8th INFANTRY BATTALION, CANADIAN EXPIDITIONARY FORCE

Basil James Green was already living and working in Winnipeg, Canada, when the First World War broke out. He was already enlisted in the local Militia, the 100th Winnipeg Grenadiers. He had already arranged a period of leave to visit England, and so delayed enlisting into the regular army until his arrival in England.

Basil joined the 11th Canadian Infantry Battalion, on Salisbury Plain, after travelling back from Canada to see his parents and then on, to find his old battalion, (which were now part of the 11th battalion), on 5th November 1914, in January 1915 he was one of forty volunteers that were transferred to the 8th Battalion, and subsequently went to France as part of a reinforcement draft for the 8th.

These extracts from the 8th Battalion war diaries give a good picture of what every day life would have been like for Basil and his fellow soldiers. The period between 1st April and 26th November 1915 is the period, which Basil was serving with the 8th Battalion, before being posted to form a concert party.

APRIL 1915

1st – ESTAIRES – Battalion parades, route marches and practice attacks
3rd – Battalion gets use of bath house
4th – Battalion moved from ESTAIRES at 7pm, to billets near STEINWOORDE and
WATTOIR
6th-9th – further training
10th – 36 new men joined
13th – orders received for Battalion to relieve the 69th French Division, East of Ypres
14th – proceeded motorbuses to VLAMERTINGE and marshalled to D16.
16th – comparatively quite day, 1 killed in action, 12 wounded in action, relieved by
the 2nd Buffs
17th – in billets on canal bank North of Ypres
18th – training, heavy activity on our right, reported Battle for Hill 60.
19th – Ypres heavily shelled during day
20th – in trenches, No.1 company on left, No.2 centre, No.4 right and No.3 in reserve
in D9
21st – GRAFEASTAFEL, everything quite
22nd-23rd – intermittent bombardment, 9 men wounded
24th – bluish clouds from the German trenches-GAS. Germans shelled for 13 minutes
then advanced but were driven back by our artillery, and as many men as could
handle their rifles. After the Germans had retired, most of the men collapsed
from the effects of the gas.
[The 8th Battalion, along with several others in the vicinity, took the brunt of
this, the first use of gas, by the Germans, on a large scale, as a weapon of war.
The war diary runs into over 4 pages, about this eventful day, but is largely
unreadable]
The trenches were attacked at night, but most men were weak from fumes and
Some already dead
25th – 3am, 8th Durham Light Infantry arrived to relieve us. It was a bit light to carry
out a relieve, but the men who had been gassed would not stand being gassed
again. So a partial relieve was effected, leaving our machine gunners and
telephonists behind. It was then discovered that the 8th D.L.I. were fresh from
England, and the enfilade fire of machineguns and rifles coupled with trench
mortar fire was to trying for green troops. So the 8th D.L.I. retired with the rest,
leaving the machine guns of the 8th to hold the trench, which they did for one
and a half hours after the other trenches had fallen, and then they were ordered
to retire, only 30 men came back. After retiring, it was found that the troops on
our right were not retiring, so we were ordered back into action to protect their
flank. The Battalion assembled in reserve trenches at dawn, near WIETJE on the
26th.
26th – 6am, Battalion ordered to move to 1200yds. South of FORTUIN to support the
Brigade troops. We dug ourselves in and remained there until the night of the
27th, when we marched via Ypres to huts near BRIELEN. Huts were shelled so
men had to rest in trenches near by

MAY 1915

1st – still in reserve on canal bank
2nd – gas used again
3rd-6th – men rested and slept
7th – a draft of 90 men arrived. Addressed by General Smith-Dorrien, who thanked all
for work done North-East of Ypres
8th-9th – new draft training
10th-15th – training
16th – orders to move at 9am, then ordered to stand to, memorial service held
17th – orders received at 3am to march at 6am to LOCON via ROBECQ and
HINGES, no place to billet, entire area crowded with troops
18th – orders received to move to LE TOURET in X16
19th – Brigade moved down to FESTUBERT, relieving the 2nd Wiltshire Regiment
and the 8th City of London Regiment
20th – heavily bombarded with 8” shells until noon, and again 12.45 – 1.45
21st-22nd – shelled
23rd – burial services
26th - 8th Battalion relieved by 15th Battalion, into billets at ESSARS
27th-31st – training

