The First World War
War Diary of The Royal Canadian Regiment

Transcription by Captain Michael O'Leary, The RCR.

JANUARY 1916

Royal Canadian Regiment - 3rd Canadian Division.
From 1st January to 31st January 1916.
Volume 3.

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1-1-16 - Berthen

Strength on 1-1-16:- 35 Officers, 992 Other ranks. (Captain G.C. deDOMBASLE, seconded from R.F.C. 22-12-15. Lieut. R.B. PENNIMAN invalided to ENGLAND 15-12-15.)

2-1-16 - Berthen

NIL. Operation Order No. 1 attached herewith marked 1.

3-1-16 - Berthen

NIL.

4-1-16 - Berthen

No. 478013 Pte. WILSON, H. "B" Coy. Killed accidentally by Hand Grenade & 477281 Corporal ELDRED, F.C. "A" Coy. Wounded by accidental discharge of same Hand Grenade, both at No. 2 Grenade School at R.29.b.6.2. (B. Series, Sheet 27, S.E. BELGIUM & FRANCE).

5-1-16 - Berthen

No. 478013 Pte. WILSON, H. "B" Coy. Buried at R.22.a.5.0, Sheet 27 at 3.30 p.m. (CVWM)

6-1-16 - Berthen

NIL.

7-1-16 - Berthen

R.C.R. moved at 6.00 a.m. from their Billets as follows:-

• "B" Company to T.10.b.5.7. (Farm).
• "A" Company to T.3.d-1-8.
• "C" Company to TEA FARM
• Regtl. Hdqrs. to TEA FARM
• "D" Company to N.32.b.2.2.
• Transport and Q.M. Stores to S.5.d.8.7.

R.C.R. become Brigade Reserve and come under 1st. CANADIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE. Relieve 4th Canadian Infantry Battalion tomorrow. 8th January, 1916, taking over Trenches as follows: C.3., C.4., D-1-, & D.2. S.P.4. & S.P.5. (Appendix)

8-1-16 - Berthen

Relief order No. 1 of this date is attached, marked 2. Regtl. Hdqrs. At ST. QUENTIN CABARET. R.C.R. relieved 4th CANADIAN INFANTRY BATTALION at 7.00 p.m. Weather dull. TEA FARM shelled between 2.15 & 3.15 p.m. this date. Nature of shells 4-1- Approximate number of shells, 15. From an easterly direction. Three direct hits, 1 corner of main building. 42nd Battn. On the left. 15th Battn. on the right.

9-1-16 - Berthen

No. 477339 Pte. GIBSON, V. now reported as slightly wounded at ST. QUENTINS by shrapnel on 8th. Inst.

And at duty. Intelligence Report to 8.00 a.m. this date:- The attitude of the enemy was very quiet. Wind report to 3.30 a.m. this date:- E.W. and to 3.30 p.m. Weather very fine, wind very slight. No. 477288 Pte. ELWOOD, W. "D" Coy. Slightly wounded in the right sector of D-1- Bullet penetrated through the top of the parapet and grazed his nose, steel splinter going in his eye, at Duty.

10-1-16 - Berthen

Intelligence Report to 8.00 a.m. this date:- Enemy very quiet, very little rifle fire. Wind report to 3.30 a.m. this date:- West, and to 3.30 p.m. West. Weather very fine.

11-1-16 - Berthen

15th battalion were relieved on our right last night by 16th battalion. Intelligence Report to 0.00 a.m. this date:- Enemy very quiet. Wind report to 3.30 a.m. this date:- West, and to 3.30 p.m. West. Weather fine, some rain during the night.

12-1-16 - Berthen

Intelligence Report to 8.00 a.m. this date:- Enemy quiet, some sniping. Wind report to 3.30 a.m. this date:- Northwest, and to 3.30 p.m. West. Weather fine and some rain in afternoon. Trench C.2. was shelled at 3.50 p.m. Following casualties, all from "D" Coy.

Wounded:-

• No. 477012 Pte. ANDERSON, J.D
• No. 477075 Pte. BLACKHAM, A.E.
• No. 477368 Pte. GRIFFIN, T.
• No. 477590 Pte. MILLS, R.
• No. 477021 Pte. ASHWELL, S.F. - The latter suffering from shock.

Killed:-

• No. 442060 Pte. DUCKWORTH, A. (CVWM)
• No. 442048 Pte. DAVIS, R. (CVWM)
• No. 442085 Pte. HENDRY, A. (CVWM)
• No. 477997 Pte. WILKES, C. (CVWM)
• No. 477673 Pte. NICHOLLS, W. (CVWM)

R.C.R. relieved by 49th Canadian Infantry Battalion at 7.45 p.m. and proceeded to DRANOUTRE to Divisional Reserve.

13-1-16 - Dranoutre

The five Casualties of yesterday's date were buried 13-1-16 at T.5.d.2.3., Sheet 28.

14-1-16 - Dranoutre

No. 477883 Pte. R. STEWART "C" Coy. Now reported as slightly wounded and at duty, left thigh on 12th instant, in addition to those mentioned on 12th instant.

15-1-16 - Dranoutre

No. 477075 Pte. BLACKHAM, A.E. "C" Coy. Died of wounds received on 12th. Instant at No. 2 Casualty Clearing Station. Buried at BAILLUEL CEMETERY. Died on 13-1-16. (CVWM)

Relief Order No. 2 attached herewith, marked 3.

