1. Canada and WWI Major Battles

2. “Back by Christmas” War helped revitalize the economy Unemployed men were keen to fight 30,000 men volunteered Sam Hughes – Ross Rifle “Princess Pats” – first to arrive

3. War Measures Act Government given right to detain “enemy aliens” – anti-German sentiments Berlin, Ontario renamed Kitchener 8,500 “enemy aliens” imprisoned – Eastern Europeans – forced labour Income tax created to support war effort but was never removed

4. Gas Attack at Ypres Trench warfare in Belgium Millions of lives lost over a few kilometres April 22, 1915 – 5,700 litres of chlorine gas released by Germans French retreat – eyes burn, tongues swell Canadians hold ground – 2 nd attack – soak rags in muddy water and urine for protection – the line was held 6,000 Canadians were dead, missing or wounded

5. Battle of the Somme Somme River – 100,000 Allied troops directed to advance across no man’s land in broad daylight, in direct fire 57, 000 British soldiers killed in single day 790 Newfoundlanders went over the top that day, only 68 answered roll call following morning Half million men lost in 3 months Less at battle than it was a meat grinder

6. Vimy Ridge Key High Ground in Northern France Germans were well established – tunnels, artillery, phone lines, rail line for munitions 200,000 French and British troops lost in failed attempts to take this stronghold Canadians built mock hill – trained using mock environment Canadian troops learned how to load and use German artillery so that when they could turn captured guns against their enemy

7. Vimy Ridge - continued Andrew McNaughton – learned how to pinpoint enemy fire based on sound and flash – able to identify key positions Easter Monday, April 9, 1917 – All four divisions of Canadian Corps advanced together for first time In cold, wet winds and driving snow and took the hill and swept the Germans from the Ridge

8. Vimy Ridge - Continued Called “the most perfectly organized and most successful battle of the whole war”. Considered a nation-making moment 3,600 Canadians died taking the Ridge – after battle Canadian soldiers set apart as Storm Troopers Arther Currie – key strategist behind Vimy Ridge – one of the greatest General of the war – German officer later remarked that without Currie, the Germans would have won the War

9. Passchendaele Marshland in Belgium – British artillery had pockmarked the ground, destroying drainage Heavy rains made it worse – “a soup of mud” in which guns and artillery disappeared and many soldiers drowned 68,000 British troops were lost before British High Command called for Currie

10. Passchendaele - cont Currie was appalled at the conditions and insisted that with the best preparations, it would still cost 16,000 lives British insisted battle go forward – Canadians built wooden gun platforms and rail-tracks to compensate for the mud, and took the Ridge approx 2 weeks later However, 15, 654 lives were lost to capture 5 square kilometres of mud Currie made scathing report on how British were fighting the War following Passchendaele

11. Passchendaele - cont Robert Borden responded to British PM: “Mr. Prime Minister, I want to tell you that, if ever there is a repetition of the Battle of Passchendaele, not a single Canadian soldier will leave the shores of Canada again...”

12. Canada and the Empire 620,000 Canadians served in WWI, of those, 66,000 died and 172,000 were wounded Two important effects: –Ended public admiration for old school imperialism – allure of GB paled and thrill of imperial military pride never recovered –Self image – Canada’s strong contribution to the war gave us a strong voice internationally

13. “It can hardly be expected that we shall put 400,000 or 500,000 men in the field and willingly accept the position of having no more voice and receiving no more consideration than if we were toy automata” – Robert Borden “We want more men from them. We can hardly ask them to make another great recruiting effort unless it is accompanied by an invitation to come over and discuss the situation with us” – Lloyd George

14. Canada and the League of Nations Borden insisted Canada put its own signature on the Treaty of Versailles L of N was formed following the war. Canada and other dominions given their own seats Although the US boycotted the L of N, feeling this was a trick to give Britain more power, thus making it an ineffective mediator of world events