#Alexander Vincent Cramond

[k2kid]

18th Battalion Association[i] Windsor and Detroit Branch *MEMORIES*

Every time we meet Harold Aikenhead[ii], the general and competent Secretary of our London Branch, it always brings back memories of our first or second trip into the Front Line. I don’t recall where it was but Harold claims it was B & C trenches and he should know.

It was a very quiet part of the Front as the lines were far apart and the only thing you had to worry about was the occasional shelling, which didn’t occur often. About thirty yards behind the Front Line there was a reserve trench, which was narrow and not too long. Some of us were of the opinion that it had been specially built for the machine guns or mortars. At the far end some had left an obsolete bombing machine, which worked on the same principle as a slingshot. You set the dial on the left, placed the bomb in the pocket, and pulled evenly on two handles which were attached to some heavy springs. The farther down you pulled the handles, the more distance you got with the bombs.

On a monotonous afternoon some of the younger set decided to try it out and, as there were no bombs available, they decided to make their own by filling some jam tins with stones, shrapnel, mud, or anything they could find. They then repaired to the trench and took turns at working the rusty machine. Everything went fine. The dial was set to sixty yards, and the jam tins left the pocket nicely, arched over our front line and landed in no man’s land. Butch Crammond [Cramond[iii]] had to be different. He changed the dial and pulled the handles back with a jerky motion. His jam tin left the pocket in a hurry and seemed to go higher than all the others, but didn’t travel quite so far. In fact, it only travelled as far as our own front line and when it came down it landed on poor Harold’s noggin almost knocking him cold. He still carries the scar. We were all sorry, Butch more so than the rest of us, as Harold was one of the best-liked in the Platoon and one of the most obliging. He later proved this when he became Steward of the little “Y” at Vierstraat.

Harold and I were discussing the incident some time ago and we believed that six or seven took part in the experiment. The accident happened in late September (1915) and by the following spring, at least three of those involved (Carthy[iv], Drinkwater[v], & Lee[vi]) had been killed in action and two others including Jimmy Cork[vii] had been so severely wounded they never returned to the Battalion. The turnover of Officers and Men in all the Infantry Battalions was tremendous. That was why there were nearly three thousand replacements set to the Eighteenth Battalion During hostilities.

The approximate area of the incident. This is a Circa 1916 British Trench map. The Canadians would have occupied the blue line representing the C.E.F. trenches. The red lines (in detail) are the German trenches. Vierstraat is to the rear of the Canadian lines.

The Story

The 18th Battalion was blooded in Belgium at the end of September 1915. It was serving in the line near Vierstraat where it would begin to experience combat for the first time. It may have been a deliberate assignment for the battalions of the 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade to be placed in “…a very quiet part of the Front…” but, as is borne out by the War Diaries of the Fall of 1915, the Battalion began to suffer casualties and deaths from their exposure to this environment.

The use of grenade catapults by Imperial Forces was only one of many tools used to overcome the tactical challenges trench warfare offered. These catapults offered a relatively inexpensive, accessible, and local solution to increasing the firepower of the soldiers in the front lines. Some of the models available for use were of British design, such as the Leach Trench Catapult, the West Spring Gun, and the French Sauterelle Grenade Launcher, where used to launch grenades across the lines towards the Germans in order to damage trenches. The accuracy of these devices would not be wholly practical to offer consistent results, but the grenades exploding in and around the trenches would have some value as a weapon of nuisance and to interdict the activities (sleep, trench maintenance) of the enemy. In addition, the British pre-occupation with percussion grenades, as opposed to using grenades with timers, would have been well suited for grenade launchers.

Leach Trench Catapult

West Spring Gun

Sauterelle Grenade Launcher

From the description given by the author it is very likely that the device being used may have been a Leach Trench Catapult. The Leach Catapult used a rotating two-handed winch to put tension on the springs to fire the device and the description of the catapult by the author indicates using “two handles” to pull evenly back to load the springs that would fire the projectile. Thus, the interpretation of pulling on the two handles may relate to the cranking of the two handles projecting on either side of the catapult. Sixty-five years had transpired since the incident and if the description of the device was second-hand this could account for the apparent inconsistency about how the device worked.

