1. WWI Battles

2. Ypres
In 1915, the second Battle of Ypres established the reputation of the Canadians as a fighting force.
The 1st Canadian Division had just arrived on the Western Front when they won recognition by holding their ground against a new weapon of modern warfare - chlorine gas.
It was also in the trenches at the second Battle of Ypres that John McCrae wrote the poem "In Flanders Fields" when a close friend was killed, one of 6000 Canadian casualties in just 48 hours.
Date of Battle of Ypres 1915:
April 22 to 24, 1915
Location of Battle of Ypres 1915:
Near Ypres, Belgium
Canadian Troops at Ypres 1915:
1st Canadian Division
Canadian Casualties at the Battle of Ypres 1915:
6035 Canadian casualties in 48 hours
More than 2000 Canadians died

3. The Battle of the Somme
The Battle of the Somme fought from 1 July to 18 November 1916, was among the largest battles of the First World War - with more than 1.5 million casualties, it is also one of the bloodiest military operations recorded.
The Allied forces attempted to break through the German lines along a 12- mile (19 km) front north and south of the River Somme in northern France.
By the end of the war, the Allied losses proved replaceable, the German losses less so.
The battle is best remembered for its first day, 1 July 1916, on which the British suffered 57,470 casualties, including 19,240 dead—the bloodiest day in the history of the British Army.

4. Beaumont-Hamel
At the end of June, 1916, the 1st Battalion of the Newfoundland Regiment comprised slightly more than 1,000 all ranks.
On July 1, 1916, 798 all ranks deployed into the trenches (excluding 33 others detached to Mortar and Machine Gun Companies) and 22 officers and about 758 other ranks were sent forward against the enemy (approximately 10% of a battalion was held in reserve during any attack). Of these, all the officers and slightly under 658 other ranks became casualties. Only around 110 remained unscathed.
The Battalion's War Diary on July 7, 1916, states that on July 1, the overall casualties for the Battalion were 310 all ranks killed, died of wounds or missing believed killed, and that 374 all ranks were wounded, a total of 684. Some of the wounded subsequently died.
The Royal Newfoundland Regiment has called this day their “Baptism of Fire”

5. The Battle of Vimy Ridge
Carved on the walls of the monument are the names of 11,285 Canadian soldiers who were killed in France and whose final resting place was then unknown.
Vimy Ridge was a key to the German defence system. Rising 6l metres above the Douai Plain, it protected an area of occupied France in which mines and factories were in full production for Germany.
It was a linchpin covering the junction of the main Hindenburg Line and the defence systems running north to the coast of the English Channel.
Since capturing the Ridge in October 1914, the Germans had been building fortifications to add to its natural strength and dominance.

6. Within thirty minutes the Canadian 1st Division, under Arthur Currie, had succeeded in capturing German front line positions in spite of a snowstorm; within a further half hour the second line had similarly passed into Canadian hands. The ridge remained in Allied hands for the remainder of the war. It did not come without cost however: 10,602 Canadians were wounded during the attack, and 3,598 killed.  The opposing German force suffered even more heavily: 20,000 casualties.

7. Passchendaele
16,000 Cdns -12,000 were wounded, 3,000 died and 1,000 were missing for 7 km of mud that was soon won back by the Germans.
British Generals lacked common sense & empathy. “Good God, did we really send soldiers to fight in that”.
Soldiers unable to move through the mud  some sucked in & drowned in it.

8. Last 100 Days
USA joins Allies by the end of 1917 as Russia surrenders to Germany. (Treaty of Brest Litovsk).
By Spring 1918, a desperate Germany launches mighty offensive on Western Front before US troops arrive.
Germans stopped 80 km from Paris.
The Battle of Amiens Aug 8, 1918
Canadians spearheaded Allied attack along with Australians. Three Canadian divisions in total with tanks used. Together they pushed Germans back and take Amiens. Gain over 22 km.
This will be the last time Canadians fight as a voluntary force because by August 18, the first conscripts were beginning to arrive. Over 4,000 Canadians died during this offensive. German are now on the defensive.
Kaiser orders negotiations to begin.

9. Hindenburg Line August 26 – September 2, 1918
The city of Cambrai is the last German stronghold.
Very poor weather conditions but Canadians manage to gain a victory when they conquer and control the very crucial Canal du Nord.

10. The Battle of Cambrai September 4 – October 11, 1918
Weather again is a factor in this simultaneous massive allied attack as the city is taken and secured October 11, 1918 allowing allies to advance nearly 40 more km into German held areas.
Currie “This was one of the finest feats in history”. Over 30,000 Canadian casualties during this time.

11. Final 32 Days
The final march to Mons was the site of the first battle between Germans and the British.
By 7:00 am on November 11, 1918 the Canadians reach the centre of Mons. Very symbolic for Currie.
By the end of the 100 days of fighting over 45,000 Canadians died, were wounded or were missing.

12. General Arthur Currie First Canadian to spearhead Canadian troops.
Given command during Passchendaele.
A man of military strategy especially at Vimy. He helped implement:
In-depth training
Self-contained units
Importance of effective weapons
Scientific methodology
Element of surprise
Prime Minister Lloyd George appoints Currie Commander-in-Chief of Canadian forces.

13. In 1917 there was a revolution in Russia
In 1917 there was a revolution in Russia. The Russian people revolted and asked their leaders for “Land, Bread and Peace”. The Russian army mutinied and withdrew from the war. The government asked Germany for a treaty at Brest Litovsk by which Germany got thousands of square miles of territory in Ukraine. The United States had also now entered the war. As American soldiers flooded in, the Germans sent all their troop for on last push on the Western Front. This offensive in the summer of 1918 gained about 60 kms but failed to break through the British and French lines. It was obvious to all that the Germans were exhausted, even though German armies were not retreating, and had fought the whole war on foreign soil. The German people, fed up with the war and food shortages asked the Kaiser to step down (which he did on November 28, 1918 abolishing German Monarchy) to avoid a civil war . The government immediately asked the Allies for an “Armistice” or truce, to begin at 11 am on November 11, The Armistice was the end of WWI.