JUNE 1915

1st - 8th Battalion took over from the London Irish ay GIVENCHY
7th – relieved by 3rd Brigade and marched out to VENDIN LEZ BETHUNE
8th- 14th – training and parades
15th – 1 hours notice, on stand by
16th – on 1 hours notice, Medical Orderly lectured men on venereal diseases
17th – left billets at ANNEZIN, at 7.45am for trenches, relieving 3rd Battalion.
No. 1 Coy. OREMANS FARM, No. 2 THE DISTILLERY, No.3 SUDBURY
MOUND and No. 4 in reserve at VAUXHALL BRIDGE
18th – shelled by Germans from 10am-4pm, Battalion moved to billets at LE PREOL
19th – out of billets at LE PREOL and relieved the Warwicks in sector B2
20th-22nd – repairs to trenches
23rd – into billets at BETHUNE
25th – moved to billets at NEUF BERQUIN arriving 4pm. 9pm moved to NOOTE
BOOM, arriving at 1pm
26th – marched to trenches at 5.15pm, in reserve near PLEORGSTEERT
27th-30th – in reserve, digging 2nd line trenches


JULY 1915

1st – Battalion in billets until 9pm, then moved of to relieve 7th Battalion in trenches
131 – 136
2nd-5th – fairly quite, repairing trenches
6th – moved to billets
7th-10th – in billets, training and parades
11th – 7pm moved into trenches 131-133 relieving 7th Battalion
12th-15th – in trenches, Nos. 1 and 2 companies in firing line, 3 and 4 in support. Lots
of rifle and sniper fire
16th – relieved by 5th Battalion, marched to billets
22nd-26th – in trenches, quite, small amount of shelling, and a little sniping. 240
reinforcements arrived from England, relieved by 5th Battalion
27th – in billets, some men on working parties, rest had use of hot baths
28th – remainder of men had hot baths
29th-31st – working parties and parades

AUGUST 1915

1st-6th – in trenches, relieved 5th Battalion, quite dull, occasional rifle fire and trench mortar fire
7th – in billets, 151 men arrived from England
9th – regimental sports
10th – day of inter-company football competition, we relieved 5th battalion
11th-14th – quiet, odd shell and aircraft reconnaissance
15th-20th – in billets, relieved by 7th Battalion. Work parties and parades
21st-25th – in trenches, our snipers shot 2 Germans today (21st), Germans seen
pumping water out of trenches. Sniping continued and occasional shelling
26th – back in billets, played cricket against the 48th Highlanders, 125 men went to
NIEPPE for a concert
29th – cricket match against 1st Field Ambulance
30th – inter-company football competition, relieved 5th Battalion in trenches 128-131
31st – British explode a mine at 12.30

