Commanding Office Sparling addresses the 1st Canadian Infantry Battalion Western Ontario Regiment thanking them for their service and extending his heartiest wishes for a prosperous and Happy New Year. The men are given the day off from their usual training routine. Instead the day is devoted to organized games and sports. The next day the men are back to training. Training included physical fitness, target shooting in trenches ( Butt Party where men stationed in trenches would hold up target signs ) , passing thru a tear gas chamber, and night marching using prismatic compasses. On the 14th 800 men attend a concert put on by the YMCA at Cinema Division. The Battalion heads back to the front on the night of the 22nd to relieve the 43rd Division at subsector St Emile near Cite St Pierre. To the end of the month the men spend significant time patrolling and reconnoitering no mans land for trip wires and enemy positions. The enemy is active on a number of night and on the 25th four men are wounded while out on one of these patrols. And what do you know? The Americans are starting to show up – finally. Yes, an American captain shows up for a few days of duty to learn what fighting on the Western front is all about. Well I guess better late than never.