From the National Archives of Canada: reel group T-10815,T-10818

War Diary of 12th Canadian Machine Gun Company

October 1917

Place
 Date
 Hour
 Summary of events and information
 
Carency Oct 1   Pm.
 32 OR’s attached from Battalions as carriers for impending operations against Sallow mines.
Maneuvers practiced over tapes with 12th bdn Inf. Brigade.
 
  2 a.m. Full dress rehearsal for entire Brigade over tapes, three sections accompanying them.
Remaining section employed in salvaging timer and material from Lievin.

Transport busily engaged in doing roadwork, hauling salvage and building new horse lines.
 
  3   Training continues – consists of auxiliary tripod work on Carency 30-yard range and map work. One section proceeded to Marqueffles Farm range to practice direct fire.
  4   Route march for company
  5   Carriers returned to their unit in view of more orders to the effect that 12th CMGCoy will move to Gauchin-Le-Gal received. Day spent in preparing, packing limbers etc.
Gauchin –Le- Gal  6 10.30am Company marched to billets in Chateau, Gauchin-Le-Gal
  7   Owing to the weather continuing to be bad, no parades were called. In view of anticipated long move, all stores and kit cut down to the lowest possible content.
  8   9 limbers details to assist 4th Cdn Div. Reinforcement camp to move from Chateau de la Haie.
  9   Weather still desultory. Company went for short route march.
  10   32 OR consisting of 38th & 85th Bn men attached from Cdn Corps reinforcement camp as carriers.
  11   Warning order issued to the 4th Cdn MG. Bn should be prepared to move 12th Oct. Limbers packed & general preparation made.

Ham-En-Artois

12   Company moved in busses from Gauchin-le-Gal to Ham-en-Artois, 2 miles north of Lillers. Transport proceeded by road via Bruary, Marle-les-Mines, Lillers, left at 7.15 arrived at destination 3.30pm.8 additional carriers attached

Hondeghem

13   Moved from Ham-en-Artois to Hondeghem, north-west of Hazebrouck, a march of 17 miles. Raining at times.
  14   General cleaning of guns, equipment, clothing etc.
  15   Company resting. Many men footsore owing to bad conditions during the march from Ham-en-Artois.
  16 2pm Two sections employed by French farmers, pulling beetroots.
Conference of OC’s at Div H.Q. hazebrouck. Capt. Williams attended
 
  17   2 OR reinforcements. Lieut. E.G. Fleming lectured the company on First Aid.
  18   5 Officers & 5 OR proceeded to Poperinghe to view relief map of new divisional map front. Route march for company.
  19 6.am Reveille. Company standing to till 10.00am in readiness to proceed to new area in accordance with Div. Warning order. Warning order cancelled.
  20   OC’s Inspection of guns and equipment
  21 3.30 am

10am
 8 limbers detailed to convey personnel of 10th CMGC to Maison Blanche. Returned 7.30am. billeting party left for new area 9.00am
R.C. church parade at Hondeghem Church
 
Potijze 22

4am 6.15

5pm
 Transport moved to Potijze area.
Company proceeded to Potijze, marched 3 miles, then took busses as far as Krusstraat nr Ypres, marching from there to Potijze. Company accommodated in tents, shelters, and a few dugouts. Much mud and conditions very trying.

Enemy planes dropped numerous bombs in vicinity of camp.
 
  23   Company busily employed building cookhouses and making improvements to camp. Transport working all night packing SAA up the lines to dumps. 1 OR wounded.
  24   Nos. 2,3, & 4 sections went into the line as per attached operation order "N", heavy rain & terrific gales of wind during the night. 1 killed and 9 OR wounded mostly when returning from positions to take in gun equipment up.
  25   Lieut. A.H. Rutledge killed in action and 1 OR wounded. Harassing fire carried on by all guns. Transport and remainder of company at transport lines employed in packing ammunition up the line. It was found necessary for some men to make double trip.
  26 5.40am
3.40pm
 10th Bde operation. Company participated in barrage work.
SOS answered with intense fire.
 
  27   3pm

10pm
 Lieut. J.C. Hall & Lieut. W.H. Duncan and 20 OR reinforcements arrived. Transport and remainder of company including carriers again employed in taking S.A.A. to barrage positions.
Sect. 1 went into the line under the Sgt. Major to relieve a section of 10th CMG. Coy. Lieut. J.C. Hall went up to take charge of #3 sect. Lieut. Fleming taking #1.

44th Battn. stealth advance. One gun went forward with Battn. two S.O.S. calls answered in rapid succession shortly after attack.
 
  28   3 OR wounded. 2 guns under Lt. Fleming and 2 under Lt. Leach reported to 78th & 85th Bn respectively in preparation for 12th Bde. Operation. Sniping battery of 4 guns located at D11 C8D.35 (sheet 28) 2 guns reported to be out of action through shell fire, one being the gun which went forward in silent attack on Decline Copse.
  29   All barrage batteries moved up to Manx Corner to be in readiness.

  30 5.50am

1.20pm

4.50pm
 12 Bde. Operation. Company participated, four guns going over, four guns forming a sniping battery and remaining 8 guns on barrage work.
Enemy reported massing at D.12b & D.7c. Machine guns opened intense fire to the satisfaction of the infantry. Barrage guns heavily shelled and under orders from sub-group commanders moved back to old barrage positions.

S.O.S. observed and answered. 1 gun of Sect 2 and guns of sniping battery went forward to replace casualties in consolidation guns.
 
  31 4.05am
5.15 to 6.45am
 Lt. Fleming & 2OR wounded.
SOS seen & replied to.

S.O.S. seen several times and fire opened.

Throughout the operations Sgt. J. H. Jack 132684, Sgt. A. Stewart 132353, and Cpl. H.J. Greech(?) 129069 were conspicuous for their general good work.
 

Signed, L. J. Pearce, Major

O.C. 12th Canadian M. G. Coy.

WAR DIARY NARRATION, 12TH CMGC OCTOBER 26TH 1917