100 Years Ago Today on 12 August 1917

​One hundred years ago on 12 August 1917
31st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a sub-unit of the 9th Canadian Field Artillery Brigade in the 3rd Canadian Division. The 9th Brigade war diary records:
Enemy planes fairly active all day.  Seven enemy balloons up today.  Enemy artillery fairly active on our support trenches with all calibres and LOOS and our rear areas received considerable attention from enemy 4.9s.   An abnormal amount of enemy movement was seen today. This consisted of a very large number of men in the rear of the BOIS de QUATORES all of them were fired on and some casualties inflicted.  Quite a number of men were also seen in the enemy front line.  Very heavy movement of motor and horsed traffic from MUERCHIN to VERBIN and MUERCHIN to CARVIN.  Farmers could be plainly seen stacking grain around PROVIN.  Our batteries did a great deal of wire cutting on the German front lines today.
 
3rd Canadian Divisional Artillery war diary records:
BRAQUEMONT - Visibility good.  Enemy and British aeroplanes were active all day, and eight enemy observation balloons were up at one time in the afternoon.  Our heavy and field artillery carried out harassing fire.  Hostile artillery was active on MAROC and vicinity.   3rd. Division Order 212, and 3rd. C.D.A. letter G.286/2 were cancelled and the skeleton battery under command of Major Syre returned to duty.  Ammunition expended.  A.80., AX.18.,, NX.460.  Guns in action 32 18-pdrs., 4 13-pdrs., 12 4.5" Hows.
 
5th Canadian Siege Battery, Canadian Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a sub-unit of 1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group for administration and under command 2nd Canadian Heavy Artillery Group for Counter-Battery. Their war diary records:
ANGRES - Lieut. F.R. May proceeded on leave to England.
During a heavy bombardment by the enemy a large number of stores and ammunition were blown up and a direct hit on the earth box of No 1 Gun. Two men No 1250744 Gunner Beales J.D. and No 203 Gunner Sloan O.S. were buried in a cellar which collapsed as a result of a direct hit. The men were extricated and sent to Field Ambulance. No 91881 Sgt Ware J.A. was also knocked unconscious by the concussion of a shell.
 
1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group war diary records:
Cabaret Rouge – Wire in front of Cinnibar and Commotion trenches dealt with.  Six men of the 175th 3B.RGA., wounded by shell fire.  This battery is located in ANGRES.  Hostile plane which crossed VIMY Ridge was engaged by our NIEUPORT machine which after considerable manouevring, forced the Hun plane to descend on the Vimy Plain inside our lines.  Both pilot and observer were taken prisoner.
 
2nd Canadian Heavy Artillery Group was placed in tactical control of 5th Canadian Siege Battery for counter battery work. The 2nd CHAG war diary records:
X.23.b.1.5 -  Fair. Cloudy with good visibility. A number of satisfactory aeroplane shoots carried out and a large number of batteries neutralized. Enemy particularly active against our battery positions but doing little damage. Enemy balloons up very high and very numerous. A very busy day.
 Ammunition expended:-    60-pr.    8”How     6”How     9.2”How     4.5”How
                                                  1133        325          1093          300               373
 
General Officer Commanding, Royal Artillery, Canadian Corps war diary records:
In the Field -      WEATHER:  mainly fair & bright, some showers - rather cool. 
 
The 15th Field Artillery Regiment RCA perpetuates the following sub units:
31st 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.