The Ts are all done! And I've found another W. Captain Woodley, our Medical Officer in 1920. Not quite a photo but I though the caricature was a reasonable facsimile.
Off to an all day conference on security issues. Will update the nominal roll later today. War Diaries - 1917 5th Canadian Siege Battery Apl 9th - A continuous bombardment was kept up all day on Hostile Batteries T64 at T26a 80.70, T65 at T20c 10.28, T59 at T19b 75.80, and T52 at T13b 45.00. 406 Rounds being expended on these Batteries. There were also a good many special targets which claimed our attention during the day, A large body of troops were seen massing in S24d, we immediately switched and fired 50 Rounds into them, and succeeded in dispersing them. A H.V. Gun in T20c 10.80 gave a lot of trouble during the day and we were ordered to silence it, which we succeeded in doing after 50 Rounds. Six other Hostile batteries which gave a considerable amount of trouble also claimed our attention, some being effectively silenced and others being compelled to reduce their fire, These batteries were S53 at T14a 08¼70, S54 at S18b 00.10, S55 at S18b 45.85, S62 at S24b 12.85, T50 at T13a 14.55 and S26a S12d 48.15. We then turned our attention on Banff Trench and fired 50 Rounds into the trench from S22b 20.75 to S16c 9.1, immediately switching to Hostile Battery T50 at T13a 14.55 and firing 35 Rounds into it. A Plane then registered us on Hostile Battery T65 at T20c 10.28 after giving us three observation, which were very good, plane gave C I and 16 Rounds were then fired without observation. Another plane then called up and directed our fire on H.B. T65 with better results, several O.K’s and Y ½ and Z’s being obtained. The Battery was effectively silenced. Plane then directed our fire on junction Banff and Bean Trenches at S16c 50.50. Out of 20 Rds fired on this point there were 18 O.K’s the remaining two being an A and B. From 6.15 p.m. to 9.p.m 207 Rounds were fired into Beano and Cyclist Trench after which we switched to Houses and Trenches in eastern half of Sr4d. During the night we kept up a continuous fire at slow rate on S10d 9.4., S17c 7.7 and S18a 1.2. 31st Battery, 9th Brigade April 9th - THE ATTACK AND CAPTURE OF VIMY RIDGE 5.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. (Detailed Report attached as Appendix “A”) 5.30 p.m. to 5.30 a.m. Situation is now quite normal. Our heavies are pounding VIMY, PETIT VIMY and FLOWER Trenches. Note – Attached hereto is a report on the attack from Lieut. J.R. Jamieson who was Group Forward Observation Officer – Appendix “B”. 58th Battery, 14th Brigade
April 9th - SIR R.L. BORDEN visited and inspected the Camp at 10.30 A.M. This BDE were(?) at BATT GUN DRILL in GUN PARK. The five SGT.’S-MAJ were confirmed in their ranks in today’s orders, he appointments dating back some considerable time. Nominal Roll Half of the T's have been placed on line. The list of decorations may be somewhat lacking as they are hard to decipher on the old black and white photos. Appreciate any assistance that you could provide. World War 1 War Diaries - 1917 5th Canadian Siege Battery Apl 8th - From Noon to 4 p.m fired 150 Rounds on Hostile Battery S56 at S18d 95.80 by aeroplane observation, plane gave very good registration mostly Azs, Y’s and Z’s and after the 77th Round gave C I. We finished the shoot without observation. A machine gun emplacement at Tva between craters S15d 25.60. This shoot was carried out with indirect observation but satisfactory results. During the afternoon we undertook a shoot on Hostile Battery S56 at S18d 95.80 by aeroplane observation, Plane gave C I on account of heavy mist and shoot was discontinued. We the received a telephone message to open fire on hostile battery T59 at T19b 75.80 which was done without observation. During the night we fired 50 Rounds on area of 100 yards radius around S11c 1.6. 31st Battery, 9th Brigade April 8th - Enemy artillery unusually active to-day. NEUVILLE ST. VAAST was heavily shelled with all calibres. One of our scout machines brought down to-day behind the German Lines. 58th Battery, 14th Brigade
April 8th - EASTER SUNDAY. A good fair day. Church services well attended. Group Photos
