Battle of Vimy Ridge 95th Anniversiary

[CaptainCrunch]

Thought I would post this here because this battle helped establish Canada as a nation instead of a colony. the Battle of Vimy Ridge began this morning at 5:30 AM and lasted for 3 terrifying and bruising days.

the French had attacked three times and had failed each time, the German Positions were considered to be un breakable.

This was the first time that the Canadian's fought as one consolidated unit, the four Divisions which became the Canadian Expeditionary Force did what was considered impossible at the time. 97,000 Canadian's made up the expeditionary force re-enforced by British Infantry, Labour and artillary formations.

Beyond the fact that this was the first battle fought purly with the Canadian Army in the Fore Font, it was considered to be one of the most innovated battleplans of its time.

With a combination of creeping artillary (never done before), trench raiding and underground operations, the Canadians forced their way to victory.

Also important to note, there was a massive air battle over Vimy as the Canadian's were supported by the British Flying Corps and the Red Baron made an appearance over the battlefield

4 Canadian's received the Victory Cross, the highest Military decoration at the time.

Canada suffered grievous losses over those three days as about 3,000 Canucks were killed and 7,000 were wounded.

[Ozy_Flame]

Great post, but might I clarify that the creeping artillery was classified as the "rolling barrage?" I believe both are appropriate, but one may be more technically correct than the other.

[CaptainCrunch]

I would accept that.

As a further note 1.6 million artillary rounds were alloted and fired during the 3 day battle,

[SeeBass]

Proud to be a grandson of one of those men.

[Puppet Guy]

Originally Posted by SeeBass

Proud to be a grandson of one of those men.

Ditto. Will raise a Scotch for the man tonight. Thanks, Doc.

[Bobblehead]

Read Vimy by Pierre Berton. It does a really good job of detailing everything from the politics required for the formation of the Canadian Army right through the battle from a number of different perspectives.

It really is a compelling read.

[HELPNEEDED]

I think Vimy Ridge was the first even in which Canadian Sikhs to part also.

THanks to all who fought and died or lived for their Country.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Thought I would post this here because this battle helped establish Canada as a nation instead of a colony. the Battle of Vimy Ridge began this morning at 5:30 AM and lasted for 3 terrifying and bruising days.

the French had attacked three times and had failed each time, the German Positions were considered to be un breakable.

This was the first time that the Canadian's fought as one consolidated unit, the four Divisions which became the Canadian Expeditionary Force did what was considered impossible at the time. 97,000 Canadian's made up the expeditionary force re-enforced by British Infantry, Labour and artillary formations.

Beyond the fact that this was the first battle fought purly with the Canadian Army in the Fore Font, it was considered to be one of the most innovated battleplans of its time.

With a combination of creeping artillary (never done before), trench raiding and underground operations, the Canadians forced their way to victory.

Also important to note, there was a massive air battle over Vimy as the Canadian's were supported by the British Flying Corps and the Red Baron made an appearance over the battlefield

4 Canadian's received the Victory Cross, the highest Military decoration at the time.

Canada suffered grievous losses over those three days as about 3,000 Canucks were killed and 7,000 were wounded.

I am not sure if it's fair to say that they failed all 3 times. They did take the ridge once, but couldn't hold it because no reinforcements could make it in time. By the time the Canadians and British arrived, the German numbers had been brought down to some 35,000 (albeit, battle hardened and with the superior positional advantage).

[Flames89]

Been to Vimy Ridge a few years back. You can't say you have seen all of Canada until you have walked those grounds.
It was very emotional.

[cDnStealth]

Originally Posted by Flames89

Been to Vimy Ridge a few years back. You can't say you have seen all of Canada until you have walked those grounds.
It was very emotional.

By far one of the most well known battles in Canadian history. What I find most interesting about our role in WWI was how much we were feared by the Germans. They got it done when others couldn't and the Germans knew that and respected our fighting ability. I have a lot of admiration for what those men accomplished. I haven't been to Vimy Ridge but I had a similar feeling as you when I walked the entirety of Juno Beach last summer.

[Ozy_Flame]

I would love to visit Northern France and Juno beach . . . I think any trip to that country should not be without visiting Canadian war history sites if possible. Such a rich and interesting experience.

[killer_carlson]

I've been to vimy ridge. We got to tour the tunnels that canadians dug.

Really interesting in that was one of the bunks had a maple leaf dug out of the chalk walls with a knife or bayonet by an unknown soldier who slept there. This was a memory of home, and note that we had the old flag at that time, not the current maple leaf version.

Great monument there as well

[cDnStealth]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

I would love to visit Northern France and Juno beach . . . I think any trip to that country should not be without visiting Canadian war history sites if possible. Such a rich and interesting experience.

