100 Years Ago Today, 19 Apr 1917

​One hundred years ago, on 19 April 1917,
31st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a sub-unit of the 8th Canadian Field Artillery Brigade in the 3rd Canadian Division. The Brigade war diary records:
8th C.I.B. relieved the 9th C.I.B. in the line. 5th C.M.R. relieving the 43rd Battalion. Lieut. Robertson 31st Battery relieved Lieut. Boyd as L.O. Battalion H.Q.
Communications were continually being cut by shell fire and Batteries suffered some casualties.
The Battery horses at gun positions were ordered back to Wagon Lines. All ammunition is being brought up by pack animals. Carscallen’s Group is on our left, 2nd C.D.A. on our right. The 31st, 38th and 40th Batteries were ordered to make reconnaissance for positions east of ARRAS-LENS Railway in case of a forward move. Work begun on these positions.
Captain Burns of 30th Battery slightly wounded.
 
58th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a sub-unit of the 14th Canadian Field Artillery Brigade in the 5th Canadian Division. The Division was training in England and the Brigade war diary records:
WITLEY - Training in GUN PK. A few NCOs made 7 ?.
 
5th Canadian Siege Battery, Canadian Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force war diary records:
Mt St Eloy - The two guns moved into SOUCHEZ were put into position during the night ready to fire in the morning.
 
The 15th Field Artillery Regiment RCA perpetuates the following sub units:
31st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force,
58th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force,
5th Canadian Siege Battery, Canadian Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force,
68th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, North Russia Expeditionary Force, was not authorized to be formed until 3 August 1918, and
85th Battery, Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force was not authorized to be formed until 12 July 1918.

Canadian (Overseas) Siege Artillery Battery. LAC BL 8-inch Mk VIII Howitzer.