For historical interest, I have included the War Diary for Canada's most important battle:

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

Vimy Ridge – 12th Canadian MG Coy

Appendix "A"

Report on Recent Operations – Reference 1009 Division of Machine Guns

The Brigade Machine Guns were divided into two groups.

Eight machine guns under Divisional arrangements for barrage work
Eight guns for consolidation under the Brigade. The Brigade attached these later as follows
Four to the 38th Canadian Inf. Battn.
Two to 72nd Canadian Inf. Battn. for use on left flank
Two to 73rd Canadian Inf. Battn. for use on left flank in N. E. and E. direction
 Disposition

The disposition was as follows:-

OC. At advanced Headquarters
Sections 3 and 4 under Lieuts. J. A. Riddell and H. E. Henderson respectively at group "O" near the junction of Wortley and Zouave Valley.
Section 1 in charge of Lieuts H. A. Peverley and B.D. Cotton was attached to 38th Battn. It was proposed that Lieuts Peverly with a subsection, under Major Morrison take up a position as soon after zero as possible in the vicinity of No.4 crater, and Lieut. Cotton with a sub section under Capt. McDowell was to take up a position of consolidation in the vicinity of No. 6 Crater.
Lieut. J. C. Hall with a sub section from No.2 section, under Capt. J. Ross of the 72nd Battn. was to place one gun in the vicinity of the junction of Claude and Gluck and one gun in the vicinity of Clutch and Gluck
Lieut. I. H. H. Bevan with a sub section of No. 2 section under Major Grand of the 73rd Battn. was to place two guns in the near (?) in the vicinity of Kennedy Crater.
The Barrage Guns at Group "O"

At 2am 9th April, all guns were laid and crews in position. Thirty seconds after zero (5.30am) these guns opened fire on S 16a, the southern portion of Givenchy at the rate of 12,000 rounds per hour for the group for the first hour. For the next twenty minutes 8,000 rounds were fired, and from this time to zero plus 3hrs 25mins a rate of 16,000 rounds per hour was maintained from the group. Total expenditure 53,000 rounds.

This was a creeping barrage which eventually settled on an S.O.S. line which covered the main road into Givenchy. On each succeeding night, night firing was maintained on any suspected places of assembly for counter attack. During the 10th Brigade attack on the "Pimple" on the morning of the 11th fire was placed on suspected point of assembly for counter attack in S 4 central.

At 10am on the morning of the 9th, the group was weakened by the withdrawal of two tripods to replace those destroyed by shellfire on the consolidation guns. At the same time Lieut. J. A. Riddell went forward to replace Lieut. I. C. Hall who was a casualty. The total expenditure of this group during the whole operation amounted to 191,000 rounds. There were no casualties amongst the barrage personnel but the guns and equipment suffered considerably from the wear and tear of prolonged and heavy firing. The effectiveness of this barrage firing in preventing assembly for counter-attack and in causing casualties to the retreating Bosche has been proved by prisoner statements. During the operation, the whole front of the attack was covered by a creeping barrage 800 yards in depth, and at night all approaches and assembly points were covered.

Seventy eight machine guns were used on our Divisional front for this work.

Lieut. H. A. Peverley’s Sub Section

At zero Lieut. Peverley with a party of 22 (14 machine gunners and 8 carriers) left our front line and went in a compass bearing to the direction of No.4 crater. About 30 minutes after zero, Lieut. Peverley moved to No. 5 crater and recoinntered No. 4. It was found that No. 5 afforded better field of fire for the purpose and the guns were immediately placed in position on the forward lip and fire opened on the retreating Bosche. Twelve German machine gunners were found in this crater and these were left for a party of the 38th Battalion, who arrived in this crater soon afterwards to deal with. Two German machine guns were also captured by No.1 section at this point and one of these was immediately mounted and handled with considerable skill by #177466 L/Cpl. J. Anthony; the other was turned over to 38th Battalion.

At zero plus 40 mins. Major Morrison OC, Sector, was wounded and Lieut. Peverley took charge of strong point until Capt. Howland replaced Major Morrison. At this time the right flank was seen to be open and a gun was place covering the gap. On the evening of the 9th, the 85th Battn closed the gap and many targets were available for our machine guns. Consolidation was carried on by digging a trench behind the forward lip of the crater during the day. On the afternoon of the 11th, a relief of this sub-section was carried out by Lieut. H.E. Henderson and No. 4 section.

During the two days and three nights spent in the crater many targets were engaged with satisfactory results. The energy, coolness and cheerfulness of #177016 Sgt. E. A. Lambourne in the creation of this strong point and the work of these two days is worthy of mention.

Casualties in this party: Killed 1 O.R.

Wounded 5 O.R.

