YpresThe SommeVimy Ridge

Passchendaele

The Major Battles of World War I

YpresApril – May, 1915Ypres, Belgium

Germans released 5 730 cylinders of chlorine gas

Unprepared, the French division fled, leaving the Canadians to fight.

Despite many Canadian casualties, the Allies saved the situation

2 days later, the Germans released gas on the Canadians. Those in St. Julien were overrun; the Candians in Ypres held on

Fighting continued for 3 weeks.

In the attempt to hold off the enemy attack, over 59 000 were lost for the sake of positions that had little strategic value.

It was after this battle that Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae composed “In Flanders’ Fields”

The Somme July – November, 1916Somme, France

The plan was for a joint British-French assault on the Somme (Western Front)

Many French were killed protecting the French fortress of Verdun in February, making it difficult to participate in the Somme offensive

The British went ahead with their “Big Push”

The Germans were waiting as 100 000 British troops advanced from the trenches in full daylight.

In one day, almost 58 000 were killed, wounded or missing. It was the biggest disaster in British military history.

Troops came to help from the First Newfoundland Regiment, and soldiered on bravely.

The Canadians entered the “bloodbath” in September, fighting through many German defensive lines

The Canadians finally managed to capture Regina Trench on November 11, despite the mud and deaths in the thousands.

Vimy RidgeApril 9-12, 1917Douai Plains, Nord-Pas-

de-Calais region, France

Strategic place for Germans, had fortified it for 3 years

The battle began at 5:28am on Easter Monday, April 9.

The Canadians took one objective after another, in spite of heavy machine gun fire

The Canadians took over 4 000 prisoners and achieved one of the greatest victories in the war up to that time

It is said that Vimy was where Canada was born as an independent nation.

PasschendaeleOct – Nov, 1917Passchedaele, near

Ypres, Belgium

The objective was to capture German submarine bases on the Belgian coast.

The Germans’ position was firm, and the British suffered appalling casualties.

The Canadians were called to lead one more attack.

The battlefield was a muddy bog, and brought back memories of Ypres.

Attempts to rebuild roads , gun platforms, etc. were slowed by German aircraft bombs.

At 5:40am on Oct. 26, the Canadians attacked, but could not secure the area.

Attacks during late October and early November brought much suffering, but led to the Canadians securing many German strong points.

Once again the Canadians had shown that, even in impossible conditions, they

could do the job when called upon.