Leach Trench Catapult

The incident is verified by the Medical Officer’s War Diary which relates on October 3, 1915 that: “No. 5416 H. R. AIKENHEAD was hit in head with bully beef tin which someone was using to test a trench catapult [illegible] was sent to 5 F.A.” This incident is reflected in private Aikenhead’s service record as he did attend No. 5 Canadian Field Ambulance with a “head wound, accidental” on that date and released back to duty the following day. Private Aikenhead was one of the Battalion originals that served with the 18th until December 1917 where he was assigned to the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp with the Department of Military Services. Y.M.C.A. continuing his previous experience at Vierstraat helping the soldiers through the auspices of the “Y”.

Private Alexander “Butch” Vincent Cramond survived the war. Apparently, his transgression did not reflect on his military service with the C.E.F. as he rose to the rank of corporal and was eventually assigned to an Officers Training Course in May of 1917 where he became a temporary lieutenant and was returned to the 18th Battalion at that rank on October 4, 1917 just before the hell of Passchendaele. He lived until November 5, 1957, dying at the age of 64 years old and is buried at Mountainview Cemetery in Cambridge, Ontario. He was a resident of Galt, Ontario and joined the 18th Battalion in October 1914.

The other soldiers mentioned in the story share some characteristics. Private Aikenhead enlisted at Galt, Ontario, as did Privates Carthy, Drinkwater, and Lee. Carthy was the youngest at 18-years of age with his companion Drinkwater and Lee being a relatively “old” 20-years of age. Cramond was 21-years old when he enlisted. Private Cork, who was transferred from the 33rd Battalion just before the Battalion left for England at the middle of April, was from London, Ontario and 19-years old. The appellation applied to these soldiers as the “younger set” was apt. They were young. And Carthy, Drinkwater, and Lee would die young as well. Private Eric Carthy was to perish in the Vierstraat Sector, apparently from German machine gun fire, on Boxing Day, 1915. Next to perish of this group was Private Harry Drinkwater who was struck by a shell on April 25, 1916 and died that day of his wounds. He was, then, only 22-years old. Last to die of the “younger set” was Private John Lee who was killed, along with many other 18th Battalion men, during the attack at Flers-Courcelette on September 15, 1916 at the Somme. Private Cork was, relatively, lucky. He was wounded but his right elbow was so badly shattered he required an amputation. Hard for a farmer to suffer such a wound. He returned to Canada in October 1916 and was discharged where he was granted a pension at 60% disability for one-year worth $208.00[viii].

The memory of the 18th Battalion “younger set” experimenting with the trench catapult is replete with interesting details and nuance. The reference to a weapon system that was adapted to the conditions of trench warfare and the use of tins and other projectiles reflects to the grenade shortage the Imperial Forces experienced at the start of the war and into the end of 1915. Though the tins fashioned by the soldiers of the 18th probably did not have any explosive one wonders what the opposing German soldiers thought as these tins full of “anything they could find” were shot into the air. They also must of wondered why these projectiles only landed in No Man’s Land. Perhaps the “younger set” did not want to provoke a response from the Germans or they miscalculated the range and capability of this “obsolete bombing machine”. Private Cramond certainly did. His actions led to the injury of a fellow member of his unit. One would suppose that upon his return Private Aikenhead reminded Cramond of his lack of martial skills with the catapult without mercy. If not, one can imagine the rest of the men in Cramond’s platoon would talk of this event for some time and the news must have travelled through the Battalion grapevine with some alacrity.

One also wonders if this activity had the direct approval of an officer? Such actions, such as shooting objects towards the enemy, was certainly to be of some concern to the platoon sergeant and officer as this activity could be considered aggressive and warrant a response by the Germans, perhaps by artillery, which would be unwanted, especially from actions not condoned by a higher authority. Yet, other than Aikenhead’s aching head, there appear to be no repercussions from the Germans or from a higher authority in the 18th Battalion.

