From the Regiment’s war diaries

06 April 1917

A raiding party, composed of 1 N.C.O. and 8 men, attempted an entrance of enemy trench at about A.16.a.95.50. Party formed up on far lip of crater 4 of PARIS GROUP which point they were able to reach without being observed by the enemy. The point aimed at was an apparent gap in the German Wire at the above map location. The party reached thispoint without interference and got through the old high wire, but were unable to enter the trench owing to new wire (gooseberries two and a half feet high and six feet broad , and which were close up to his parapet). This wire is new and patrol saw that it extended for at least 100 yards but could not see further plainly. Two of the enemy were seen approaching from the left along the front line, and two from the right. Our party immediately started to bomb the parties and disposed of two of the enemy. The Huns retaliated with bombs and were reinforced by two more. Our party then retired and we suffered one light casualty. As our party retired, a few rifle shots were fired but there was no Machine Gun fire. One light breaking into two green, was sent up and the enemy opened a light barrage of Whizbangs lasting about 15 minutes. The new wire found is quite impassable in its present condition. The enemy attitude is alert and determined. Throughout the day our artillery and T.M.s were active but the enemy did not retaliate to any great extent.

C.E. Bent
Lieut-Col., Commanding,
15th. Battalion,
48th. Highlanders of Canada.

(Editor’s Note: During the First World War, Canadian and British unitsused large-scale map sheets of battle areas which were first divided into a grid of lettered squares and which were then further divided into numberedsubdivisions. The diary entry above references an enemy trench “at about A.16.a.95.50”. The specific map sheet to which that grid reference applies isnot specified in the war diary entry, presumably because the map sheet of the area in which the 15th Battalion was operating on 06 Apr 17 was well-known and easily established. On that map sheet, the enemy trench would have been located in a large lettered square (ie, square “A”), in a numbered sub-square (ie, sub-square 16), and in smaller lettered and numbered subdivisions within that sub-square (ie., a.95.50). The pin-point accuracy which this grid reference system permitted was important in the context of WWI trench warfare given the close-quarters nature of the fighting and the resulting risk of friendly-fire incidents during artillery barrages. Pin-point accuracy of grid references wasalso important given the very limited gains and losses of controlled ground which were possible in the context of trench warfare.)

22 July 1943 ASSORO, SICILY

Shortly after midnight “B” and “D” Coys. launched their attacks on the heights of ASSORO to relieve the pressure on the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment who had been holding the town itself for 24 hours and were in bad shape “B” Coy. took up a position on a high ridge ½ mile SOUTH WEST of the Town.

“C” Coy. occupied the Town. “D” Coy. SOUTH EAST of the Town, while “A” Coy. captured four trucks, one 88 mm gun and took 60 Italian prisoners who surrendered as soon as they knew we were there. During the whole of this operation the Bn. lost one man killed and seven wounded as the result of M.G. fire. Bn. dug in and waited. Light shelling continued throughout the day. In the evening the Bn. ordered to move forward and take the road junction N.W. of LEONFORTE. “B” and “D” Coys. were in the process of forming up in the Bn. H.Q. area when the Heavie of the Germans opened up on the position killing four and wounding ten. Advance elements moved forward at midnight. Weather – hot and dry.

(Editor’s Note: The word “Heavie” was used in Canadian and British accounts of WWII combat to informally refer to a German heavy weapon, heavy tank, or heavy artillery piece. The war diary entries above have not been selected due to their particular content. Rather, they serve to illustrate typical events in the life of The Regiment and its people during war. Interestingly, the entry above for April 6, 1917 was written shortly before The Battle of Vimy Ridge, which according to most historians raged from April 9 to April 12, 1917)