SEPTEMBER 1915

1st-4th – enemy artillery active, as well as snipers. Trench repairs, enemy pigeons seen
flying towards PLEORGSTEERT. 5th battalion relieved us
5th-8th – training, practice attacks and a baseball game between the 8th and 48th
Highlanders – score 18-1
9th-12th – relived the 5th in line, preparations for an offensive
13th – shelled enemy machine gun positions, otherwise quiet
14th – relieved by 5th Battalion at 9pm, into divisional reserve near PETIT POLET
15th – spent all day cleaning equipment
16th – pay and muster rolls, and parades. Furnished divisional working party with 200
men
17th – drill all day and concert in evening
18th – route march in morning and baseball in the afternoon
19th – relieved the 5th in a different sector – 129-132
20th – enemy shelling but no casualties
21st-22nd – quiet, visits by senior officers
23rd – rifle and machine gun fire, during night, support lines shelled. Thirty shells on
DEAD COW FARM, starting a fire in the reserve bomb and ammunition store.
Lt. Hertsberg and R.S.M. Blurton, at great personal risk went into the burning
cellar and put out the fire, then rescued the ammo and bombs
24th – quiet night, we shelled enemy trenches but they did not reply with as many
shells as usual, relived by the 5th at 7pm and went into billets at GRANDE
MANQUE FARM in brigade reserve
25th – orders to move at ½ hrs notice. Attacks by British and French this morning
reported as successful. 11.30am a British aeroplane landed 200 yds from
GRANDE MANQUE FARM after an encounter with a German Albatross. Our
machine had bullet holes in the petrol tank, propeller and planes, the pilot was
unhurt but the observer had a bullet wound in the leg
26th – unsettled weather, still on ½ hrs notice
27th – had use of divisional baths for 7 hours, 600 men bathed but only 200 got clean
underwear
28th – picture of the Battalion taken today
29th – we relived the 5th Battalion tonight, rifle grenades somewhat troublesome
30th – a few whiz-bangs on front line

OCTOBER 1915

1st – enemy shelled left of trench 132, one hit the parapet but no real damage, lots of
rifle grenades and trench mortars
4th – between 5.30am and 6am the enemy sent over 14 large minenwerfer shells on
131 and 132. Five clear gaps in the wire was the result. Enemy then followed up
with 8 large, High Explosive shells on 132 – no casualties. Relieved by the 5th
and 7th Battalions at 7.40pm
5th-8th – in billets, drill, parades and practice attacks
9th – relieved the 5th Battalion
10th – enemy snipers active and our snipers were busy trying to locate theirs
13th – we shelled enemy trenches for 1 and ½ hours followed by a smoke curtain on
the front for a distance of approximately 2 miles, which caused the enemy to
open a barrage of rifle fire and shrapnel shells. At 5.30pm, enemy shelled
trench 131 with 200-300 H.E. shells in about 15 minutes, only 8 slightly
wounded
14th – relieved by 5th Battalion, into Brigade reserve at MUNQUE FARM
15th-18th – in billets, furnished working parties with up to 350 men per day
19th – relived 5th Battalion in 128-131 at 6.35pm
22nd – our patrols and scouts were successful in fog. 1 scout stepped on a mine, only
part of his body was recovered
24th – relieved by the 5th Battalion, into reserve at BULFORD CAMP
27th – 2 officers and 50 men attended a review by H.M. King George
29th – very muddy after five days of heavy rain, relieved 5th Battalion
30th – enemy artillery active, no casualties
31st – very successful patrol, German wire was cut in several places and all the wire and posts were bought in (areas of approximately 20 feet by 30 feet)

NOVEMBER 1915

1st – German artillery active
2nd – heavy rain bought down a lot of trench work and some dugouts caved in
3rd – relieved by 5th Battalion at 6pm, into brigade reserve at GRANDE MUNQUE
FARM
4th – 325 men on fatigues, 64 on grenade classes and remainder cleaning billets
8th – relived 5th Battalion in 128-131, 3rd Worcesters on right and 10th Can. Battalion
on left
9th-12th – relatively quiet, a few shells and occasional rifle fire
13th – relieved by the 5th Battalion, into reserve at BULFORD CAMP
14th – parades and instruction
16th – boxing tournament and concert in BAILLEUL
17th – divisional baths and blanket disinfection. All men getting a bath and half the
blankets cleaned
18th – back into line relieving the 5th Battalion
19th – more rain, trenches falling in
20th – 10th Cheshires relieved 3rd Worcesters on our right
21st-22nd snipers very active
23rd – went into huts at ALDERSHOT CAMP
24th – started all transport of at 8.30am, and proceeded into billets in Corps reserve.
Found billets very comfortable but left in a filthy condition by last occupants,
but a great rest after 6 months without a proper billet
25th – no parades
26th – baths and billets cleaned out

At the end of July 1915, Basil was asked to write a battalion history, which gave him three weeks respite from front line duty.