Its akin to teenagers making with a prank. Something goes wrong. They stop. And all is forgiven and blamed on youthful exuberance.

But in a combat zone the outcomes could have been much worse. On October 3, 1915 some young men pushed the limits and an accident probably stopped them before something more serious occurred.

[i] The blog has come into the possession of an exciting and valuable series of documents care of Dan Moat, a member of the 18th Battalion Facebook Group. His Great Grand-Father, Lance-Corporal George Henry Rogers, reg. no. 123682 was an active member in the 18th Battalion Association and the Royal Canadian Legion. With is interest in the post-war Association a series of “MEMORIES” in the form of one-page stories relate many of the Battalion’s experiences from the “other ranks” soldiers’ point-of-view.

It appears that the documents were written in the early 1970s, a full 50-years after the end of The Great War and are a valuable social history of soldiers’ experiences as told in their own words about the events that happened a half-century ago to them, and now a full century for us. This is the first of the series, and suffice to say, the reference, names, experiences, and strong immediacy of these stories bring the men of the 18th Battalion alive.

[ii] Aikenhead, Harold Raymond: Service No. 54160.

[iii] Cramond, Alexander Vincent:  Service no. 53896.

[iv] Carthy, Eric:  Service no. 54209.

[v] Drinkwater, Harry:  Service no. 54015.

[vi] Lee, John:  Service no. 53934. There are several soldiers serving with the surname Lee but Private Lee, reg. no. 53934 appears to be the only Lee to have perished with the 18th Battalion and his service record details are consistent with the details of the story.

[vii] Cork, James William:  Service no. 54310. Most likely. Name and wounding consistent with detail in story.

[viii] Approximately $3,500.00 CDN today.

Private Aikenhead and the “Younger Set” 18th Battalion Association[i] Windsor and Detroit Branch *MEMORIES* Every time we meet Harold Aikenhead, the general and competent Secretary of our London Branch, it always brings back memories of our first or second trip into the Front Line.

[k2kid]

