The First World War
War Diary of The Royal Canadian Regiment

Transcription by Captain Michael O'Leary, The RCR.

SEPTEMBER 1916

1.9.16. - CASSEL AREA

Fine and warm. Co's carried on with Bayonet fighting, P.T. and platoon drill in the morning and did Bombing and a route march in the afternoon. Detachments worked as usual under their own officers. Recruits also as usual. The C.O. and all Co. Cmdrs. Attended a demonstration in STEENVOORDE by the Corps Commander how an attack should be carried out. In the afternoon all Transports in the Bde. Had a competition under the Bde. Tpt. Officer at our Transport lines. We won.

2.9.16. - CASSEL AREA

Cloudy. Some showers. Co's and Recruits carried on as per attached Syllabus. Detachments worked as usual.

(Appendix 1.)

3.9.16. - CASSEL AREA

Cloudy, some showers. Bde Church parade held in morning at 49TH Bn. H.Q. G.O.C. Division presented medal ribbons to any officers or other ranks who had received Honours or rewards (Lieut. J.S. WOODS was presented with M.C.) Lectures in STEENVOORDE in afternoon by officers from 2Nd Army on aeroplane photographs.

4.9.16. - CASSEL AREA

Showery all day. Bn. in attack practiced from 9.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. stopped for heavy rain.

5.9.16. - CASSEL AREA

Rained all day, at times very heavily. Bn. practiced Bn. in attack (Trench warfare) from 9. a.m. to 12 Noon. Co. drill 2. p.m. to 3.30 p.m. and Bn. in attack at WINNEZEELE at 7. p.m.

6.9.16. - CASSEL AREA

Showery. Bn. practiced Bn. in attack (Trench warfare) from 9.30 a.m. to 12 Noon. Afternoon parade was for general cleaning up preparatory to move.

Lieut. BOLE awarded M.C.
Lieut. WILLIAMS to F.A.

7.9.16. - CONTEVILLE

Fine and warm. Bn. paraded at 4. a.m. and marched via RYVELD, WORMHOUT and ESQUELBECQ to ESQUELBECQ station where it entrained. Left ESQUELBECQ about 10.15 a.m. arrived CONTEVILLE about 11. p.m. marched from CONTEVILLE to billets in CRAMONT arriving there about midnight.

(Appendix 2.)

8.9.16. - CRAMONT

Fine and warm. Men rested almost all day, the only parades being for inspection and refitting under Co. arrangements.

9.9.16. - CRAMONT

Fine and warm. Regiment practiced the attack (Open warfare) advancing in all formations 9.30 a.m. to 12.45 p.m. half holiday in afternoon.

10.9.16. - CRAMONT

Fine and warm. Regiment moved to MALLOY-LES-PERNOIS Area, arriving about 3.45 p.m.

Capt. LOGAN rejoined and Lieut. STUART joined from overseas.

(Appendix 3.)

11.9.16. - HALLOY les PERNOIS

Fine and warm. Regiment marched to billets in HERISSART area arriving about 11.30 a.m.

(Appendix 4.)

12.9.16. - HERISART AREA

Showery and cooler. Regiment marched to hutments in VADENCOURT AREA.

Lieut. NICHOLLS proceeded on special leave to England.

10 O.R. rejoined from Base.

(Appendix 5.)

13.9.16. - VADENCOURT

Showery all day, at times raining quite heavily. Regiment marched to BRICKFIELDS Area, arriving there about 10.30 p.m.

Shelters were immediately drawn for all ranks.

(Appendix 6.)

14.9.16. - BRICKFIELDS AREA

Showery. Regiment rested. All day having a general cleaning up.

15.9.16. - USNA HILL

Cloudy and fairly cool. At about 9.15 a.m. Regiment received orders to parade at once and proceed to USNA HILL there to await further orders. This was immediately done. Regiment less certain officers, instructors and specialists left at BRICKFIELDS arriving at USNA HILL at or about 11. a.m. The Officers left behind were the 2nd i/c, Adjutant, two Co. Commanders, two Co. 2nd i/c, 2 Specialist Officers as well as two W.O. instructors, six N.C.O. instructors and 15% of Specialists. For further movements see Appendix No. 6.A.

(Appendix 6A)

16.9.16. - TRENCHES

See Appendix No. 6A.

17.9.16. - TRENCHES

See Appendix No. 6A.

Lieut. LEWIS killed.
Major COCK, Capt. TOWERS, Lieut. NAYLOR, Lieut. WURTELE wounded and to F.A.
Lieut. BATE and Lieut. PENNIMAN wounded and at duty.

Revised casualty list shows 264 O.R. Killed, Wounded and Missing.