I majored in military history with a focus on Canadian military history so visiting those kinds of sites is personally very important for me. It was definitely one of THE highlights of my trip and I strongly recommend people check out the Juno Beach Centre. The entire 8km of the beach is covered in Canadian flags and it was a very emotional walk. One day soon I'd like to go back and do a tour of other Canadian war sites.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

I've been to vimy ridge. We got to tour the tunnels that canadians dug.

Really interesting in that was one of the bunks had a maple leaf dug out of the chalk walls with a knife or bayonet by an unknown soldier who slept there. This was a memory of home, and note that we had the old flag at that time, not the current maple leaf version.

Great monument there as well

Apparently the tunnels that lead up to the jumping off point are full of trench art. Names, unit badges, etc.

Have never been but it is on the list to do. Also, there are some specific smaller battlefields I also want to see.

[Aeneas]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

Read Vimy by Pierre Berton. It does a really good job of detailing everything from the politics required for the formation of the Canadian Army right through the battle from a number of different perspectives.

It really is a compelling read.

While Vimy is a must read, I highly suggest getting Tim Cook's books on Canada's involvment in World War I. At The Sharp End, Shock Troops, and The Madman and The Butcher.

So many innovations put into action at Vimy. Truly special place to visit. I went there this summer and walked all about the ridge in a tremendous rainfall, seemed fitting.

Also went to so many Canadian specific sites in Belgium. So many truly haunting awesome places to experience. Even a tiny memorial site like that for the PPCLI outside a farmhouse near Ypres, is so special when you know what they did on that spot so long ago.

So proud of our soldiers, I think often on the sacrifice.

A further suggestion, as one who had relatives also on the German side, is to visit the German cemetaries for quite a different experience. Very dark, sad places. In Langemark where thousands of German university students are buried in mass graves, no standing stones, no white stones; I was particularly moved.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by cDnStealth

By far one of the most well known battles in Canadian history. What I find most interesting about our role in WWI was how much we were feared by the Germans. They got it done when others couldn't and the Germans knew that and respected our fighting ability. I have a lot of admiration for what those men accomplished. I haven't been to Vimy Ridge but I had a similar feeling as you when I walked the entirety of Juno Beach last summer.

When you look at Canadian Military History its a fairly common theme, we're none as a nation that's hard to anger but when it comes time to make war we make our mark.

In World War 1 Canada cut its teeth with Vimy, Passchendale stood out as defining moments.

In World War 2, there was the obvious Juno Beach Invasion. But Canadian's fought bravely at Dieppe, The bloody house to house fighting in Ortona, the battle of Scheldt that lead to the conscription crisis

In Korea we fought in Kapyang in Korea

After that we had the Medak pocket, and Panjawi

We've had many winners of the Victory Cross, we had a Presidential Unit Citation in Korea.

We made up half of the legendary First Service Brigadge. The PPCLI is considered a legendary Military Unit known by nearly every military in the world.

We've spawned some legendary leaders in McNaughton, Currie, Harry Crerar, "Mad Jimmy" Dextraze (considered one of our best soldiers) and Hillier. On the Naval Side Leonard Murray, Prentice, Dewolfe and Ken Summers.

On the Airforce side, we had Breadner and Curtis.

you look at the list of actual Canadian War Heros we had guys like Billy Bishop, William Barker, Tommy Prince

We might not be a country that puts our military at the forefront, but people know when Canadian's hit the field.
We might be tiny in terms of military power projection but we always always punch above our weight class.

[FurnaceFace]

From our tour there

[FurnaceFace]

In the tunnels. The second one shows the maple leaf Killer mentions.

[FurnaceFace]

Lest We Forget

[cDnStealth]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

When you look at Canadian Military History its a fairly common theme, we're none as a nation that's hard to anger but when it comes time to make war we make our mark.

In World War 1 Canada cut its teeth with Vimy, Passchendale stood out as defining moments.

In World War 2, there was the obvious Juno Beach Invasion. But Canadian's fought bravely at Dieppe, The bloody house to house fighting in Ortona, the battle of Scheldt that lead to the conscription crisis

In Korea we fought in Kapyang in Korea

After that we had the Medak pocket, and Panjawi

We've had many winners of the Victory Cross, we had a Presidential Unit Citation in Korea.

We made up half of the legendary First Service Brigadge. The PPCLI is considered a legendary Military Unit known by nearly every military in the world.

We've spawned some legendary leaders in McNaughton, Currie, Harry Crerar, "Mad Jimmy" Dextraze (considered one of our best soldiers) and Hillier. On the Naval Side Leonard Murray, Prentice, Dewolfe and Ken Summers.

On the Airforce side, we had Breadner and Curtis.

you look at the list of actual Canadian War Heros we had guys like Billy Bishop, William Barker, Tommy Prince

We might not be a country that puts our military at the forefront, but people know when Canadian's hit the field.
We might be tiny in terms of military power projection but we always always punch above our weight class.

Absolutely. I have to shake my head when people say that Canada's history is boring. We have a very interesting military history and we've always accomplished a lot despite many disadvantages.