Battle of Ypres, 1915
First battle for Canadians
(in Belgium)
 Chlorine gas was used for
the first time by the
Germans even though gas
was outlawed for military
use since 1899
 Despite the attack and gas,
the Canadian line never
broke
 6700 Canadians killed,
wounded, or captured

“There were about two hundred to
three hundred men lying in that
ditch. Some were clawing at their
throats. Their brass buttons were
green. Their bodies were swelled
[….] Some of the Canadians were
still writhing on the ground, their
tongues hanging out.”
– British private David Shand
Ypres – Alden Nowlan
Sometimes I’m not even sure that I have a country.
But I know they stood there at Ypres
The first time the Germans used gas,
That they were almost the only troops
In that section of the front
Who did not break and run…
And that’s ridiculous, too, and nothing
On which to found a country.
Still
It makes me feel good, knowing
That in some obscure, conclusive way
They were connected with me
And me with them.
The Battle of the Somme, 1916
Sir General Haig: commander of all Brit
forces in Fr (included Canadians)
 This battle was one of Haig’s disasters.
 July to Novemeber 1916
 Canadian soldiers were ordered to
charge German machine gunners in
broad daylight. If they succeeded they
still had to deal with German bayonets
and support trenches.

The Battle of the Somme, 1916
780 soldiers were from
Newfoundland’s regiment. 110
emerged unscathed.
 Haig gained 8kms of mud. The
CEF suffered 24,000 casualties.
Allied losses numbered over
620,000

“tens of thousands of our men are lying low,
never to rise again [….] As far as my eye takes
me, I can see rows of dead [….] Have lost my
old pals today”
VIMY RIDGE, 1917
“It was on Easter Monday, April 9,
1917, and not on any other date,
that Canada became a nation.”
Germany captured Vimy Ridge early in
the war and transformed it into a strong
defensive position. Defended by highly
trained soldiers
 French and Britain tried to take the ridge
back twice before. They were unable to
do so in both occasions and suffered
hundreds of thousands of casualties

JULIAN BYNG
Commanding
officer
 Cared about his
men and did not
want to see
anyone die
because of poor
planning
 Had the idea to
give all soldiers
maps

SIR ARTHUR CURRIE
Canadian general
sent by Byng to learn
all he could from the
mistakes in the
battles of 1916
 Amazing detail and
supremely organized.
“Neglect nothing”
 One of the greatest
generals Canada has
ever produced

ANDREW McNAUGHTON
Invented “Sound
Ranging” to
accurately pinpoint
targets (prelude to
“radar”)
 This innovation
allowed Canadians to
knock out 85% of
German artillery
weapons before the
battle at Vimy

8 NEW TACTICS
Buried commander cables
 Built railway system
 Counter Battery
 Sand maps
 Maps given to section level (40,000)
 Mobile machine gun platforms
 Leap frogging
 Rolling barrage

ROLLING BARRAGE
THE BATTLE
Began at 5:30am, April 9, 1917
 Canadians captured most of the heavily
defended ridge by noon
 Hill 145, the highest point, fell the next
day. “The Pimple”, another elevated
strong point, was captured two days
later.
 The allies now commanded the heights
 Approximately 10,000 lives lost

CANADIAN PRIDE
One of the most complete offensive
victories up to that point of the war
 Canadians became well known for their
skills. The Germans would heavily
prepare for an attack if they learned the
Canadians were involved.
 Sets up the momentum that carries
Canadians troops to the end of the war