110 O.R. joined as reinforcements, they were immediately put on square.

18.9.16. - TARA HILL

Showery and cool. Working parties amounting to 350 O.R. supplied from TARA HILL. Training of Draft carried on at BRICKFIELDS.

19.9.16. - TARA HILL

Showery and cool. Same working parties supplied. Training carried on as usual.

20.9.16. - TARA HILL

Rain. Same working parties supplied. 50 O.R. of draft sent out to give old men some rest.

21.9.16. - TARA HILL

Rain. Regular working parties. 60 O.R. of draft sent out.

22.9.16. - TARA HILL

Rain. Same working parties sent out. On account of early move proposed for 23RD inst., parties went in marching order to be brought back by bus.

23.9.16. - TARA HILL

Fine, warmer. Regiment moved from TARA HILL to billets in WARLOY, arriving there about 11.30 a.m. Draft of 145 O.R. joined from Base.

(Appendix 7.)

24.9.16. - WARLOY

Fine and warm. Regiment moved to La VICOGNE, whole Regiment billeted in one farm.

Lieuts. T.A. MURRAY, J. KELTIE, M. ISBESTER, R.C. PITMAN, H.A. GREEN, P.V.S. SUTTON joined from overseas.

(Appendix 8.)

25.9.16. - La VICOGNES

Fine and warm. Regiment marched to excellent billets in CANAPLES, arriving about 11. a.m.

Lieut. GRAY joined from overseas.

Afternoon spent in cleaning up and refitting by Co's and Detachments.

(Appendix 9.)

26.9.16. - CANAPLES

Fine and warm. In morning both drafts paraded at 9. a.m. for instruction. Detachments paraded at 10.30 a.m. for inspection by C.O. Staff parade at 11. a.m. Co's paraded for drill and refitting at 9. a.m. At 2. p.m. Bn. in attack was carried out.

Lieut. NICHOLLS returned from leave.

(Appendix 10.)

27.9.16. - CANAPLES

Cloudy, few showers. Regiment moved to VADENCOURT Area hutments, arriving about 2.45 p.m.

Two lorries carried mens' packs. 7 O.R. joined as reinforcements.

(Appendix 11.)

28.9.16. - VADENCOURT

Rain most of the day. Regt. Moved to BRICKFIELDS. The roads were in bad condition, causing the Transport much trouble and making the march hard for the men. Arrived about 10.30 a.m.

Lieut. STRIDE and 3 O.R. proceeded on Lewis Gun Course.

In afternoon the Regiment with the exception of 15% specialists, seven instructors and eight officers moved to Billets in ALBERT.

29.9.16. - ALBERT

Rain in morning. Showery in afternoon. 1 Officer and 24 O.R. proceeded to CHALK PITS on permanent working party.

30.9.16. - ALBERT

Fine and cool. Working parties of 400 O.R. sent out for work on roads. Two parties of two went up to line to look over forward area.

Lieut. J.R. HORTON rejoined from overseas.

100 O.R. had a bath today.

(signed)
C.H. Hill
Lieut. Colonel
Commanding The Royal Canadian Regiment.

Appendix 1 - Syllabus of training of R.C.R. for 2ND September 1916. Syllabus of training of R.C.R. (recruits) on 2ND September 1916.

Appendix 2 - R.C.R. O.O. 30 dated 6.9.16. R.C.R. will march from billets in CASSEL Area to ESQELBECQ on 7TH September, 1916.

Appendix 3 - R.C.R. O.O. 31 dated 9.9.16. R.C.R. will march tomorrow 10TH September 1916 to HALLOY-LES-PERNOIS Area.

Appendix 4 - R.C.R. O.O. 32 dated 10.9.16 R.C.R. will march from HALLOY-LES-PERNOIS to HERISSART Area on 11TH September 1916.

Appendix 5 - R.C.R. O.O. 33 dated 11.9.16. R.C.R. will march from HERISSART to VADENCOURT Area tomorrow.

Appendix 6 - R.C.R. O.O. 34 dated 12.9.16. R.C.R. will move to BRICKFIELDS tomorrow.

Appendix 6A - Narrative of events of R.C.R. on 15TH, 16TH and 17TH September, 1916.

Appendix 7 - R.C.R. O.O. 36 dated ? R.C.R. will march to WARLOY.

Appendix 8 - R.C.R. O.O. 37 dated 23.9.16. R.C.R. will move to LAVICOGNE.

Appendix 9 - R.C.R. O.O. 38 dated 24.9.16. R.C.R. will move to CANAPLES.

Appendix 10. - R.C.R. O.O. 39 dated 26.9.16. R.C.R. will move to VADENCOURT Area.

Appendix 11. - R.C.R. O.O. 40 dated 27.9.16. R.C.R. will move to BRICKFIELDS tomorrow.