I've put most of the Regimental Group photos together on one page. Take a look and see if you can help me fill in any of the blanks! email your answers to president.vcrgunners@gmail.com Nominal Roll The Us are done! Not that there were that many! War Diaries 1917 5th Canadian Siege Battery Apl 7th - During the morning fired 30 Rounds on GIVENCHY and also took part in a concentration shoot on Thelus, portion A12a 3.3¼ to 1½.4½ to 7.9 to 3¾.3½ 31st Battery, 9th Brigade April 7th - Enemy aeroplanes very active throughout the day; one of them brought down one of our observation balloons, but occupants escaped by means of parachutes. The enemy put a large number of Lethal and Lachamatary shells in the neighbourhood of our Headquarters to-night. 58th Battery, 14th Brigade
April 7th - C.O’s inspection. Huts and lines generally in good shape. The Vs are all on-line. A smaller bunch than the Ws. Mind you, a bit of serious digging and I came up with some more W photos. Yearbook 1978 Additional photos have been added from our Yakima Exercise. World War One War Diaries 5th Canadian Siege Battery Apl 6th - During the morning we carried out a destructive shoot on Hostile Battery S53 at S18d 15.85 by aeroplane observation. Plane only stayed long enough to get us registered and then gave C I, so shoot was continued without observation, 200 Rounds being fired. We then checked error of day by firing 15 Rounds at Thelum Mill and then switched to a Machine gun emplacement at S15d 9.1, fired 65 Rounds observed by F.O.O. with very good results, no direct hits were observed but quantities of material were thrown up and emplacement considerably damaged. 31st Battery, 9th Brigade April 6th - Another rehearsal of our barrage for the VIMY RIDGE attack was put on this afternoon. All necessary adjustment between flanks of both Groups and battery barrages have now been made and the barrage is well placed and should be very successful. The enemy lightly retaliated while our barrage was in progress but ceased as soon as our barrage was over. 58th Battery, 14th Brigade
April 6th - Fine spring day. Training in GUN PARK. Afternoon free. (?) allowed away on leave from yesterday afternoon to SUNDAY MIDNIGHT. Vancouver Artillery Association AGM
We have tentatively set a date for the 2016 AGM for 20 April 2016 at 1900hrs. We are waiting for approval of our request to use the Armoury’s facilities. A formal Notice of AGM will be sent as soon as we get the OK from the Regiment. All members and prospective members, are asked to attend to help planning future activities. 25 pdr Gun Drill We hope to have our first session on Sat April 16 at the Armoury, starting around 1300hrs. We are just waiting for approval of our request to train at the Armoury and confirmation of John Brownlee Baker’s availability. The Ws are all done! At least the Ws on my list. I'm sure that I'm still missing a lot from the period 1920-1970. Have you got any to add? 1917 Regimental War Diaries 5th Canadian Siege Battery Apl 5th During the morning we fired on Vimy, portion north of road in S24d 1.0 tp T19c 8 ½.9 and east of line tarouga T19c 0.0 to S24b 7.0. From 1.p.m. to 1.50 p.m. we fired 100 Rounds on enemy Headquarters at S15a 60.30 obtaining 3 direct hits and destroying the entire place. We then switched to a Machine Gun Emplacement in S15a 52.38, firing 5o Rounds with very good results, we obtained several direct hits and a great deal of material was thrown up. At 3.25 p.m. we fired 50 Rounds on a Trench Mortar and emplacement in S22a 25.30. This was done by double line observation and considered a very good shoot. The emplacement was very badly damaged and a quantity of material destroyed and thrown up. We then received instructions to switch to another Trench mortar which had been giving considerable trouble, but by this time the light was fading and observation getting more difficult, however 50 Rounds were fired with good results and the emplacement was considerably damaged. From 4.p.m. to 6.p.m. we fired 30 Rounds on THELUS portion between line through A12a 80 and A12b 2.7 and road from cemetery running S.W. through village. This was done without observation 31st Battery, 9th Brigade April 5th The raid carried out by the 52nd Battalion on our front at 4 a.m. this morning was quite successful. The Infantry