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DAY 36 . YPRES TO THE SOMME. FRITZ HABER AND HIS COLLEAGUE ALBERT EINSTEIN AT THE KAISER WILHELM INSTITUTE IN BERLIN. TODAY THE INSTITUTE IS NAMED AFTER HIM HE WAS GIVEN RANK OF CAPT FOR HIS AID TO GERMAN WAR EFFORT. IN 1918 HE WINS NOBEL PRIZE FOR CHEMISTRY
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DAY 36 YPRES TO THE SOMME
FRITZ HABER AND HIS COLLEAGUE ALBERT EINSTEIN AT THE KAISER WILHELM INSTITUTE IN BERLIN. TODAY THE INSTITUTE IS NAMED AFTER HIM HE WAS GIVEN RANK OF CAPT FOR HIS AID TO GERMAN WAR EFFORT. IN 1918 HE WINS NOBEL PRIZE FOR CHEMISTRY HE CONVERTS FROM JUDAISM TO CHRISTIANITY AS NAZIS RISING IN POWER, BUT WAS STILL FORCED TO FLEE GERMANY BEFORE WWII. IRONICALLY HIS WORK LED TO DEVELOPMENT OF ZYKLON B AS A DELOUSING AGENT
EARLY GAS WARNING SYSTEMS INCLUDING THE GAS SIREN, AND THE GAS RATTLE
HERE AN ENTIRE TRENCH IS LITTERED WITH DEAD AFTER CHLORINE GAS A VICTIM OF MUSTARD GAS
Canadian Soldier in a front line Trench. Conditions like this led To many diseases Trench foot being the most common early on.
AFTER YPRES FESTUBERT AND GIVENCY. STILL IN FLANDERS. • MAY 23-24 ATTACKED GERMAN POSITIONS AT FESTUBERT. 2500 CASUALTIES. • JUNE ATTACKED AGAIN AT GIVENCY 500 MORE. • TRENCH WASTAGE • CANADIANS LED POORLY. OFFICERS (HUGHES OR DOLLAR MAGNATES • ATTACKED USING BR. STYLE. • AT THIS TIME ALDERSON AND FRENCH FINALLY DECIDE ROSS RIFLE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED
FALL OF 1915 CDN 2ND DIV ARRIVES. HUGHES WANTS A CORPS (HIM TO COMMAND) • FRENCH AGREES, GETS DOUGLAS HAIG TO CREATE • ALDERSON PROMOTED, AS WAS CURRIE • SAM HUGHES KNIGHTED INSTEAD • KNIGHTED BECAUSE OF MAX AITKEN AND BONAR LAW. • HUGHES CAREER IS ON DECLINE THOUGH WITH SCANDAL OVER APPOINTMENTS, WAR PROFITS ETC • FRONT LINE TOUR FOR HUGHES?
ANDREW BONAR LAW, THE ONLY BRITISH PRIME MINISTER BORN OUTSIDE OF THE UK. HE WAS FROM NB. MOVED TO SCOTLAND AT 12 WHEN AUNT (HE WAS LIVING WITH HER SINCE HIS OWN MOTHER’S DEATH) WENT BACK TO SCOTLAND HE WAS ELECTED TO PARLIAMENT IN 1900, AND LED THE PARTY AFTER RESIGNATION OF CHAMBERLAIN PRIME MINISTER 1922-1923
MAX AITKEN JR AND SR. WHILE BORN IN ONTARIO AITKEN GREW UP IN NEW BRUNSWICK. MADE A FORTUNE IN PUBLISHING AND BECAME LORD BEAVERBROOK IN BRITAIN. HE LATER SERVED AS A MINISTER TO CHURCHILL.
A MUCH YOUNGER SAM HUGHES AND CHARLES ROSS’ FACTORY FOR THE ROSS RIFLE
HUGHES WANTS GARNET FOR 2ND BRIGADE • AITKEN LEAKS TO PRESS THAT ALDERSON WANTS • ALDERSON DENIES • AITKEN WARNS ALDERSON • CDN CORPS WINTERS IN FLANDERS, CONDITIONS HORRIBLE • BORED SO INVENT TRENCH WARFARE (VICTOR ODLUM GENERAL PEA SOUP) • GAIN REPUTATION FOR RAIDERS. HARD EARNED, 5000 CASUALTIES. MANY FROM WEATHER TOO.