Confidential War Diary of 18th CANADIAN BATTALION – 2nd CANADIAN DIVISION

From 1st July to 31st July, 1918

Volume 35 With appendices 1 – 7

Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information G.H.Q. RESERVE LATERE-ST-QUENTIN. J.23, 24, 29 and 30. Bn. Hdqrs at J.25.d.80.20 1   Lorries called at 7.45 a.m. and took about 14 officers and 150 men to TINQUES to attend the Cdn. Corps, Dominion Day, Sports, returning about 7.00 p.m. one O.R. returned from hospital.   2/3   Training per syllabus attached. One O.R. to hospital. 2nds. One O.R. on leave to U/K. 3rd. Lieut. G.J. Spencer attached 2nd Divnl. Hdqrs 2nd. Captain T.H.O. Rayward returned from 2nd Div. Wing, C.C.R.C. 3 N.C.O.s attached from C.C.R.C. as Instructors. Afternoons devoted to recreational training.   4   Training per syllabi attached. Lieut. J.N. Mowbray arrived as reinforcement. Capt. C.J. Jackson returned from hospital.   5   Training as per syllabus attached. One N.C.O. to England as instructor, Cdn. Signal School.   6   Training as per syllabus attached. One O.R. on leave to Paris. One O.R. to hospital and three returned. One instructor detached from C.A.G.S. as instructor.   7   Battalion Church Parade at 9.15 a.m. on Parade Ground at J.24.c.10.10. R.C. Parade in Parish Church at 9.00 a.m. Lieut. C.E. Ogelsby proceeded to England for duty with the R.A.F. One O.R. to hospital and one returned.   8   At 8.45 a.m. the Battalion paraded in Full Marching Order to J.24.c.50.80, when G.O.C. 4th C.I.B. held an inspection. One O.R. to hospital. 6 O.R.s to rest camp.   9   Bathing, Pay and Inoculation Parades took up the greater portion the day. Training in morning carried out as per attached. Capt. D.St.J. Wigle and one O.R. on leave to Paris. Three O.R.s to Paris to attend ceremonial Parade on July 14. One O.R. on leave t U.K. 2 O.R.s from 3rd Army Rest Camp; 2 O.R.s   10   Training as per syllabus attached.  Major J.N. Richardson to England for Senior Officers Course, Aldershot. Lieut.-Colonel L.E. Jones returned for leave. 2 O.R.s to Base as miners.   11   Training as per syllabus attached. Coys. & Units carried out training on Aerodrome grounds J.25.c.30.50. while waiting to go through Gas Chamber.   12   Morning Battalion Parade and Ceremonial drill. Afternoon, Inspection, inspection of Brigade by G.O.C. Canadian Corps who presented medals to several O.R.s of the Battalion. 3 O.R.s to duty with 2nd Divl. Remount Party.   13   Battalion paraded in full marching order to Dainville, Divisional Reserve, as per Order No. D.220 attached. Transport and Q.M.S. Stores moved to Berneville. Capt. A.R. Mackedie on course to 1st Army Musketry School. 13 O.R.s classified “B.1” and “B.2” by medical board dispatched to Cdn. Corps Labor Pool. 4 N.C.O. Instructors attached from C.C.R.S. and C.A.G.S. despatched to H.Q. 2nds C.E.Bde.   14   Battalion Church Parade at 9.30 a.m. R.C. Service in Parish Church at 9.30 a.m. Personnel left out of line for training paraded at 6.30 p.m. & marched to rear details camp at Wanquetin. The Battalion paraded in Battle Order and moved off at 8.45 p.m. to proceed to trenches as per order No. D.221 attached. 52nd Battalion on our Right and 20th Battalion on our Left. Relief completed at 2.10 a.m. Battalion in Right sub-sector of Divl. Sector.   Night 14 / 15   Patrols supplied by units being relieved covered the Battalion frontage until relief was complete. They reported no enemy seen.   15   Conditions of defences – trenches in good condition, sufficiently deep to be free from observation & with good fire bays and field of fire. Three belts of wire in good condition extend along front. Any existing gaps covered by L.G. Fire. Battalion H.Q. & Details in dugouts in CREST trench. Daylight patrol consisting of Lieut. MacRae & Sgt. Manby left our line at N.1.c.40.25 at 3.30 p.m. & reconnoitered wagon road to approx. N.2.c.25.45 from which point good view was obtained of enemy defences. Party returned to our line at point of exit at 7.00 p.m. reporting no enemy seen. Situation during day fairly quiet. 2 O.R.s returned from Paris leave.   