War Diary of the 16th Infantry Battalion (Canadian Scottish), August 01, 1917 to December 31, 1917
Downloadable Content
Download PDFOne of the official War Diaries of the First Infantry Division of the 16th Battalion (The Canadian Scottish), Canadian Expeditionary Force that cover from the time the Regiment went overseas at the start of the First World War to the time it returned to Canada in April 1919. War diaries are official records kept by the Battalions during a one month period. The diary provides a daily summary of events, actions, activities, etc. The August 2017 diary begins with a note about August 1st originally being the "Z" day for the Offensive against Hill 70 but it being postponed because the wire on the 2nd Division front before Lens not being cut, voting in the Alberta election, the enemy bombing a village resulting in civilian casualties, receiving orders on Aug 13th that it was "X" day for the Battle of Hill 70, moving through Hersin to Marles-les-Mines, training, move to Tinques being cancelled, sports, and includes a handwritten note about Operation Order No. 163, a typewritten summary of Operation Order No. 164, and a typewritten narrative of the Canadian Scottish in the action against Hill 70 on August 15-16, 1917. The September 2017 diary begins with a move to Aix-Noulette and discusses training, active enemy artillery including gas shells, engaging the enemy with a Lewis gun, moving to Marqueffles farm close to Arras, sports, musketry competition, and ends with a tally of casualties, a list of honours and awards, and a note about Operation Orders No. 170 and Operation Order No. 172. The October 2017 diary begins with a move from Verdrel to Gouy Servins, fighting in the trenches, moving through Houdain, Le Miquilliere, Steenbeque, Lynde, Ebblinghem, Staple and finally to the Wieltje area near Ypres in Belgium. The diary ends with a tally of casualties and Operations Orders No. 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 179, 180 about where the Battalion will be moving. The November 2017 diary begin with a move to the Gravenstafel area where the Battalion engaged with the enemy, difficulty getting wounded out because of the condition of the roads and it being impossible to bury the dead because of intense shelling, moving to Brandhoek, Merville, Annezin, and back to the Marqueffles Farm. The diary ends with a tally of casualties and Operation Orders No. 181, 182, 183, 184, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, and the Passchendaele Operations for November 4-12, 1917. The December 2017 begins with a move to Petit Servins in France, voting in the Dominion Elections, move to Liévin, cold snowy weather, Château de la Haie, getting notice they will be getting a month's rest at Auchel, Company dinners for New Years. The diary ends with a list of decorations awarded and Operation Orders No. 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, and 198.
- In Collection:
- Military hygiene
- Military camps
- Soldiers--Conduct of life
- Intrenchments
- Soldiers--Social conditions
- Battle casualties
- War casualties
- Military history
- World War (1914-1918)
- Canada. Canadian Army. Battalion, 16th
- Soldiers--Training
- Weather
- Soldiers--Training of
- Trenches
- Military decorations
- Fortification, Field
- Canada. Canadian Army
- Military supplies
- Drill and minor tactics
- War diaries
- Battle of Hill 70 (France : 1917)
- Soldiers--Billeting
- Soldiers
- War
- Soldiers--Health and hygiene
- 93 pages ; 21 x 34 cm
- 50.47306, 2.71806
- 50.4036, 2.6504
- 50.44611, 2.64778
- 50.42588, 2.61647
- 50.4198, 2.78068
- 50.42583, 2.70972
- 50.41025, 2.634
- 50.50222, 2.50222
- 50.87138, 2.91895
- Cover made from lined paper.
- Military History Collection
- Transferred to UVic Special Collections and Archives from BC Archives, May 2006.
- Accession Number: 2006-011
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/16th-battalion-canadian-scottish-fonds
- March 2025
- Scanned on Plustek Opticbook A-300 600 DPI tiffs (gamma 1.20, no color correction) by PD. Metadata by KD.
- Rights
- Contact Special Collections and University Archives for access to the original. This material is made available on this site for research and private study only.
- DOI