|
|
|
18th (Western Ontario) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force
| Want to know more about 18th (Western Ontario) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force? There are:2 items tagged 18th (Western Ontario) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.
|
|
|
|
The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.
- 1st of September 2024 marks 25 years since the launch of the Wartime Memories Project. Thanks to everyone who has supported us over this time.
|
Want to find out more about your relative's service? Want to know what life was like during the Great War? Our
Library contains many many diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text.
|
Looking for help with Family History Research?
Please see Family History FAQ's
Please note: We are unable to provide individual research.
|
|
Can you help?
The free to access section of The Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers and funded by donations from our visitors.
If the information here has been helpful or you have enjoyed reaching the stories please conside making a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting or this site will vanish from the web.
If you enjoy this site
please consider making a donation.
Announcements
- 19th Nov 2024
Please note we currently have a massive backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site. If you have already submitted a story to the site and your UID reference number is higher than
264989 your submission is still in the queue, please do not resubmit.
Wanted: Digital copies of Group photographs, Scrapbooks, Autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to the Great War. If you have any unwanted
photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them. The Wartime Memories Project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes. Please get in touch for the postal address, do not sent them to our PO Box as packages are not accepted.
|
World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great battalion regiment artillery
Did you know? We also have a section on World War Two. and a
Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations.
|
|
|
L/Sgt. Ellis Welwood Sifton VC 18th Btn. (Western Ontario Regiment). (d.9th April 1917) Ellis Sifton was killed in action on the 9th of April 1917, aged 25 and is commemorated on Panel 3 in the Lichfield Crater Cemetery in France.
An extract from The London Gazette, dated 8th June, 1917, records the following:- "For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. During the attack in enemy trenches Sjt. Sifton's company was held up by machine gun fire which inflicted many casualties. Having located the gun he charged it single-handed, killing all the crew. A small enemy party advanced down the trench, but he succeeded keeping these off till our men had gained the position. In carrying out this gallant act he was killed, but his conspicuous valour undoubtedly saved many lives and contributed largely to the success of the operation."
|
A/Sgt. Vincent Bowen MM & Bar. 18th Battalion (d.26th August 1918) Vincent Bowen served with the Western Ontario Regiment, he was previously living at Areley Kings, Worcestershire and had moved to Canada before the war.
|
Spr. Henry Hatch 1st Canadian Tunnelling Company Henry Hatch was my grandfather. He was From Hartbury, Gloucestershire, Born in 1887.
He served 8 years with Gloucester Regiment (anecdotal evidence that served in 4th Battalion Gloucester Regiment, St Helena guarding Boer POW's. Also said to have served in India)
From his Attestation paper and war record, he signed up on 22nd October 1914, in London Ontario and joined 18th Battalion CEF
and arrived in England 29/4/15 on S.S. Grampian
He embarked to France on 18th of September 1915
On the 10th of April 1916 he was attached to 2nd Tunneling Company
then on the 30th of June became attached to 1st Tunneling Company.
On the 7th of August he returned to 2nd Tunneling Company then on the 3rd of March 1917 he was again attached to 1st Tunneling Company. On the 29th of June 1917 he was admitted to 2nd Eastern General Hospital in Brighton with a slight wound to his right shoulder. On the 8th of August he returned to 1st Tunneling Company. On the 1st of March 1918 he was hospitalised at Epsom suffering from weakness and irregular pains.
On the 13th of June 1918 he transferred to C.E.T.D then to 1st C.E.R.B. On the 9th of April 1919 he was demobilized and elected to remain in England.
|
Pte. Edward Fairburn 18th Btn. (d.2nd Mar 1918) Edward Fairburn was executed for desertion 02/03/1918 age 23 and buried in Villers Station Cemetery, Villers-au-Bois, France. He was born in St. Catharines, Ontario on 21 September 1895. After enlisting in November 1915, Fairburn was sent to France as part of a reinforcement for the 18th (Western Ontario) Battalion.
Following a period of charge-free conduct, Fairburn went missing during the period 9–16 April 1917 and he remained missing for 10 months, before being arrested just north of Arras. During his period of absence, Fairburn had missed the major battles at Vimy Ridge, Hill 70 and Passchendale (Third Battle of Ypres), which made his desertion appear even worse in the eyes of the Army authorities, and it came as no surprise that Fairburn was court-martialled for desertion, found guilty and sentenced to death by shooting.
|
Pte. Alexander Young Atkinson 1st Btn, A Coy. Canadian Infantry (Western Ontario Regiment) (d.5th Jun 1916) Alexander Young Atkinson was born Dublin, the son of Mrs. Mary J. Atkinson, of 60, Lower Beechwood Avenue, Ranelagh, Dublin, Ireland, and Mr. F. R. Atkinson.
He served with the Canadian Infantry (Western Ontario Regiment) 1st Battalion and died in Belgium aged 20 in June 1916.
He is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
|
Pte. Whitney Glen "Paddy" Robertson 18th Battalion (d.17th Aug 1918)  Paddy's Home in Front Line Trench.
Made Himself Comfortable in the Danger Zone
By Pte. W. G. (Paddy) Robertson to Mr. E. P. Ridley
Somewhere in France, April 28th, 1918
Dear Friend E.P., - At last I have time to write a few lines in answer to your welcome letter received some time ago. This is some note paper I picked up in the trench; it is slightly soiled but will have to do for now.
For the last three days in the front line I was unable to get out of the funk hole but thank God I am O.K. again. It is a rather unpleasant feeling to be on your back helpless when the boys next to you are being buried and wounded. We had ... (page torn - unreadable).
Have been lucky with our platoon, only two killed so far on this job. But I hope to move back on our old front again as we are the only division of Canadians up this way. Since the spring drive started we have been used for a storming division and it isn't any too pleasant a job. Whenever a piece of ground is lost we have to retake it and hold it for a few days, then move to some other front for a spell - lots of moving around and lots of sore feet.
Our adjutant was telling us last week that Pete Pegg is now reported a prisoner of war in Germany; I hope it's right.
Well Ed., I will have to bring this to a close although I am sorry to, it being the only pastime at night, but I have a two hour gas guard to do now so will close, trusting this finds Mrs. Ridley and yourself O.K.
Write again, Ed., and I will try to answer sooner next time.
As ever,
Paddy Robertson.
(unknown publication - Ontario, Canada)
|
Spr. Ernest Albert Essig 1st Canadian Tunnelling Company Ernest Essig from Galt, Ontario was sent overseas as part of the 18th Batallion. On August 10th, 1917 he was injured in the line of duty from a high explosive shell, suffering the loss of his index finger on the left hand and partial loss of function in his left thumb, arm and left thigh. Ernest spent 119 days in hispital and was eventually discharged from duty because as unfit for service due to wounds.
|
Recomended Reading.Available at discounted prices.
|
|
|
Site Home
Help & FAQs