APRIL 1916 BATTLE OF ST. LOI CRATERS. • MARCH 1916 BR EXPLODE HUGE MINES UNDER GERMAN LINES. KILLS HUNDREDS, BUT STRONGHOLDS • BR. DIVISION THAT TAKES THEM SUFFERS HUGE CASUALTIES. • CDN 2ND DIV RELIEVE BR. BAPTISM OF FIRE WHEN THE COUNTERATTACK FROM GER ARRIVES. • CDNS PUSHED OUT (GER MINE) 1500 DEAD OR MIA • CDN SOLDIERS FIGHT WELL, POORLY LED • HAIG FIRES ALDERSON (HUGHES) REPLACES WITH JULIEN BYNG (GALLIPOLI)
THIS IS THE BATTLEGROUND OF ST ELOI. NOTE THE CRATERS BUT ALSO THE FLAT LAND WITH LITTLE COVER OVER WHICH THE CDNS HAD TO ATTACK
JUNE 1916 CDN 3RD DIV ON MOUNT SORREL. ONLY HIGH GROUND IN SECTOR • JUNE 2ND, GERMANS EXPLODE 4 HUGE MINES UNDER CDN POSITION. HUNDREDS KILLED • 4TH CDN MOUNTED RIFLES LOSE ALL BUT 76 OUT OF 701 MEN. • CDN PUSHED OFF THE RIDGE. • GERMANS NOW BREECH CDN LINE BY 1200 METERS AND ARE WITHIN TWO MILES OF THE CITY OF YPRES
DOUGLAS HAIG NOW COMMANDS BR TROOPS. FEELS CDNS MAY HAVE BEEN OVERRATED • BYNG ORDERED TO RETAKE, LETS CURRIE PLAN THE OPERATION • NEW PLAN. • REHEARSE • KNOW LAND • OBJECTIVES THREE LEVELS UP • MAPS, • AERIAL RECON • NEW ARTILLERY TACTIC. INTERMITTENT BARRAGE • TAKE BACK POSITION IN ONE HOUR
AFTER BATTLE ROSS FINALLY SCRAPPED BY ALL FRONT LINE CDN TROOPS • CDNS DESTROYED RIFLE TO PREVENT ITS RETURN • 1917 CHARLES ROSS LOST HONORARY COLONELCY THE FACTORY IN QUEBEC WAS APPROPRIATED • THIS HURT HUGHES POLITICAL CAREER AS DID WAR PROFITEERING SCANDAL OF 1916-1917 • STILL WANTED TO LEAD THE MEN • BY NOW BORDEN TIRING OF HUGHES AND “ACCEPTS” HIS RESIGNATION • HUGHES STAYED ON IN OTTAWA AS MP UNTIL HIS DEATH IN 1921
TOWARD THE SOMME • ALLIED PLAN FOR 1916 WAS TO BREAK THE GERMAN BACK AT THE SOMME • JOINT FRENCH ENGLISH ATTACK • WOULD START IN SPRING AND WIN WAR BY END OF 1916 • GERMANS HAD OWN PLANS • VON FALKENHAYN KNEW OF IMPENDING ATTACK SO LAUNCHED OWN OFFENSIVE IN FEBRUARY AT VERDUN
SIR DOUGLAS HAIG, SUPREME BRITISH COMMANDER DURING WORLD WAR I. HE HAD SUCH LOVELY PLANS AS THE SOMME, PASCHENDALE, AND THE SECOND BATTLE OF MONS. WOULD HAVE BEEN FIRED IN 1918 IF NOT SO WELL CONNECTED. HIS REPLACEMENT WOULD HAVE BEEN CURRIE
ERICH VON FALKENHAYN. SUPREME COMMANDER OF THE GERMAN ARMY IN THE WEST FROM 1914 UNTIL 1916. REPLACED VON MOLTKE AFTER THE FAILURE OF THE GERMANS AT THE MARNE. HE WAS REPLACED AFTER THE FAILURE OF VERDUN.