16-1-16 - Dranoutre

R.C.R. left DRANOUTRE at 4.00 p.m. for the Trenches. Relieved 49th. Canadian Inf. Battn. at 7.15 p.m. Weather, Dull. 42nd Canadian Infantry Battalion on the left and 15th Canadian Infantry Battalion on the right.

17-1-16 - Dranoutre

Wind Report to 3.00 a.m. this date Southwest and to 3.00 p.m. Southwest. Weather fine and bright in the morning, dull in afternoon and some rain in the evening. Activity of the enemy, very quiet.

18-1-16 - Dranoutre

Interpreter ALEXANDRE, A. "H.Q." Struck off Strength, 15-1-16. Interpreter BERTHON, M. "H.Q." taken on Strength 16-1-16. Wind Report to 3.00 a.m. this date Southwest and to 3.00 p.m. Southwest. Weather dull and heavy, rain. Activity of the enemy, very quiet.

19-1-16 - Dranoutre

15th Canadian Infantry Battalion relieved by 16th Battalion this p.m. on our right. Wind Report to 3.00 a.m. this date Southwest and to 3.00 p.m. Southwest. Activity of the enemy, very quiet.

20-1-16 - Dranoutre

Heavy rain early morning. Wind Report to 3.00 a.m. this date Southwest and to 3.00 p.m. Weather very clear and bright in morning. Enemy aeroplanes very active, several passing over Regtl. Headquarters at ST. QUENTINS CARBERET. Otherwise activity of enemy very quiet. R.C.R. relieved by 49th Battalion at 7.15 p.m. R.C.R. proceed into Brigade Reserve. Regt;. H.Q. "C" & "D" Coys. To AIRCRAFT FARM. "A" & "B" Coys. PETAWAWA FARMS.

21-1-16 - Dranoutre

No. 477457 Pte. JAMES, J. "H.Q." admitted to hospital on 29th. instant suffering from Shell Shock and shown as casualty. 

Weather Dull.

22-1-16 - Dranoutre

Weather fine. Some rain. Very bright clear night.

23-1-16 - Dranoutre

Relief order No. 3 of this date attached herewith, marked 4.

24-1-16 - Dranoutre

R.C.R. relieved by 49th Battn. at 7.15 p.m. Some fog at night - dark. Activity of Enemy, quiet. 15th. Battn. on our right. 42nd Battn. on our left.

25-1-16 - Dranoutre

Situation very quiet. Wind West. No. 477643 Pte. MCINTOSH, T.F. wounded, left upper arm. Rifle bullet, Bay 23, Trench D-1- Explosive bullet.

Weather Fine and Bright.

26-1-16 - Dranoutre

Situation quiet. Wind West.

Killed:-

• No. 477228 Corpl. DAVISON, G. "B" Coy. (CVWM)
• No. 477305 Pte. FISHER, A. "D" Coy. (CVWM)

Wounded:-

• No. 477900 Pte. SYLVESTER, J. "B" Coy.
• No. 477261 Pte. DOYLE, F.H. "C" Coy.
• No. 477148 Pte. CAMPION, J.M. "B" Coy.
• No. 477326 Pte. FENNINGS, F.R. "B" Coy.
• No. 477019 Pte. WISDON, H. "A" Coy.

Artillery active in afternoon.

27-1-16 - Dranoutre

Situation quiet. Wind Northwest. Weather Dull. 16th. Battalion relieved 15th Battn. on out right tonight.

No. 477228 Corpl. DAVISON, G. "B" Coy. & No. 477305 Pte. FISHER, A. "D" Coy. were buried this day at T.5.d.2.3. Sheet 28.

28-1-16 - Dranoutre

Situation quiet. Wind West very gentle. Operation Order No. 1 of this date attached herewith marked 5.

29-1-16 - Dranoutre

Situation quiet. Wind West and change to due east at 3.30 p.m. Gas alert given at 4.00 p.m. R.C.R. relieved by 1st. battalion at 8.1- p.m. R.C.R. moved into Divisional Reserve at DRANOUTRE on relief.

30-1-16 - Dranoutre

R.C.R. moved in accordance with Operation Order No. 1 of 28th. instant to Rest Billets.

31-1-16 - Dranoutre

NIL.

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Appendix 1. R.C.R. O.O. 1 dated 2-1-16. R.C.R. will relieve a battalion of 1st C.I.B. in brigade reserve on 7th January, 1916.

Appendix 2. R.C.R. O.O. 1 dated 8-1-16. Relief of front line battalion and reserve battalion will take place on 8th January in accordance with attached table.

Appendix 3. R.C.R. C.O. 1 dated 15-1-16. Relief of bn. Holding C.3., C.4., D-1-, and D.2. strongpoints will take place on 16th and 17th January in accordance with relief table attached.

Appendix 4. Relief of battalion holding C.3., C.4., D-1-, and D.2. strong points and reserve to take place on 24th/25th January., 1916.

Appendix 5. R.C.R. O.O. 1 dated 28-1-16. 7th C.I.B. will be relieved by 1st C.I.B. on 29th/30th January, 1916 in accordance with attached relief table.