remained in the enemy trenches for 10 minutes and withdrew without casualties. The Raiding Party succeeded in capturing one prisoner. Our support was reported as excellent. A letter of thanks from Lieut. Col. W.B. Evans is Comdg 52nd Canadian Battalion, has been received, as is attached hereto. O.O. 59 issued to-day gives the following information: On Z Day the Canadian Corps will attack and capture VIMY RIDGE. The details of the Artillery support are to be issued later. In the meantime we are to devote ourselves to thoroughly cutting the enemy wire defences and by day and by night we are to keep under fire points engaged by the Heavy Artillery during the day in order to prevent repairs. O.O. 60 was issued to-night. The 43rd Canadian Battalion carried out three simultaneous raids. Two of them were quite successful by the Left Flank party were badly cut up. Our support for the right flank was reported as very satisfactory. 58th Bty, 14th Brigade
April 5th Sections training in the field. Late passes. Midnight foe Sergeants and 11 pm for other Ranks. Gas training is progressing. No lectures for Limber Gunners as ST. SGT FAWCETT is sick with eczema. The Ws Continue. Appears to be the most common letter of the alphabet! Of course I do not have everyone's complete information. Please send in your info so that we can have a viable source as we move ahead towards our Regimental Centennial. That's right! 2020 is coming up soon! 1917 Regimental War Diaries 5th Canadian Siege Battery April 4th, 1917 - At 9.15 a.m. fired 20 Rounds on Thelus Hill which was being used by the enemy as an observation post, and then fired 41 Rounds on crater D6 to check error of day, there was a number of duds and hostile shelling made observation very difficult, after registering we fired 16 Rounds on S18d 0.5. without observation. At 8.10 p.m. and to 8.40 p.m. we fired 60 Rounds on Hostile Battery S61 at S24c 65.15. without observation and then switched to H.B.’s No B13 and T51 in Bld 1.5 and T13c 23.30 130 Rounds being fired on these batteries without observation. Hostile shelling during the day was at times very heavy but slacked off during the evening. 31st Battery, 9th Brigade April 4th, 1917 - In spite of the severe handicap poor visibility affords to successful wirecutting operations our batteries succeeded in doing a great deal of this to-day. On our section of FLAPPER and SWISCHEN STELLUNG trenches the infantry report that the wire still remaining would not impede them in the event of an advance. 58th Battery, 14th Brigade
April 4th, 1917 - D.A.C. cease to ration 48 ORs of this BDE on release from Quarantine Section Training in field. More names added to the nominal roll. Looking forward to any input you might have. The latest batch of Ws was somewhat short of photographs. The history of the Artillery Batteries in 1917 continues: 5th Canadian Siege Battery At 11.15. a.m. fired 11 Rounds on crater D62 to check error of day. And at Noon switched to Baby Trench in S15a 83.10 to S15a 83.28, fired 88 Rounds with ground observation, no direct hits were observed altho several fell on the edge of the trench. During the afternoon we fired 15 Rounds on La Chaudiere, south of line through S18d 0.5 without observation and also 25 Rds on GIVENCHY, portion north of E and W line through S10a 1/2.1 ½ and east of line through S4c 2.0. At 4.40 started shoot on Hostile Battery by aeroplane observation in S12d 45.15. 1st Rd was unobserved and after 2nd round nothing more was heard from plane. 31st Battery, 9th Brigade April 3rd - The enemy is apparently adopting a policy of “Watchful Waiting” as outside of aerial activity, his visible activities have been nil of late. His shelling has dropped considerably below normal. Meanwhile we are expending every effort in the speedy destruction of his wire while the heavy artillery is constantly pounding his roads and defences. The once well constructed and well defined SWISCHEN STELLUNG TRENCH has been reduced to an irregular mass of shell craters and piled earth 58th Battery, 14th Brigade
April 3rd - Duke of Connaught did not arrive. Only BATTY to go in field was 58th. Wet snowy day. (?) S. Smith to ALDERSHOT for course. CAPT LATIMER (?) to be attached as from 24th March. |
Archives
May 2024
|