At the end of November, it would appear that after the 6 month tour of the front line, the Battalion was taken to the rear and was rested. This time would have been spent bringing the Battalion up to strength and training new drafts in the lessons learnt.
Basil was at this time asked to form a brigade concert party, based in Bailleul, which he did. After three months Basil returned to front line duty.

In about early March, Basil was returned to front line duty, the following extracts are from the 8th Battalion War Diaries, between March and June 1916.

March 1916

1st – enemy shelled DEAD COW FARM between 9-9.30am, and the front line
between 1.30-4pm, wounding Capt. S. Eadie, quite badly.
2nd – exchange of artillery fire, 2 k.i.a, 2 w.i.a.
3rd – relieved by 5th Battalion, into billets at BULFORD CAMP
5th-8th – baths, typhoid inoculations, training and drills
9th – relieved 5th Battalion
10th-11th – enemy shelled front line, both nights, 7 k.i.a.
14th – enemy snipers active, 1 man hit in jaw and one man from a pioneer battalion
injured himself on a bayonet.
15th – relieved by 5th battalion, we went in to reserve at GRANDE MONQUE FARM
16th –19th – 100 men per day and 200 by night on working parties, rest on parades and
grenade instruction
20th – football match versus 12th Royal Scots
21st – relieved 5th battalion
23rd – enemy artillery active all day
25th – enemy shelled Hill 63 and the Chateau (8th battalion H.Q.)
27th – heavy bombardment by our artillery about St. ELOI. Enemy of course replied
with 60-75 shells on trenches 130-131, 1 k.i.a, 3 w.i.a.
28th – inspection of feet and boots in preparation for a move
29th – battalion moved at 1.30pm to THIESHOUK O.35 via BAILLEUL, METEREN
and FLETRE, arriving at 5.30pm. Major-General Q.W. Currie inspected march
past through BAILLEUL, Square.
30th-31st – parades, inspections, general clean up of equipment and billets. Noticeable
Difference in men, now out of constant trench duty, seemed to enjoy parades!

APRIL 1916

1st – 50 men to sniper school
2nd – physical drill. Fire in ‘B’ Companies billet, quickly extinguished. Battalion
addressed by Maj-Gen. Currie and Lt-Gen. Alderson
3rd – smoke helmet drill
4th – battalion ordered to move to POPERINGHE, 8th and 10th batts. To march as a
column under Lt-Col. Matthews. Left at 10.30am, arriving at 3pm. Billets very
dirty.
7th – 8th batt. relieved 16th batt. H.Q. set up at SWAN CHATEAU
8th –11th – nightly working parties of 250-300 men per night
15th – relieved 7th batt. In front of Hill 60
16th – Germans had a large periscope (6” x 8”) in their front line trench and we could
plainly see the Germans moving in the trench and were able to count how many
passed by. Enemy snipers active. Our sniper – Shepherdson – killed 1 German
17th-22nd – usual bursts of rifle and M.G. fire, very little artillery. Snipers were very
active, we sent out patrols and manned listening post to obtain information on
enemy’s movements
23rd – heavy rain at night, all available men working to keep trenches from falling in.
Relieved by 1st batt.
24th-27th – inspections, parades, cleaning billets and route marches. A lewis gun was
issued too the batt. for instructional purposes, 450 men on working party –
burying telephone cables
28th – inspected by Sir Douglas Haig

