Major Canadian Battles Ch. 2 Canada and The First World War Counterpoints p. 37-39

Lesson Objective and Outcomes Today we will look at five of the major engagement that Canadians were involved in during the First World War. You will learn: Why Vimy became known as a distinctly Canadian Victory. How Canadian soldiers fought. The cost of Canadian involvement.

The CEF The CEF was the Canadian Expeditionary Forces. 425,000 Men & Women joined the CEF 35,000 joined British Services (such as the Air Service Image Source: Google Images- https://www.google.ca/search?q=THE+CEF&safe=off&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=659&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi61s_Z2bzOAhUBXWMKHU_ABbcQ_AUIBigB#imgrc=N1b-Z_2BK8oeeM%3A

Image Source: Google Images- https://www. google. ca/search CEF- Men of the 48th Battalion march down Government Street in Victoria.

The 62nd Overseas Battalion boarding the train in Vancouver. Image Source: Google Images- https://www.google.ca/search?q=The+canadian+expeditionary+forces+bc&safe=off&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=659&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiEie_427zOAhUW6GMKHZwwAFoQ_AUICCgD#imgrc=_prqozn409r_GM%3A The 62nd Overseas Battalion boarding the train in Vancouver.

Attestation Paper Image Source: Library and Archives Canada- http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/first-world-war-1914-1918-cef/Pages/search.aspx

The first division of Canadian Expeditionary Force arrived in France in February 1915. These forces soon became involved in combat along the Western Front.

The Western Front Image Source: Google Images- https://www.google.ca/search?q=map+of+the+western+front+ww1+pearson+ss11&safe=off&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=607&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjA4_X24rzOAhVX6WMKHX_9A_oQ_AUICSgC#safe=off&tbm=isch&q=map+showing+the+western+front+and+major+battles&imgrc=3BAaPCHckHh2iM%3A

Ypres April 22 & 24, 1915, Belgium Canada’s 1st Div. was subject to the first chlorine gas attack which burned and blinded troops The allies suffered 6,035 casualties, with no clear winner Image source: Google Images- http://warfarehistorynetwork.com/daily/military-history/world-war-is-second-battle-of-ypres-salient-of-death/

The Somme July-November 1916- best example of war of attrition Fought over low ridges near the Somme River in France. Day 1- Br. Casualties 57,470, (19,240 were fatalities). A Newfoundland regiment went into battle with 801 soldiers, only 65 answered roll call the next day. Canadians suffered 24,029 casualties Soldiers walked shoulder to shoulder across no man’s land, only to be mowed down by German machine guns Both sides suffered heavy casualties British gained only 10 km at the end. Considered a defeat

Canadians in the trenches in the Battle of the Somme Image source: Google images- http://www.museevirtuel.ca/edu/ViewLoitDa.do;jsessionid=245BE3C56A2C8EC84AA1A01E50CC36F5?method=preview&lang=EN&id=974 Canadians in the trenches in the Battle of the Somme

Vimy Ridge April 9, 1917, Northern France French had tried to take it three times unsuccessfully Many believed it couldn’t be done. Canadians took the ridge after careful planning, excellent execution of plans, supervised by General Byng. Major Canadian Victory! We won more ground, took more prisoners, captured more artillery and suffered less losses than any previous British offensive 10,602 casualties- (3,598 dead)

The Vimy Glide A new advancement technique. The Canadian infantry facing the German defense in France, used the Vimy Glide to attack into No Man’s Land. The Glide was a brisk walking pace, soldiers moving forward precisely 100 yards every three minutes. The stop watch efficiency was critical, as an accurate pace meant that you would remain behind the incoming artillery barrage that was dropping down directly in front of you, cutting a path through the barbed wire and enemy positions that were spread across your advance. “One solder described the barrage of gunfire as resembling a lawnmower in front of them, churning the ground”. Information source: http://canadiandesignresource.ca/miscellaneous/vimy-glide/ http://paulgross.org/vimy.htm

Passchendaele Passchendaele (3rd Battle of Ypres) November 1917, Belgium Canadians ordered to attack Germans had the position for months, had little value Gen. Currie made careful plans for a Canadian success Victory cost 15,654 Canadian deaths. The overall number of casualties and deaths is often disputed, but is estimated at over 600,000.

Passchendaele Before After

Canada’s 100 Days Aug 1918- Nov 11, 1918 The final Allied offensive was spearheaded by Canada. The Canadian troops broke through Germany’s heavily fortified “Hindenburg Line” The Germans were forced to abandon significant amounts of materials as they were slowly pushed back Germany was defeated, but continued to fight hard and never fully retreated.