War Diary of the 16th Infantry Battalion (Canadian Scottish), Vol. 01, December 01, 1914 to May 31, 1915

One of the official War Diaries of the First Infantry Division of the 16th Battalion (The Canadian Scottish), Canadian Expeditionary Force that cover from the time the Regiment went overseas at the start of the First World War to the time it returned to Canada in April 1919. War diaries are official records kept by the Battalions during a one month period. The diary provides a daily summary of events, actions, activities, etc. The December 1914 diary begins with the 16th at West Down South Camp (Salisbury Plain) near Stonehenge where they dealt with inclement weather, did bayonet drills, and attacked a farm at night. They then moved to Larkhill where they engaged in fatigues, stayed in huts which were more comfortable than the tents, they built roads using cinders, the 16th requested to be called "Princess Mary's Highlanders" which was denied and they are instead called the "16th Battalion Canadian Scottish", setting up a regular Tuesday Officers meeting, digging trenches for water pipes, unloading railway trucks etc., Pte. Peden dying by being knocked down by a motor, the men getting six days of leave and free transport for Christmas, rumours of moving next to France after the holiday, Lieut. Chambers getting married in London, deciding to adopt a khaki kilt should they become available, and the men having a good Christmas dinner. The January 1915 diary begins with the men celebrating New Years, dealing with rain and flooding, Serj. McCracken gave a lectures on discipline, general conditions at the front and the importance of cleanliness, some men being seconded away from the 16th, Tupper returning to duty after suffering from blood poisoning, marching through Amesbury to Stonehenge, one of the Tuesday Officer's meetings discussing preventing the spread of spinal meningitis as there are 40 cases reported in the divisions, various drills, coughs and colds being prevalent among the officers, photos being taken of the different companies, applause from the men announcement from Col. Turner that the Canadian Contingent would likely be on the continent by the 7th of February, adopting the Double Company System again, going to the Shrewton Folly Rifle Range, Bulford Range, and Durrington Ranges for shooting practice, digging trenches, getting the use of 12 baths at Bulford Camp so every man will get a bath. The February 1915 diary begins with the 16th being inspected by the Brigadier Col. Turner and being complimented on their smart appearance, practicing at Durrington Range, paraded with the Division for an inspection from his Majesty the King and Lord Kitchener, organizing and moving kit bags, testing machine guns, cleaning the huts and camp, departing for overseas with lists of what and who were transported by train loads and wagons, arriving at Avonmouth to the Steamer "Maidan" that sailed on Feb 12 escorted at first by a destroyer, the 16th at sea and dealing with a sever gale that violently rolled the ship and washed away the horse shed, injured four men, and washed one away, seasickness, docking at Belle Isle for a night, arriving at St. Nazaire in France, marching through town with the pipeband, taking a train route that went from St. Nazaire to Savenay to Nantes to La Possonnière to Angers to Sable to Le Mans to La Hutte Coulombiere to L'Aigle to Darnetal and finally to Caestre where they were billeted, engaging in drills and marching, inspection by Gen. French, Gen. Smith-Dorrin and Prince Arthur of Connaught, hearing heavy firing at night, moving to incorrect billeting area on outskirts of Erquingham, some of the 16th being sent to the trenches, and a shell exploding near a hospital injuring one patient. The March to May 1915 diary begins in Erquingham and notes that all of the Battalion has now had trench experience, the Germans shelling Cellar farm, list of men who had been killed, reports of the enemy mining toward their trenches, acknowledgement of men who have done well in the trenches, heavy shell fire, rifle and foot inspections, moving to Ypres, fighting at Zillebike, description of the Second Battle of Ypres on April 22, 1915 which was the first time the Germans used poison gas on the Western Front, many wounded and dead, May 2nd 1915 observing dense and heavy fumes, receiving sodium hyposulphite to put in masks to protect the men from poisonous gases, and arriving at Oblinghem at the end of May.