The First World War
War Diary of The Royal Canadian Regiment

Transcription by Captain Michael O'Leary, The RCR.

NOVEMBER 1917

APPENDIX 5

[Note:] The 87th Canadian Infantry battalion is believed to be on our right and the 42ND Canadian Infantry battalion on our left, with Headquarters in KEETCHEELE.

THE ROYAL CANADIAN REGIMENT.
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS OF THE
ROYAL CANADIAN REGIMENT.
YPRES - Nov. 14th - Nov. 17th, 1917.

14th November, 1917

2.40 p.m.

"A" Company leave OUTSKIRT FARM for the front line moving off at 3 minute intervals, other Companies following in order "A" "B" "C" "D", Headquarters Company marched off ahead by sections.

6.30 p.m.

Headquarters arrived at MEETCHEELE PILL BOX ?.? C 70.70

8.30 p.m.

Relief reported complete.

8.35 p.m.

Relief complete reported to Brigade.

8.40 p.m.

58TH Battalion Headquarters leave.

THE SITUATION.

The ROYAL CANADIAN REGIMENT relieved the 58th Canadian Infantry Battalion in the front line with Company Frontage as follows:-

"C" Coy"B" Coy
Left sub-section.Right sub-section.
V.30 B 70.00 to V.30 B 10.47W.25 C.00.20 to W.25 C.10.00 to V.30 B 70.00

CLOSE SUPPORT.

"A" Coy about 200 yards behind "B" Coy.

"D" Coy about 200 yards behind "C" Coy.

Battalion Headquarters is at MEETCHEELE Pill Box with an advanced battalions Headquarters and A.P., at MOSSELMARKET. The 87TH Canadian Infantry Battalion is believed to be on our right and the 42ND Canadian Infantry Battalion on our left, with Headquarters at MEETCHEELE. The P.P.C.L.I. are in support with one Company tactically under the order of the Officer commanding THE ROYAL CANADIAN REGIMENT.

9.00 p.m.

TRENCH STRENGTH.
Headquarters7Offrs.50O.R's
"A" Coy2Offrs.102O.R's
"B" Coy3Offrs.105O.R's
"C" Coy2Offrs.106O.R's
"D" Coy2Offrs.102O.R's
Total16465

"D" Coy report all correct. The relief was reported withour any casualties.

10.15 p.m.

"B" Coy. reported a party of 25 enemy came over about W.25.C. ½ .7 at 9.15 p.m. When challenged they stated they were prisoners. We opened fire and got most of them. One machine gun was captured.

15th November 1917

4.30 a.m.

Four prisoners of the 5th Coy., 208th Res. Regiment brought in by "B" Coy. They were relieved during the night but were left behind by their Sergeant and came over to our lines to surrender.

5.00 a.m.

Considerable shelling in vicinity of MEETCHEELE during the past two hours.

6.20 a.m.

Two S.O.S. calls sent up on our left front.

6.30 a.m.

S.O.S. seen on the right and left.

9.00 a.m.

Advanced Battalion Headquarters reports Barrage in retaliation for our practice barrage at 5.40 a.m., situation now very quiet.

11.00 a.m.

Lieut. ALLENBACK reported WATERLOO to arrange rations and carrying parties with Officer of the 116th Can. Infantry Battalion.

1.00 p.m.

Capt. WILBY 7th C.I.B. Called.

3.45 p.m.

Guides for carrying parties leave.v

Enemy planes active over our line shooting at men in the trenches.

4.45 p.m.

"C" Company report having shot two enemy last night. Identification established 1st Company, 1st Battalion, 114th Infantry Regiment.

The night passed normally with usual shelling.

Nov. 16th, 1917

6.50 a.m.

In reply to our practice barrage at 6.5- a.m. The enemy put over a heavy barrage in the MEETCHEELE area.

8.45 a.m.

The C.O. went to MEETCHEELE.

10.00 a.m.

The Brigadier of the relieving Brigade called to see the C.O. he obtained information re our front.

Advance parties of the 2nd Lincolns arrived and were given full instructions re the relief, etc.

