Home | On This Day | Friday, 13 December 1918, in the Great War
The 1st and 2nd Canadian Divisions, along with selected Corps Troops, marched to the Rhine in December of 1918 to assume occupation duties. A very rainy Friday, 13 December 1918 began ten continuous years of the Allied Occupation of Germany, as the Rhine river officially crossed at Cologne and Bonn.
Rhein Bridge, Bonn
Rheinbrücke
General Sir Arthur Currie and Staff crossing the Rhine at Bonn,, 13 December1918. MIKAN No. 3522440
The Allied Occupation of Germany – Sir Arthur Currie crosses the Rhine river at Bonn, 13 December 1918. The Second Canadian Division along with other elements of the Canadian Corps, crossed the Rhine river at Bonn on 13 December 1918 (the First Canadian Division crossing simultaneously at Cologne).
Sir Arthur Currie
The Canadian and II Corps (Lieut.-Generals Sir A. Currie and Sir Claud Jacob) would carry out the occupation. Thus, in the occupation of the Rhineland the Dominions were represented by the Canadian Corps, by the New Zealand Division, the 13th Australian Light Horse, the 50th South African Heavy Battery, and by the 1st Royal Newfoundland Regiment.
General Sir Arthur Currie takes the salute as the British Cavalry cross the Rhine at Bonn (Rheinbrücke at Bonn). December 13, 1918 MIKAN No. 3522439General Sir Arthur Currie takes the salute as the British Cavalry cross the Rhine at Bonn. December 13, 1918. MIKAN No. 3522451MIKAN No. 3522452General Sir Arthur Currie takes the salute as the British Cavalry cross the Rhine at Bonn (Rheinbrücke at Bonn). December 13, 1918 MIKAN No. 3522445
2nd Canadian Division
Corps Commander, General Sir Arthur Currie, taking the salute of the 2nd Canadian Division on the Bridge at Bonn, December 13th, 1918, (24th Battalion passing Saluting Base). MIKAN No. 3522482G.O.C. and H.Q. Staff, 2nd Canadian Division, passing the Saluting Base [on the Bridge over the Rhine at Bonn] December 13, 1918 MIKAN No. 3522444
Canadian Light Horse
Canadian Light Horse passing Saluting Base on Bonn Bridge. December 13, 1918 MIKAN No. 3522443General Sir Arthur Currie takes the salute as the British Cavalry cross the Rhine at Bonn. Friday, 13 December 1918 MIKAN No. 3522419
13th Brigade, CFA
13th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery passing Saluting Base on Bonn Bridge. December 13, 1918 MIKAN No. 3522421General Sir Arthur Currie takes the salute as the British Cavalry cross the Rhine at Bonn. December 13, 1918 MIKAN No. 3522420
Canadian Field Artillery
Artillery crossing the Rhine at Bonn December 13, 1918 MIKAN No. 3522422A Canadian Infantry Battalion crossing the Rhine at Bonn. December 13, 1918 MIKAN No. 352242321st Battalion crossing the Rhine at Bonn, December 13, 1918 MIKAN No. 352242419th Canadian Infantry Battalion passing the Corps Commander on Bonn Bridge (Rheinbrücke at Bonn). December 13, 1918 MIKAN No. 352242524th Canadian Infantry Battalion passing the Corps Commander on Bonn Bridge (Rheinbrücke at Bonn). December 13, 1918 MIKAN No. 3522426
Van Doos
22nd Canadian Infantry Battalion crossing the Rhine at Bonn, 13 December 1918. Lt.-Col. Sir Arthur Currie saluting. MIKAN No. 3194827
Battalions of 2nd Canadian Division passing Corps Commander on Bonn Bridge. MIKAN No. 3522427Battalions of 2nd Canadian Division passing Corps Commander on Bonn Bridge. MIKAN No. 3522428 Battalions of 2nd Canadian Division passing Corps Commander on Bonn Bridge. MIKAN No. 352242919th Canadian Infantry Battalion passing Corps Commander on Bonn Bridge. December, 1918 MIKAN No. 3522430
Sir Douglas Haig
Sir Douglas Haig meets officers of the 2nd Canadian Division Headquarters on the other side of the Rhine. Friday 13 December 1918. MIKAN No. 3522431 MIKAN No. 3522432Sir Douglas Haig MIKAN No. 35224333522434 MIKAN No. 3522435Sir Douglas Haig meets Officers of the Canadian Corps Headquarters at the Chateau of the sister-in-law of the late Kaiser in Bonn, Germany. Friday 13 December 1918. Sir Arthur Currie sleeps in her bed tonight. MIKAN No. 3522436
Schiff Bridge, Cologne
Schiffbrücke
The Royal Newfoundland Regiment began a march with the British 9th Division to the German border. Their task to provide part of the Allied occupation force in Germany. Setting out from Cuerne, near Harlebeke, Belgium, on 15 November, their route took the Regiment past Brussels, then to the Meuse River, and on to the German border at Rotgen. On 4 December 1918, after 14 days of marching an average of 13 miles a day, the Regiment reached the border, and on 8 December arrived in Cologne on the Rhine River.
Royal Newfoundland Regiment crossing the south bridge over the Rhine at Cologne, 13 December 1918, led by CO Maj AE Bernard (right) and Adjt Capt A Raley
On Friday 13 December 1918, The Royal Newfoundland Regiment crossed the Rhine River and took up bridgehead duties near Cologne as part of the Allied occupation force in the Rhineland.
Plumer stands with his staff to one side of the road leading across the bridge. With him are Lieutenant-General C Jacob, commanding II Corps, and Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Kavanagh commanding the Cavalry Corps.
![1918-12-13 3522444 O-3892 PA-003799 G.O.C. and H.Q. Staff, 2nd Canadian Division, passing the Saluting Base [on the Bridge over the Rhine at Bonn] December 13, 1918](https://i0.wp.com/cefrg.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/3522444-a003799-v8.jpg?resize=1000%2C715&ssl=1)
