100 Years Ago Today on 8 June 1917

​One hundred years ago on 8 June 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:
Visibility fair. Wire cutting carried on throughout the day. Our zones now appear well cleared of wire.
Our Raid was carried out successfully tonight. In all we captured 30 prisoners, bombed a large number of dug-outs and captured several Machine Guns with their crews. Our casualties were slight.
Our Barrage opened promptly and the Infantry reports it quite effective. Enemy’s Counter-barrage was weak and ineffective at the start and rapidly lessened until it became a mere scattered shelling.
 
3rd Canadian Divisional Artillery war diary records:
Fort George – Visibility poor to fair. The 3rd. C.D.A. and the 179th Brigade co-operated with the 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade and the 11th Canadian Infantry Brigade, and attacking German Line. See O.O. 96 and 97. Our preparitory work and barrage for the operations were very highly praised by the Infantry we supported.
Ammunition Expended. A.5467. AX 322. BX 499. Guns in Action. 18.pdrs. 84. 20.4.5” Hows. 2” T.M.2
 
5th Canadian Siege Battery, Canadian Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a sub-unit of 1st Canadian Artillery Group. Their war diary records:
To-day we engaged three M.G.Es. Fired 120 rounds on M.G.E. at T1a90.36. F.O.O. Shoot was observed from Group O.P. and results were reported as satisfactory. F.O.O sent to war F.L.T. could not get communication through to Battery.
Fired 15 rounds on M.G.E. at T1a2.8. This point was very difficult to identify and shoot had to be abandoned. Fired 50 rounds on M.G.E. at T2B3.0. Shoot was successful.
Obtained 1 direct hit on Concrete House which tore a large hole in building. Many rounds fell close and building was badly damaged.
8.27 pm to 9.10 pm, fired 53 rounds on Houses in ELEU DIT LEUVETTE and Trench System immediately S.E. in response to S.O.S. Call.
11.45 pm to 1.18 am. June 9/17 fired 251 rounds on Houses in ELEU DIT LEUVETTE and Trench System immediately S.E. Infantry Operation.
 
1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group war diary records:
Cabaret Rouge – Wire and trench destruction in front of AVION and ELEU-DIT-LEAUVETTE. Carried out barrage in support of 46th. Division Operation at 5.33 p.m. Carried out barrage in support of 11th Cdn. Inf. Bde. Operation which proved very successful, mobile charges being used and many prisoners captured. Very active day. Batteries responded to requests for retaliation as well as carrying out numerous pre-arranged tasks
 
General Officer Commanding, Royal Artillery, Canadian Corps war diary records:
In the Field – Weather, warm, bright sun.
Operation detailed in Artillery Order No. 28 by G.O.C. R.A., dated 27-5-17, in conjunction with operations by L.Corps on the left, were carried out successfully at 11.45 p.m. tonight. Artillery orders Nos. 28 to 34 inclusive cover this operation. The operation was carried out as a raid on a large scale, our troops remaining in the enemy’s lines for some little time before returning. Point of attack was the THELUS – VIMY Line – LA COULOTTE Brewery – N.31.central, ELECTRIC GENERATING STATION, Map 3660 S.W. , 1:20000.
Artillery supporting attack consisted of 3rd C.D.A. and 1 Brigade from 1st C.D.A., Reserve D.A. , with 2 Brigades from 2nd C.D.A. , and Canadian Corps Hy. Arty.
Prisoners taken were 145, and 3 M.G.s
 
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.