From the National Archives of Canada: Record/Reel Group: T-10815, T-10818

War Diary of the

11th Canadian Machine Gun Company

for October 1917

Carency, Oct1 Lieut. E.J. L. Stinson was struck off the strength of the 11th CMGCoy. On being transferred to the 16th CMG.Coy. Lieut. S. Johnston was taken on the strength of the 11th CMG.Coy on being transferred from the 16th CMG.Coy, Lieut. Johnston was not, however able to commence his duties with the 11th Coy as he was there on leave in England. On the night of the 1st an enemy aeroplane flew over the camp with the greatest audacity, firing on the road nearby, many of the bullets alighting in our transport lines.

Oct. 1st/3rd Company were occupies in building winter quarters and in improving the camp.

Oct. 3rd On the night of the 3rd a warning order was received stating that the Division would be relieved by noon on the 6th by the 1st Can. Division, and that all transport would immediately be made mobile.

Oct. 4th/5th Everyone was kept fully occupied making preparations for the releif.

Gauchin-Legal 6th At 8.30am on the morning of the 6th the company lined up for inspection preparatory to moving, and at 9.00am moved off, with transport, in a downpour of rain, to billets at Gauchin – Legal, arriving there about 1.00pm. The billets we occupied were in the Chateau.

7th Lieut. S. Johnston returned from leave and commenced his duties with the company.

Oct. 7th/12th Our stay at Gauchin – Legal was prolonged until the 12th, the time being occupied by short route marches and drill. Whilst there many amusing incidents occurred owing to the darkness of the nights and the narrowness of the bridge over the moat which surrounded the Chateau. Several of our men, and men of other companies fell into the moat which, owing to its stagnant nature, was covered with a thick moss. So were the men when they emerged.

Ham-en-Artois 12th At 7.30am on the 12th the transport moved off for Ham-en-Artois, the remainder of the company leaving Gauchin-Legal at 8.00am by motor busses, together with the 10th, 12th, and 16th CMG.Coys. On arrival at Ham-en-Artois news was received that we would move off again in the early morning of the 13th.

Hondeghem 13th The company moved off, in conjunction with the 10th,12th, and 16th Coys at 6.00am in a shower of rain. The march was a long and tiresome one, heavy rain falling during the greater part of the afternoon. On arrival at their billets in Hondeghem at about 5.00pm the men were very tired and wet and were glad to turn in to sleep. Lieut. Hopper and four other ranks who were going on leave were left behind at Ham-en-Artois.

Hondeghem Oct.13th/21st The whole of this time was spent at Hondeghem. Very little work was done here, the greater part of the time being spent in rest. On several days some of the men assisted the owners of the billets to gather in their root crops, which was greatly appreciated. On each occasion refreshments were provided by the farmers for the men.

Ypres. 22nd At 3.00am the transport moved out of Hondeghem, the rest of the company moving off at 6.00am. after a march of about three miles we were put on motor busses which were waiting to take us to wighin a short distance of YPRES. On leaving the busses the road was so filled with traffic that the rest of the way through Ypres had to be marched in single file.

Potjize On arrival at our destination near Lancer Farm in Potijze we had them to commence to make shelters and bivuvacs. This was no easy task on a ground sodden with water and filled with shell holes. The transport pulled in about 3.00pm, two haours after the sections.

23rd On the morning of the 23rd we took over the camp vacated by the VI K.O.Y.L.I. about 300 yards from the position occupied on the previous day. This camp was on the opposite side of the road to Hussar Farm.

Hussar Farm Hussar Farm At night a pack mule party carried ammunition to forward positions which were to be occupied by us later.

Potijze Potijze 24th On the night of the 24th the 11th Coy with 12 guns, B, C, & D, sections moved into barrage positions in the line. Rations and ammunition were carried in by carrying pack (?). The road was heavily shelled shilst the men were moving in but only two slight casualties occurred, Pte. G Dickson and Pte. F. J. Johnston, both remaining at duty.

25th Ammunition and rations were taken in by carriers. Pte. Size, a carrier attached from the 54th battalion, was wounded.

