Canadians In BattleCanadians In Battle

Ypres ~ April 1915Ypres ~ April 1915

The 1st Canadian Division had just arrived at The 1st Canadian Division had just arrived at the front and were moved to Ypres Salient, the front and were moved to Ypres Salient, in front of the City of Ypres in Belgium. in front of the City of Ypres in Belgium.

On April 22, after an On April 22, after an artillery bombardment, artillery bombardment, the Germans released the Germans released 5700 cylinders of 5700 cylinders of chlorine gas. The green chlorine gas. The green chlorine gas was chlorine gas was heavier than air and heavier than air and sank into the trenches sank into the trenches forcing soldiers out. forcing soldiers out.

The gas attack was followed by strong The gas attack was followed by strong infantry assaults. infantry assaults.

The French defences were forced to The French defences were forced to retreat, leaving a four-mile wide hole retreat, leaving a four-mile wide hole in the Allied line. in the Allied line.

The Canadians fought through the The Canadians fought through the night to close the gap. The night to close the gap. The Canadians launched a counter-attack Canadians launched a counter-attack to drive the Germans out.to drive the Germans out.

The Canadian victory had a heavy The Canadian victory had a heavy price as 1 in 3 soldiers was killed. price as 1 in 3 soldiers was killed.

The Somme ~ July 1916 The Somme ~ July 1916 The largest attack of the war and the greatest The largest attack of the war and the greatest

failure. British, French and Canadian troops failure. British, French and Canadian troops pounded the German trenches with heavy pounded the German trenches with heavy artillery believing the enemy defences would be artillery believing the enemy defences would be wiped out. wiped out.

Tens of thousands of allied troops went over the top Tens of thousands of allied troops went over the top and were mercilessly slaughter by German and were mercilessly slaughter by German machine gun fire. machine gun fire.

60 000 were 60 000 were killed in the first killed in the first day of fighting. day of fighting. Over half a Over half a million on both million on both sides by the time sides by the time the battle ended.the battle ended.

Canadian troops were assisted by the newest Canadian troops were assisted by the newest weapon of the war – The tank. Despite this new weapon of the war – The tank. Despite this new metal monster over 20 000 Canadians died at the metal monster over 20 000 Canadians died at the Somme and no significant gains were made. Somme and no significant gains were made.

VIMY RIDGE ~ April 1917VIMY RIDGE ~ April 1917

It is considered the greatest Canadian It is considered the greatest Canadian victory of the war!victory of the war!

The infantry assault was preceded by The infantry assault was preceded by a massive artillery barrage a massive artillery barrage

By the time the infantry set out, a By the time the infantry set out, a million artillery shells had battered million artillery shells had battered the Germans the Germans

At 5.30 a.m., April 9, 1917, Easter At 5.30 a.m., April 9, 1917, Easter Monday, the rolling or creeping Monday, the rolling or creeping artillery barrage began to move artillery barrage began to move steadily toward the Germanssteadily toward the Germans

The barrage would function as a The barrage would function as a screen for the troops to hide from screen for the troops to hide from view. Every few minutes, the cannons view. Every few minutes, the cannons would target a higher aim, moving would target a higher aim, moving the artillery fire forward by about 90 the artillery fire forward by about 90 metres.metres.

The Canadian success at Vimy marked The Canadian success at Vimy marked a significant turning-point for the a significant turning-point for the Allies. A year-and-a-half later, the Allies. A year-and-a-half later, the Great War was overGreat War was over

Many call the victory at Vimy the Birth of Canada as a nation

PASSCHENDAELE PASSCHENDAELE October 1917October 1917

The allied advance had bogged down The allied advance had bogged down in a sea of mud on the Western Front in a sea of mud on the Western Front when Canadian troops were asked to when Canadian troops were asked to attack Passchendaele.attack Passchendaele.

Canadian commander, Arthur Currie, Canadian commander, Arthur Currie, said casualties would be too high said casualties would be too high because of the mud and lack of because of the mud and lack of mobility. mobility.

Canadian troops followed orders and Canadian troops followed orders and attacked despite the fact no-mans-attacked despite the fact no-mans-land was full of mud, water, corpses, land was full of mud, water, corpses, dead horses, barbed wire and the dead horses, barbed wire and the wreckage of almost four months of wreckage of almost four months of battle. battle.

As the men strayed onto the As the men strayed onto the battlefield, it was soon obvious that battlefield, it was soon obvious that success would be almost impossible success would be almost impossible and slaughter guaranteed. and slaughter guaranteed.

Men who had the misfortune of Men who had the misfortune of falling from the duckboard walkways falling from the duckboard walkways faced a death of drowning in the faced a death of drowning in the mud. mud.

Canadians took Canadians took their objective but their objective but at the cost of at the cost of 15000 casualties. 15000 casualties.

Two square miles Two square miles had been taken at had been taken at a cost of  500,000 a cost of  500,000 casualties to the casualties to the Allied forces Allied forces

Other Canadian ParticipantsOther Canadian Participants Civilians also worked at the frontCivilians also worked at the front Canadian foresters cut timber and Canadian foresters cut timber and

cleared fields for landing stripscleared fields for landing strips

Canadian railroad companies built Canadian railroad companies built lines on the Western Front.lines on the Western Front.

Canadian tunnelers dug under Canadian tunnelers dug under enemy trenches to plant explosives.enemy trenches to plant explosives.

Canadian nurses tended to the Canadian nurses tended to the injured near the front lines.injured near the front lines.