Ypres The Somme Vimy Ridge Passchendaele

April – May, 1915 Ypres, Belgium Germans released 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 Canadians in Ypres held on

Fighting continued for 3 weeks. In the attempt to hold off the enemy attack, over 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”

John McCrae, May 1915 In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. Primary Document: 1918 (Ottawa)

On April 22, 1915, now referred to as the Second Battle of Ypres, the offensive began with the usual artillery bombardment of the enemy’s line. When the shelling died down, the Allied defenders waited for the first wave of German attack troops but instead were thrown into panic when chlorine gas wafted across no- man’s land and down into their trenches. A second gas attack, against a Canadian division, on April 24, pushed the Allies further back, and, by May, they had retreated to the town of Ypres. The Second Battle of Ypres ended on May 25, with insignificant gains for the Germans. The introduction of poison gas, however, would have great significance in World War I.

Immediately after the German gas attack at Ypres, the French and British began developing their own chemical weapons and gas masks. With the Germans taking the lead, an extensive number of projectiles filled with deadly substances polluted the trenches during the next several years of war. Mustard gas, introduced by the Germans in 1917, blistered the skin, eyes and lungs, and killed thousands.

July – November, 1916 Somme, 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 British troops advanced from the trenches in full daylight. In one day, almost 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.

April 9-12, 1917 Douai 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 prisoners and achieved one of the greatest victories in the war up to that time

Oct – Nov, 1917 Passchedaele, near Ypres, Belgium The objective was to capture German submarine (U-boat) 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.

Sir Sam Hughes Canada’s Minister of Militia and Defence from October 1911 to November 1916, was the driving force behind Canada’s early war effort. Hughes had championed the purchase of the Canadian-made Ross rifle, carried by Canadian troops at the outbreak of war, and drew serious criticism when he defended it against growing evidence of its deficiencies in combat.

Prime Minister Robert Borden Borden’s decision in early 1917 to invoke conscription, or compulsory service, in order to maintain Canada’s armies in the field nearly tore the country apart. He won the ensuing fall election amidst controversy The conscription debate continued through the end of the war

Sir Arthur Currie and Sir Julyn Bing Currie commanded the Canadian Corps from June 1917 until its disbandment in late During the Second Battle of Ypres in April 1915, Currie’s brigade played a pivotal role in holding the Allied position Sir Julian Byng, the Canadian Corps commander from 1915 to 1917, groomed Currie as his replacement. When Byng was promoted to army command after his Canadians had successfully stormed Vimy Ridge in April 1917, Currie was appointed in June to head the Canadian Corps. Under Currie’s leadership, the Canadians cemented their reputation as an elite assault formation, with an unbroken string of major victories in that included Hill 70, Passchendaele, Amiens, Arras, and the Canal du Nord. He is widely considered to have been among the finest generals of the war.