Bellevue Spur Bellevue Spur 26th On the morning of the 26th the 10th Can. Inf. Bde, made their attack on the enemy’s positions of the Bellevue Spur, our machine guns covering them with barrage fire. Our positions meanwhile were subjected to heavy shell fire, Lieut. R. MacFoster, Ptes, Ode, Morton and Burns being wounded. In the afternoon from about 3.00-4.00pm the enemy shelled intensely the area containing our guns, one gun being destroyed. He then made a determined counter attack which threatened severely the positions held by the 46th battalion who were holding the centre of the 10th Bde line. The signal for support was however, quickly acted upon by our guns and before the artillery put down their barrage a heavy machine gun fire had checked the enemy'’ advance and enabled the 46th battalion to extricate itself from a very ugly position.

26th Heavy barrage fire was then maintained until all the objectives had been captured by the infantry. Five other ranks were received as reinforcements.

27th Lieut Scott and four other ranks left camp in the early morning on leave, for England. Later in the day Lieut Stavely returned from a M.G. course at Pernes where he had been since Sept. 30th Lieut Hopper returned from leave but shortly after his arrival had to be admitted to hospital sick. For the last three nights enemy aeroplanes were very active around the transport lines and camp, many bombs being dropped. Heavy barrage fire was put on the enemy’s positions in order to break any attack which might be forming.

28th Much aeroplane activity both in the afternoon and night in the vicintiy of the camp. Harasing firewas carried out by the guns in the line. Eleven other ranks were received as reinforcements.

29th On the morning of the 29th, Lt Staveley, who had gone into the line the previous days, was lying in a dug out with Lt. Shields when a shell burst at their feet wounding Lt. Shields in both feet and gassing Lt Staveley. Ptes. Keene and Adams were also wounded. Liets. F.L. Carpenter and O.B. Eaton and ten other ranks arrived as reinforcements. Corporal Jack who was in charge of the signalling arrangements for the machine guns of the 4th Can. Div. Was wounded by shell fire. In the evening the guns were moved forward from positions between Seine Corner and the railway to new positions 200yds in front of Tyne Cot (D17a22). The deepening of trench, completion of emplacements and belt filling positions was taken in hand at once. The 11th Coy were on the right of the position, with four guns of the 12th Coy on the left. Slightly to the rear were guns of the 10th & 12th Coy. The guns of the 16th Coy were in a trench running to the left of our positions at an angle of about 60 degrees. In order to complete our supply of ammunition about 100,000 rounds SAA were carried up from Manx Corner. The carriers who brought in the rations assisted in that work. The sections occupied the position in the following order from the right "D"."B"."C". When the work was finished every effort was made to camouflage dumps, positions, etc.

30th At zero hour 550am a heavy barrage was laid by the artillery and machine guns. The enemy replied quickly and shelled our positions intensely. Shortly after firing had ceased at 7.00am a shell struck one of our shelters killing Pte. Colquhoure and wounding five others. Later in the morning Pte. Bass was wounded. About 12 men were advised by Lt. Bergan of the 12th Coy that sections of the 10th, 12th, 16th, had retired. Capt Logan, the sub group commander, was advised of this and asked for instructions. At 1.00pm orders were received to retire to our old positions at Seine Corner. This was done under M.G. fire fro enemy aeroplanes. During lulls in the shelling parties were sent to recover belts, boxes, etc, and whilst performing this work Ptes. Dayton & Keut were wounded. One SOS call was answered by our guns at 4.50 pm. One gun was destroyed by shell fire.

31st In the early morning a SOS call was answered with barrage fire, otherwise the day was comparatively quiet. The positions we vacated on the previous day were searched for all available belts, boxes, and equipment. During the evening a heavy gas bombardment was made by the enemy well to our rear.

L.Johnston Lt

For O.C. 11th CMG.Coy

NOVEMBER 1917

November 1st, Passchendaele At 2am on the morning of the 1st instructions were received to reconnoitre positions on a line between Augustus House and Heine House (D11.a). This was done by Lieut. Johnston and Lieut. Connolly under heavy shelling. On reporting to sub group commander it was decided not to move the guns forward. At 8am Major Clark and Lt. Eaton went into the line to relieve Lieut Johnston & Lieut Connolly. In the evening four guns and crews returned to camp at Potijze under Lt. Carpenter.

2nd On the evening of the 2nd the remaining 8 guns in the line were relieved by 8 guns of the 14th CMG.Coy and returned to camp.

Potijze 3rd At 8am the transport moved off for Caestre. The company left Potijze at 8.30am and marched to YPRES station, entraining at 10.30am for Caestre where we arrived at 1pm. And took over a tented camp just outside the town.

4th The day was spent in rest.