corps war diary records: In the Field - WEATHER: Overcast with some showers - very cool. The 15th Field Artillery Regiment RCA perpetuates the following sub units: 31st 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. One hundred years ago on 1 August 1917
31st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a sub-unit of the 9th Canadian Field Artillery Brigade in the 3rd Canadian Division. The 9th Brigade war diary records: 11 pm - Enemy planes not active today. Enemy artillery very active in the morning on counter-battery work and harassing fire. 3rd Canadian Divisional Artillery war diary records: BRAQUEMONT - Weather bad; rain all day and aerial activity was practically nil. Enemy Trench Mortars, both heavy and medium were very active at times and the enemy artillery practiced some defensive barrages. Our Artillery - the heavies were very active all day, the 3rd. C.D.A. guns were quiet according to orders, except for night firing carried out by the Howitzers. Ammunition expended A.48, HX. 200. N.22. NX.2. Guns in action 32 18-pdrs., 4 13-pdrs., 12 4.5" hows. 5th Canadian Siege Battery, Canadian Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a sub-unit of 1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group for Administration and under the 2nd Canadian Heavy Artillery group for Counter Battery work. Their war diary records: ANGRES- During the month of August the Battery took part in the capture of Hill 70, also the taking of the Green Crasier and all the fighting on the Lens front. During this time the Battery was twice heavily shelled by 8” and on several occasions we were bombarded with Gas Shells. 1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group war diary records: Cabaret Rouge – The batteries of the 1st. Canadian H.A. Group carried out several concentrations on important points, Cite St. Auguste, Cite Du Nord, and houses suspected to contain machine gun emplacements. A feint barrage was carried out by all batteries on enemy's communication trenches, bridges, trench junctions etc. at 7.30 p.m. Considerable night firing on enemy back areas, roads and approaches to LENS. 2nd Canadian Heavy Artillery Group was placed in tactical control of 5th Canadian Siege Battery for counter battery work. The 2nd CHAG war diary records: X.23.b.1.5 - Wet and Rainy. Visibility fair at times. Enemy at 4 a.m. put over heavy barrage on Corps front; Apparently anticipating an attack. Two concentrated shoots during day. Much harassing and neutralization fire. Ammunition expended:- 60-pr. 8”How 6”How 9.2”How 4.5”How 568 151 568 208 739 General Officer Commanding, Royal Artillery, Canadian Corps war diary records: In the Field - WEATHER: Frequent showers, cloudy and cool. The 15th Field Artillery Regiment RCA perpetuates the following sub units: 31st 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. A new recipient of the Military Medal from 68th Battery in Northern Russia has just been discovered; Bombardier William Osser Cook MM. Bombardier Cook also had an exciting hockey career after the war playing in junior hockey before being selected as one of the original New York Ranger players!
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