The Evolution of the Canadian
Corps
1
The “Founding Nation” myth
2
Dealing with the Myths of the
Great War
• “The Founding Nation” myth
– Canada becomes a country on 9 April 1917
• “The War is Hell” myth
– Passchaendaele
3
Richard Jack (1866-1952)
The Taking of Vimy Ridge
4
1916: The Year of Killing
• Verdun: February-December 1916
– 750,000 German and French casualties total
• The Somme: 1 July-18 November 1916
– 415,000 British casualties
– 195,000 French casualties
– ??????? German casualties
5
1916: A Pivotal Year
• January: Borden announces a ceiling of
500,000 men overseas
• A new commitment, but the volunteers
begin to dry up
6
7
The Canadian Corps at the
Somme, 1916
• Flers-Courcellette, September
– 5,959 casualties
• Thiepval Ridge, September
• Le Translloy Ridges, October
– 7,887 casualties
• Regina Trench, October-November
• Desire Trench, October-November
– Casualties 3 Sept-16 October
• 19,423
8
A Political Crisis, 1916
• Sam Hughes is out
– “the greatest block to the successful termination
of the war has been removed. Joy, Oh Joy”
• A New Order to the War effort
– Ministry of Overseas Forces established
9
A Political Crisis, 1916
• Henri Bourassa,
“The Prussians are Next Door”
The Father of Bilingual Canada?
or Nationalist Bigot?
10
1917: The Pivotal Year
• The Imperial War Cabinet
– Canada gains a Voice
– Resolution IX: Autonomous members of
the Commonwealth
• “We Need More Men”
11
1917: The Year of Catastrophe
• New political leadership
– David Lloyd George, Great Britain replaces
Asquith
– Imperial War Cabinet
– March, riots break out in Petrograd
• New military leadership
– General Nivelle, French Army replaces Joffre
12
1917: A new Allied offensive
• General Nivelle promises a decisive end to
the war
– to win the war in 48 hours
– 3 armies, 27 divisions
• The British to create a diversion for a
French “mass of maneuver”
13
14
15
The Battle of Arras, April 1917
16
Canadian Corps Commander,
Julian Byng
–
–
–
–
4 Division: Watson
3 Division: Lipsett
2 Division: Burstall
1 Division: Currie
17
The Role of Arthur Currie
• The lessons of Verdun
• rehearsals/rehearsals/
rehearsals
• better small unit
tactics/weaponry
• better use of
manpower
• but was he alone?
18
The Preparations
• Artillery
– 245 heavy guns and howitzers
• (one heavy gun every 20 yards)
– 600 field guns
• (one field gun 10 yards)
– two week bombardment
• trenches, dug-outs, machine gun pits, ammo dumps
– A rolling barrage to guide the assault
19
Vimy
20
Vimy Ridge
• The Achievement:
– 4500 yards gained
– 54 German guns
– 4,000 German
prisoners
• The Cost:
– 10,602 all ranks
– 3598 fatal wounds
21
A Wider Assessment
• The Battle of Arras began brilliantly . . . yet
in proportion to its promise this series of
engagements appears on reflection
profoundly disappointing.”
– History of the Great War, 1940, vol. 7: 550.
22
1917: A Wider Assessment
• The Americans enter the War
• The Russians sue for peace
• The British try again at Ypres
– Messine ( a great success)
– Passchendaele (a costly success)
23
1917: A Wider Canadian
Assessment
• Vimy leads directly to
conscription
• December 1917: a
Unionist government
imposes compulsory
overseas service
• A nation divided?
24
Gyrth Russell (1892-1970)
The Crest of Vimy Ridge
25
Borden’s Decision
• May 1917: announces introduction of
Conscription, but only after an election
• Asks Laurier to form a coalition government
– he attracts many Liberals
• Laurier asks for a plebiscite, but is refused
26
The Wartime Election
• Wartime Elections Act
– women can vote, but only if related to a soldier
– Immigrants since 1902 cannot vote, even if they
had voted before
27
the Unionist Platform
This is not an Election
It is a Battle with the Hun
“Whose cause will be injured IF you cast your
vote for Laurier and Bourassa?--Canada’s and
the Allies
Your Duty is Clear
Support Union Government
28
The Military Service Act
• goal: 100,000 men
• Over 90% of requests for exemptions are
accepted
– a “generous” document?
• Was it necessary?
29
Currie on Conscription
• A political move, so he was opposed to it
• But did he benefit from it?
30
Currie’s Corps
• Canadian Corps 25 August 1918:
– total strength 101,599
1st Division
A. Macdonnell
2 Division
H. Burstell
4 Division
D.W.Watson
3 Division
L.J. Lipsett
31
Canadian Corps
• Far stronger than its British counterparts
– 12 battalions for each division, each with 100
more men
– British, 9 battalions for each division
32
Currie’s Corps
• Well organized
– more engineers
• Well rehearsed
• A tried tactical doctrine
– machine guns
– some tanks
– artillery
– infantry
33
34
The Final Hundred Days
• 8 August- 11 November 1918
– The Canadian Corps is at the vanguard of the
Allied advance
• 8 August
– Amiens “The Black Day of the German Army”
– Canadian Casualties: 12,652
35
The Final Hundred Days
• September/October 1918
– Bourlon and Cambrai
– Canadian Casualties: 14,849
– Reinforcements: 10,881
• October/11 November 1918
– Douai and Mons
– Casualties: 10,177
36
The Final Hundred Days
• August/September 1918
– Arras, Drocourt-Queant Line
– Casualties: 14,349
– Reinforcements: 12, 768
37
The Final Hundred
Days/Cambrai
38
The Final Hundred Days
•
•
•
•
•
•
“An army of technicians”
Canadians engaged 105,000
Prisoners taken
31,537
Distance advanced 86 miles
German Divisions defeated
47
Total Canadian Casualties 45,830
39
Nation-building or Dividing?
• 1914: A colonial power
• 1919: Canada a signatory on the Treaty
of Versailles
• 66,000 Canadian dead
• Was it Worth It?
40