16   Our artillery & aircraft fairly active throughout day on enemy forward & rear country. Lieut. MacRae & Sgt. Manby left our lines at N.7.d.70.90 at 3.30 p.m. & crawled East to sunken road at N.8.a.08040. No further progress could be made owing to enemy observation on Right flank. Party returned to our line at 7.45 p.m. reporting no enemy seen. 4 O.R.s arrived as reinforcements. 1 O.R. returned from hospital.   Night 16 / 17   Work parties employed improving trenches & salvaging material. Lieut. Stokes and 3 Bn. Scouts & covering party of 10 O.R.s left are line at N.7.d.40.10 at 9.30 p.m. proceeding East to approx. N.8.c.70.05 where advance was checked by M.G. fire. Patrol returned to point of exit reporting enemy very quiet. Usual contact patrols covered ground between our Battalion & Battalion on right, report no enemy seen.   17   L/Cpl. W.L. Callander shot at German at N.2.c.30.15. Lieut. MacRae & Sgt. Manby left our line at N.6.a.08.40 at 3.30 p.m. & reconnoitered down DOUGLAS Trench to N.8.c.60.84 & vicinity. A post of H.Q. was located at N.8.a.85.20 & 4 Germans seen. Patrol returned to point of exit at 7.00 p.m. 1 O.R. to hospital. 1 O.R. wounded. Lt. A.V. Crammond attached 2nd C.E. Bde.   Night 17 / 18   Usual patrols covered our frontage during night, reporting enemy quiet. Working parties were employed improving trenches and salvaging material.   18   8.50 a.m. party of enemy made a stealth raid on an “A” Coy. Post, situated 200 yards in advance of front line, coming along old C.T. to block trench where post is situated, at N.7.d.45.15, killing one, wounding two & taking 2 O.R.s prisoners. Rear details moved from WANQUENTIN & Transport moved from BERNEVILLE to ANZIN-ST-ALBIN in afternoon. 1 O.R. to hospital.   Night of 18 / 19   Battalion relieved in line by 14th Cdn. Battn. as per Order No. D.222 attached, proceeding to G.H.Q. Reserve in ANZIN-ST-ALBIN. Relief complete at 1.20 a.m.   19   At 6.30 p.m. Battalion moved to BRANT CAMP, ECOIVRES, as per Order No. D.223 attached. 3 O.R.s returned from Ceremonial Parade, Paris. 1 O.R. reinforcement.   20   Working party of 10 Officers & 650 O.R.s employed digging new line of trenches at F.16.d & b. & F.22. Central. Lieut. Hartry and 1 O.R. leave to England. 1 O.R. returned from leave to Paris.   21   Battalion Church Parade at 10 a.m. R.C. Service in Parish Church at 10. a.m. 1 O.R. from hospital. Capt. D.St. Wigle returned from Paris leave. 1 O.R. leaving for U.K. 1 O.R. returned.   22   Working party as of yesterday employed digging trenches in F.30.c. & F.29.b. Lieuts. J. Faulkner and G. Thomas arrived as reinforcements. Lieut. J.C. Spence & 8 O.R.s to 1st Army Rest Camp.   23   Battalion moved to IZEL-LES-HAMEAU G.H.Q. Reserve, J.2.c.40.90, Map 51.c., as per Order No. D.224 attached.   24   Training per syllabus attached. Pay parades in afternoon & evening. Lieut.-Col. L.E. Jones D.S.O., Lieut. G.G. Brakin & 54360 Pte. Wackett, J. mentioned in Sir D. Haig’s despatches of April 7th, 1918. Lieut. McAmmond awarded M.C. & 124738 Pte. F. Stevens awarded D.C.M. Major J.S. Bell on leave to Paris. 1 O.R. on leave to U.K.   25   Training as per syllabus attached. 2 O.R.s to hospital.   26   Training as per syllabus attached. Lieut. S.G. Stokes and 1 O.R. leave to U.K. 2 O.R.s returned from leave. 4 N.C.O.s attached to Guards Div. for 1 months tour of duty.   27   Training as per syllabus attached. 1 O.R. to hospital.   28   Battn. Church parade at 9.00 a.m. R.C. Service in Parish Church at 9.00 a.m.   29   Training as per syllabus attached. 1 O.R. reinforcement. 4 O.R.s to hospital. 1 O.R. returned.   30   Battalion paraded in full marching order at 3.00 a.m. and marched via VILLER SUR SIMON, MAIZIERES & MONT EN TERNOIS to PETIT HOUVAIN, where after about 2 hours rest in a field, Battn. entrained at about 9.30 a.m. arriving at HANGERST SUR SOMME about 2.00 p.m. At 4.00 p.m. Battalion marched via SOUES, CAVILLION & SEUX to PISSY arriving about 9.30 p.om. The combined distance of morning and afternoon marches was about 36 kilometres. 1 O.R. on leave to U.K. Pissy

Bn. H.Q. at F.28.d.3.2.

Map 62.E.

31   Battalion resting in billets.

War Diary

Appendices

War Diary of the 18th Battalion: July 1918 Confidential War Diary of 18th CANADIAN BATTALION – 2nd CANADIAN DIVISION From 1st July to 31st July, 1918…