The left for MOSSELMARKET at 10.45 a.m.

10.30 a.m.

The Brigade Major called and gave instructions re relief tomorrow.

12.00 Noon.

Enemy shelling vicinity MEETCHEELE very heavily with all calibres of shells. This was kept up during the afternoon.

4.00 p.m.

"D" Company report as follows:-

"4.1 Battery shelled support lines from 3.15 a.m. to 7.00 a.m., when a general bombardment opened up, subsiding at 8.00 a.m. During the day a 5.9 Battery shelled the support line. Casualties in "D" Coy., 5 killed 2 wounded."

4.15 p.m.

C.O. reported Major Logan wounded also C.S.M. Revell. "A" Company reported Lieut. Soule slightly wounded and at duty. Sgt Connolly and Capt Adams killed.

Major Stuart of the P.P.C.L.I. called to see the C.O.

6.45 p.m.

S.O.S. reported on our immediate front. Both artilleries opened up heavy barrages.

7.45 p.m.

Barrage slackening.

9.30 p.m.

First reports of operations on our right from C.O. Its success reported. During the evening the hostile artillery was very active on our support positions.

Nov. 17th.

1.45 a.m.

In retaliation for very heavy barrage of heavy artillery and gas shells the siege artillery was called upon to neutralize the enemy fire.

2.00 a.m.

General retaliation called for from all artillery.

2.05 a.m.

Siege artilery reported to be going good. Enemy fire slackened perceptibly.

2.30 a.m.

Barrage becoming normal. Gas shells being used in vicinity of Battalion Headquarters.

4.30 a.m.

Quiet until 9.30 a.m.

7.00 a.m.

"C" Company reports 22 hits by their snipers. Of these two were Officers who were killed. 3 were stretcher cases. Enemy plane carried out a registration shoot on right of Company's frontage. Artillery on front line normal.

8.15 a.m.

Major Willetts returned from advanced Headquarters.

8.45 a.m.

"C" Coy. Report four prisoners taken, one, and Unteroffizier was badly wounded. The other three were brought down under escort. [They] Belong to 7th Coy., 2nd Battalion, 117th Regiment, 25th Division.

9.15 a.m.

General Dyer called to see the C.O.

Day above normal with heavy shelling of MOSSELMARKET anf MEETCHEELE areas.

6.00 p.m.

Headquarters of 2nd Lincoln Battalion arrived.

7.30 p.m.

"C" Company reported relief complete.

7.45 p.m.

"B" Coy., report relief complete.

Nov., 17th

8.15 p.m.

"A" Company report relief complete.

10.00 p.m.

Sent message to advanced Battalion headquarters asking Lieut. Isbester if "D" Company had reported their relief complete.

11.00 p.m.

Lieut. Isbester reported guides of No. 14 of "D" Coy. Wounded. The relieving Platoon can not be found.

Nov. 18th

1.00 a.m.

Lieut. Isbester goes to OUTSKIRT Camp.

3.00 a.m.

Verbally reported from advance Battalion Headquarters that "D" Coy. is all relieved.

3.35 a.m.

Relief complete reported Brigade.

6.30 a.m.

A very heavy bombardment started lasted until 7.45 a.m.

9.50 a.m.

Headquarters move to OUTSKIRT FARM.

10.40 a.m.

Battalion Headquarters arrive OUTSKIRT FARM. It was found that "D" Coy. Was all relieved at 3.30 a.m. Capt. McCrae having found the missing Platoon.

The day spent in resting, cleaning up, and issuing of socks and whale oil and 48 hours rations

The tour although lasting only three days was a very strenuous one. Enemy shelling of our lines especially the support areas was practically without cessation.

CASUALTIES

Nov., 18th

"C" Company probably established a record for the Salient. The Company sustained no casualties but captured 7 prisoners and by sniping and Lewis Gun fire accounted for at least 50 enemy, two of whom were officers seen to be killed and three of whom were carried away in stretchers.

(signed)
R.M. Millett
Lieut., for
Major.
Commanding The Royal Canadian Regiment.

27-11-17.