MAY 1916

1st – relieved the 13th batt. In DICKEBUSHE HUTS. Officer’s mess was started for
the first time since coming to France
2nd-7th – 250 men per night on fatigue parties
8th – orders to relieve 7th batt. Investigation into fire on April 2nd in ‘B’ co. billets, was
found to be due to carelessness, any losses to be made good by ‘B’ Company.
9th – relieved the 7th batt. Taking over BLUFF, LOOP, INTERNATIONAL, BEAN
and POLLOCK trenches.
11th – enemy replied with artillery, to over 100 Newton and 44 Mills rifle grenades
17th – relieved by 1st batt.
18th-22nd – parades, instruction and many men exhausted and were allowed to sleep
for most of the first day
23rd – ‘A’ an ‘B’ platoons had practice with live bombs
25th – 300 men had use of Divisional baths of POPERINGHE, relieved 13th batt
26th-30th – 300 men per night repairing dugouts and trenches
31st – relived 3rd batt. In trenches

JUNE 1916

1st – communication trench hit by our own shells – 3 x 9.2” – at DEANGAGE
2nd – heavy German bombardment, followed by urgent messages for our artillery to
respond. Enemy advanced and captured MOUNT SORREL and had entered
ARMAGH HOUSE. Reserves requested for counter attack. The night of 2nd/3rd
was fairly quiet allowing wiring parties to repair gaps in our wire
3rd – enemy continued bombardment, and fighting on our front, we replied with M.G,
fire and 60lb trench mortars
4th – GAS alert, repairs to trenches
5th – enemy snipers very active around HILL 60, several casualties due to carelessness
despite our men being warned not to show themselves
6th-11th – in billets, relieved by 4th batt
12th – back into the line in support at Hill 60, severe shelling and fighting around
HILL 60 and MOUNT SORREL
13th – continuous shell fire, trenches and ground for 500 yards behind cut up badly.
Impossible for stretcher-bearers to operate and the garrison nearly depleted, the
wounded were required to stay and fight if they were able
14th – 1.30am, our artillery were firing short, the shells were falling in our own
trenches, messages repeated at 3am. At 5.15am another message sent
“Howitzer fire short right into our trench. For Gods sake get a F.O.O. to watch
things. Firing over TRENON 51”. This was combined with continuous enemy
shelling. Pm, relieved by 22nd batt.
15th – marched to camp, hot meals waiting and men were all done in, nearly everyone
had a wound, and some needed hospital treatment. Lack of sleep for three days,
no rations for 24 hours and serious nervous strain had taken its toll. In spite of
this 3 Officers and 75 men volunteered to go back to MOUNT SORREL in the
evening to assist in the recovery of the wounded, of which they were
successful. After musters, it was found that we had sustained the following
casualties, Killed – 1 Officer and 64 O.R’s; Wounded 5 Officers and 195 O.R’s;
Missing 2 O.R’s, out of 20 Officers and 550 men in action
16th-18th – muster parades, resting, and a lot of equipment missing or unserviceable.
Memorial services held for the dead of the recent actions
19th – ordered to billets near ABEELE
20th-21st – parades, physical training
22nd - new cap badges issued, sports played
23rd-26th – parades and new draft training
27th – back into line relieving 7th batt.


In mid-June 1916, Basil was taken out of line and transferred to Corps H.Q., and attached to the A.D.C.S. (Assistant Director Chaplain Services). His job was to manage up to 20 canteens (similar to the British N.A.A.F.I.), as close to the front as possible, at Ypres, one was even in a front line dugout.

Whilst attached to the Canadian Corps H.Q., Basil served with several different departments, (whilst still on the pay roll of the 8th battalion), before being attached to the Khaki University of Canada, an organisation, (the army in conjunction with the Y.M.C.A.), whereby serving men on leave, in billets or hospital, could further their education so to better their chances of a better job when de-mobbed. An organisation which had in 1917, had some 50,000 men enrolled.

Basil retired from the Canadian Armed Forces in London on 31st May 1919; his address was then given as, 6 Norbury Avenue, Norbury, SW 16.

He was entitled to the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. He was also awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.