1. Major Canadian Battles
Ch. 2 Canada and The First World War
Counterpoints p

2. 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.

3. 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-

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

5. The 62nd Overseas Battalion boarding the train in Vancouver.
Image Source: Google Images-
The 62nd Overseas Battalion boarding the train in Vancouver.

6. Attestation Paper
Image Source: Library and Archives Canada-

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

8. The Western Front
Image Source: Google Images-

9. Ypres
April 22 & 24, 1915, Belgium.
Some of the bloodiest battles of the early war were fought in and around Ypres.
Historical Significance Ypres (2nd battle) Canada’s 1st Div. was subject to chlorine gas attack which burned and blinded troops.
Image source: Google Images-

10. The use of chlorine gas was a tactic that had been outlawed by international agreement since 1907.
Despite the use of poison gas, the battle continued for months.
The Canadians suffered 6,035 casualties, with no clear winner

11. John McCrae
One of the doctors serving with the Canadian Corps was Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae who wrote the famous poem “In Flanders Field.
He wrote the poem in about 20 minutes, and, the story goes, was dissatisfied with it.
A fellow soldier later found it and convinced him to send it to a British magazine.

12. In Flanders Fields
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

13. The Somme July-November 1916
Allies launch a massive attack against a line of German trenches, 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.
Both sides suffered heavy casualties. (1.25 million)
Canadians suffered over 24,000 casualties

14. The Battle of the Somme The offensive failed because:
The German trench lines held. Though the Allies had shelled the German lines for days before the attack began, they did not destroy German defences, or the barbed wire around trenches.
The use of outdated tactics. Soldiers walked shoulder to shoulder across no man’s land, only to be mowed down by German machine guns.
Despite heavy losses the first day, the campaign continued.
Both sides suffered heavy casualties. (1.25 million)
Canadians suffered over 24,000 casualties

15. Historical Significance: Best example of war of Attirition
Historical Significance: Best example of war of Attirition. Major loss of life, for very little gain. (about 10 km)
Though considered a defeat- Canadian troops distinguished themselves and were brought in to lead assaults in several subsequent battles.

16. Canadians in the trenches in the Battle of the Somme
Image source: Google images-
Canadians in the trenches in the Battle of the Somme

17. Vimy Ridge April 9, 1917, Northern France
French had tried to take it three times unsuccessfully
Many believed it couldn’t be done, because the Germans had the geographical high ground, and had spent almost three years fortifying the ridge.
Canadians took the ridge after careful planning, excellent execution of plans, supervised by General Byng.
10,602 casualties- (3,598 dead)

18. 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:

19. Vimy Glide

20. Vimy
Historical Significance: Major Canadian Victory! We won more ground, took more prisoners, captured more artillery and suffered less losses than any previous British offensive
We can be a country!
Huge impact on morale, both at home and on the Western Front, but a reminder to all of the importance of peace.
The debate over it’s meaning continues.

22. 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.
Significcance: Major loss of life- Hard fought Canadian Victory.

23. Passchendaele
Before
After

24. Canada’s 100 Days
Aug 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.