Lieut. C.D. Cotton’s Sub – Section of 14 machine gunners and 8 carriers attached to Capt. McDowell of 38th Battalion for the operation. At 5.30am they left our trenches, and following the inclination of the battalion bore too much to the left (down hill). One detachment under #132224 Sgt. J. Stewart, however went in the right direction but overran their objective. At this moment it was seen that there were only four men left out of a crew of eleven, and the tripod and carrier were missing. Sgt. Stewart, therefore, reported to Lieut. Peverley and was sent back to re-equip his crew and get the gun into condition for firing.

Lieut. Cotton with one detachment bore over the head of Montreal Crater and it was found that a bullet had pierced the crosshead of the tripod. A shell fell among the crew and inflicted casualties. Lieut. Cotton was later invalid out suffering from concussion. The crew reported to OC Brigade Machine Guns and were taken up to reinforce Lieut. Peverley’s strong point with one gun.

Casualties in this party: Killed 1 O.R.

Wounded: Lieut. Cotton & 5 O.R.

Missing: 2 O.R.

 Lieut. I. C. Hall’s sub-section with 14 machine gunners and 8 carriers, attached to 72nd Battn. left our lines at 5.30am, and headed straight for their objective. When over the Bosche lines, Lieut. Hall was hit, receiving 5 wounds in the head and body. He, however, kept going until he was too weak to proceed further, when he was persuaded to go to the dressing station. The muscles of his legs were torn in the exertion of proceeding through the heavy mud. The two tripods of the sub section were knocked out and a message was immediately sent to the rear to have these replaced. This was done by withdrawing two from the barrage group and Lieut. J. A. Riddell replaced Lieut. Hall. In the meantime #133211 L/Cpl J. Munnock with his gun went ahead and reached the objective but found he was the only man left of the crew. He therefore placed himself under the orders of Lieut. Vicars, 72nd Battn and assisted in establishing posts. His work in this connection is worthy of much commendation.

On Lieut. Riddell’s arrival with two fresh tripods it was found desirable to place the two guns of this sub-section in the vicinity of the old Gunner Crater covering the left flank from counter-attack. During the period between evacuation of Lieut. Hall, until the reorganization #132539 Sgt. Haladay handled the sub-section in a very efficient manner, reaching the objective, but being unable to fire on account of the absence of tripods.

On the afternoon of the 11th, a relief of this sub-section was carried out by a sub-section of No.3 under Lieut. A. Richards.

Casualties in this party:

Killed: 4 O.R.

Wounded: Lieut Hall, 5 O.R.

Missing: 4 O.R.

Lieut. I. H. H. Bevan’s Sub-section Lieut. I. H. H. Bevan’s Sub-section of 14 machine gunners and 8 carriers attached to 73rd Battn. had the task of assisting in the consolidation of the new crater near Kennedy Crater. The party went straight for their objective at zero and #132140 Sgt. J. Campbell became a casualty. Guns were mounted and consolidation work carried on. This position was occupied until the evening of the 10th, when the crews were ordered by 12th Brigade, to move to Montreal Crater and to arrange for targets in support of the 10th Brigade advance. During the occupation of Kennedy & Montreal craters no counter attack was experienced from the Bosche.

A sub-section from No. 3 relieved this sub-section on the afternoon of the 11th, Lieut. Bevan however, remaining in. he was later taken out on a stretcher suffering from gas from a gas shell and Lieut. H. Ramsay took his place.

Casualties in this party:

Wounded: Lieut. Bevan, 3 O.R.

Subsequent Events

On 11th, instructions were given by Brigade to place two guns at Capt. McDowell’s position. This was done and during the night of 11th/12th firing was carried on in support of 10th Brigade advance. On the morning of the 12th, Capt. McDowell gave instruction for these two guns to return to their original positions. This was effected on the afternoon of the 12th, Brigade requested these two guns to return to Capt. McDowell to support him; this transfer was completed by 7pm.

On the morning of the 13th, it was seen that the enemy had retreated from Givenchy and Capt. McDowell sent forward #487473 Sgt. O. N. Stearns with one gun crew to support the advance. Sgt. Stearns reached Givenchy and discovered a 77mm. Gun there. He reported to Lieut. Vicars and later Col. Clark and advanced to a point 800 yards E. of Givenchy placing his gun in position on the crossroads.

Capt. E. W. Sansom of the 16th Canadian MG. Coy. Offered two guns for consolidation work to 12th Brigade. This offer was accepted and the guns were placed in position at No. 2 crater. On 12th, another two guns were offered and the were placed in position and vicinity of No. 2 crater. The above four guns were under the control of Lieut. Gauivreau and many targets were engaged by direct fire.

On the afternoon of the 13th, this company was relieved by 15th Machine Gun Coy. (English)

Casualties

Total casualties throughout operations:

12th Canadian MG Coy.

Killed: 5 O.R.

Wounded: Lieuts. Hall, Bevan, Cotton, 11 O.R.

Carriers attached

Killed: 1 O.R.

Wounded: 7 O.R.

Missing: 6 O.R.

17-4-17

L. J. Pearce Major

O.C. 12th Canadian MG Coy.