Col. McCuaig (G. Eric McCuaig)

Commanding officer, 13th Battalion

Mentioned: 1916–1917

Lieut.-Col. G. Eric McCuaig, D.S.O.: commander of the 13th Battalion, second son of C.J. McCuaig of the Montreal Stock Exchange firm McCuaig Bros. & Co., per a McGill Daily profile. His brother, Major D. Rykert McCuaig, was wounded and taken prisoner at St. Julien in the spring of 1915. Robertson first mentions him as "Maj. McCuaig" in the autumn of 1916 (by then, per a September 27 entry, "the only original 13th officer left with the Battn") and works closely with the 13th's officers, finding them consistently hospitable, into early 1917. The engineer "McCuaig" who recurs in the diary from May 1917 onward is a different man.

Appears in the diary · 10 entries

1916

27 September 1916… like him. – He was the first officer I saw commanding an “oversea” co’y on Fletcher’s Field in 1914. – Maj. Mccuaig is the only original 13th officer left with the Battn.
30 October 1916… discussing some of his plans for systematic work schedules for routine work in the trenches. Don’t think Maj McCuaig paid much attention to him.
1 November 1916Rose late and took a short run around the line. – Maj. McCuaig asked me to stay to lunch, but under the circs I hardly dared run the risk of something I …
2 November 1916… ovement on some of the recent importations from Shorncliffe. – Fritz strafed the line with whizz bangs. Maj. McCuaig is anxious to get wire out so am sending Walt out tonight. – Met Rey, Staples and Hollowa …

1917

25 January 1917… get out. – Took a walk up as far as the support line & caled it a day. Visited Bn + paid my respects to Col. McCuaig. Took Veary up for a stroll over some more of the support line wire.
26 January 1917… weather that makes your ears feel it. – Was so cold in bed I had to get up. – Went around the line with Col McCuaig. – Everything frozen up so tight you could walk thru the front line dry shod. – Major Pep …
29 January 1917… Platts. – Called at Bn. this aft. – Bunch of gunners there Capt. Patterson, Lee Strathy, Myers, etc. – Col. McCuaig opened his heart, but then the 13th always were hospitable. – Too much so at times. – Dis …
6 February 1917… roll out early & show Bull how the parties are despatched. – After brekker we called at Bn. H.Q. & took Col. McCuaig around the line. – He is a pretty level-headed duck, – knows what he wants. – He called i …
11 February 1917… ters. – No mail. – Had planned a little trip tomorrow, to see if Ernie or Clint was in the vicinity but Col. McCuaig came around this eve’g & wants some of his mob coached in wiring so it’s up to Rusty in t …
21 February 1917… war zone once more, & she’s a beaut. – Waist deep in most of the C.T’s + getting worse every minute. – Col. McCuaig started out to visit the front line Co’y’s to-night – got mired & came in utterly exhaust …

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