The First World War
War Diary of The Royal Canadian Regiment

Transcription by Captain Michael O'Leary, The RCR.

DECEMBER 1915

1.12.15 - LaClytte

Strength:- 37 Officers, 998 other ranks. 300 men on working party by day and 120 by night. Weather, mild, showery in evening.

2.12.15 - LaClytte

260 men on working party by day and 160 by night. Morning fine and bright, rain in evening.

3.12.15 - LaClytte

260 men on working party by day and 160 by night. Weather, wet.

4.12.15 - LaClytte

260 men on working party by day, night working parties did not go out owing to bad weather. Weather very wet and gale at night from S.W.

5.12.15 - LaClytte

260 men on working party by day and 160 men by night. Weather fine and mild, wet night.

6.12.15 - LaClytte

260 men on working party by day and 160 men by night. Weather, rain most of day, high wind.

7.12.15 - LaClytte

260 men on working party by day and 160 men by night. Very wet night.

8.12.15 - LaClytte

260 men on working party by day and 160 men by night. Weather fine.

9.12.15 - LaClytte

260 men on working party by day and 160 men by night. Weather very wet.

10.12.15 - LaClytte

260 men on working party by day and 160 men by night. Weather very wet.
No. 477946 Corporal J.F. USHER "D" Coy., fatally wounded whilst employed on night working party. he died at 5.00 a.m. on 11.12.15 at 5th. Field Ambulance, LA CLYTTE.

11.12.15 - LaClytte

260 men on working party by day and 160 men by night.  No. 477946 Corporal J.F. USHER, killed in action at N.6.D. by G.S. wound in head. Buried at 3.00 p.m. at N.7.C.7.5. Sheet 28 S.W. Series B. Weather very wet all day and most of the night.

12.12.15 - LaClytte

260 men on working party by day and 120 men by night. Weather very wet.

13.12.15 - LaClytte

240 men on working party by day and 120 men by night. 

14.12.15 - LaClytte

240 men on working party by day and 180 men by night. 

15.12.15 - LaClytte

240 men on working party by day and 120 men by night. Weather fine. Operation order No. 1 appended herewith dated 15.12.15.

16.12.15 - LaClytte

240 men on working party by day and 120 men by night. Weather fine and cold. 

17.12.15 - LaClytte

240 men on working party by day and 120 men by night.

18.12.15 - LaClytte

240 men on working party by day.

19.12.15 - LaClytte

Heavy firing in direction of YPRES at dawn followed by the smell of Gas. R.C.R. moved from M.12.D.1.4., Sheet 28, 1t 10.00 a.m. via WESTOUTRE to billeting area R.10.c.d.., R.11.c.d., R.16., R.17., R.22., R.23.a.b., as Corps Reserve.  H.Q. at R.16.d.5.8. Very Fine and bright.

P.P.C.L.I. moved to M.12.D.1.4 this date.

It appears the enemy attempted a gas attack at 6.00 o'clock this morning in the vicinity of WIELTJE north westward to the canal. preceded by a bombardment. the enemy's shelling was not severe, the greater part of the heavy firing was by our own guns. the wind was at first from the northeast but seemed to change more to the north as dawn came on so that while in the first instance the gas came down on the line noticed strongly at WESTOUTRE - BAILLEUL it seems to have later been strong between KEMMEL and WYTSCHAETE where it was particularly felt on our front line. The inference is that the Germans themselves must have later had a great deal of gas on their front and at places like WYTSCHAETE and possibly MESSINES.

20.12.15 - Berthen

Authority has been received for the formation of the Headquarters of the 7th CANADIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE forthwith (M.S. to C.-in-C. No. G.1464) dated 14th. December 1915.

This Brigade will be composed of the:-

Lieutenant-Colonel A.C. MacDonell, D.S.O. has been selected to command the Brigade and will be ordered in due course.

21.12.15 - Berthen

Nil.

22.12.15 - Berthen

Weather wet.

23.12.15 - Berthen

Nil.

24.12.15 - Berthen

Nil.

25.12.15 - Berthen

Nil.

26.12.15 - Berthen

Nil.

27.12.15 - Berthen

Nil.

28.12.15 - Berthen

Nil.

29.12.15 - Berthen

The Chemical Advisor, 2nd. Army carried two Gas demonstrations at No. 2 Grenade School, LA LAVRETTE, 500 men and all Officers attended.

30.12.15 - Berthen

Nil.

31.12.15 - Berthen

Orders received from 7th CANADIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE stating that the Brigade will take over the line from the 1st CANADIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE on January 8th 1916.

R.C.R. and 42nd BATTALION will be the first two Battalions to hold front line, R.C.R. on the right and 42ND on the left.

1 Officer and 6 N.C.O's to report daily at the Headquarters, 1st CANADIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE for the purpose of gaining experience of the routine in the front trenches which they are taking over. they will remain one night, coming out of the Trenches on the following evening.

(signed)
A.H. MacDonell
Lieut. Colonel.
Cmdg. Royal Canadian Regt.

Appendix 1. - R.C.R. G.O. 1 dated 15.12.15. In the event of a serious attack of our immediate front the R.C.R., 49th Bn., 42nd Bn. and P.P.C.L.I. will be ordered to occupy KEMMEL HILL defences.