VERDUN ANCIENT FORT CITY (NEVER FALLEN) • NOT TACTICAL ANYMORE AS NO GUNS, BUT SYMBOL OF FRENCH MIGHT. • FALKENHAYN THOUGHT FRENCH WOULD DEFEND TO END. BLEED THEM • IF VERDUN FELL FR MORAL WOULD PLUMMET • DEGENERATES INTO BATTLE OF ATTRITION • AT THE HEIGHT, LOOKED LIKE GER WOULD WIN, UNTIL MARSHALL PETAIN AND THE SACRED WAY • FRANCE PLEAS FOR BR HELP. OPEN THE SOMME TO RELIEVE PRESSURE • JULY 1ST SET FOR THE OPENING OF THE NOW MOSTLY BR. ATTACK
AERIAL SHOT OF THE CITY OF VERDUN. NOTE AGAIN THE SHELL HOLES AND DESTRUCTION. YOU CAN ALSO SEE ZIG ZAG TRENCH LINE AND RINGED DEFENSE OF THE TOWN.
FRENCH TRENCH LINE AT VERDUN NOTE THE FAMILIARITY WITH DEATH. THE TOWN OF VERDUN SHOWING THE SACRED WAY… OR AS BARTLETT SAYS “LA VOIE SACREE”
AT THE SOMME, HAIG MAKES ALL THE MISTAKES HE HAS MADE SINCE THE WAR BEGAN. TACTICS OLD, OUTDATED AND DID NOT WORK. • EVERY AVAILABLE BR. GUN TO SMASH DEFENCES (LONDON) • KILL GERMAN DEFENDERS AND BREAK UP BARBED WIRE • EASY STROLL FOR THE MEN. LOADS THEM TO THE HILT. • 75 POUND KIT TO STROLL WITH (COLOURED DISCS TO SHOW ADVANCE) • TIGHT FORMATION FIVE YARDS BETWEEN MEN. • HAIG ACTUALLY UTILIZED CAVALRY AND THOUGHT HORSES WOULD SWEEP TO BERLIN • SURPRISINGLY THE OLD FAILED TACTICS FAILED AGAIN. GERMANS IN FACT KNEW ATTACK COMING. • DUG OUT KEPT DEFENDERS SAFE UNTIL LAUNCH OF ATTACK • BARBED WIRE SPRINGY SO EXPLODES GOES UP BUT DOES NOT BREAK OPEN AND BR DON’T USE PROPER FUSE SHELLS
CANADA NOT HERE IN JULY • NFLD WAS. REMEMBER NOT PART OF CANADA IN WWI OR WWII • NFLD REGIMENT OF 1000 MEN • ATTACHED TO THE BR 29TH DIVISION. • ASSIGNED TO THE SECOND WAVE ON JULY FIRST. ATTACKING IN BROAD DAYLIGHT, SO IF ANYTHING WENT WRONG WITH BOMBARDMENT THEY WERE SCREWED. • THEY ATTACKED AT BEAUMONT HAMEL • 7:20 AM ATTACK STARTS, MINE EXPLOSIONS • GERMANS IN BUNKERS, ARTILLERY NOT EFFECTIVE
BARBED WIRE NOT CUT, SO KILLING ZONES CREATED WHERE BR CUT THEIR OWN. WOUNDED STRAGGLING BACK • NFLD AND REST OF SECOND WAVE CANNOT REACH FRONT TRENCH BECAUSE OF CONGESTION SO FORCED OVER THE TOP 230M BEHIND. MUST NOW TRAVEL OVER 750M IN OPEN BROAD DAYLIGHT FRONTAL ASSAULT. • ORDERED TO MARCH IN TIGHT FORMATION CUT DOWN BY GERMANS AS ONLY ALLIED FORCE ON THE MOVE IN THE ENTIRE SECTOR • AFTER ATTACK ONLY 68 NFLD NOT SERIOUSLY WOUNDED AND ABLE TO ANSWER ROLL
JULY 1ST BLOODIEST DAY IN BR HISTORY. OVER 58000 CASUALTIES. • HAIG CALLS IT A SET BACK AND CONTINUES OFFENSIVE THE NEXT DAY, AND FOR FIVE MONTHS. • FOR NFLD TRAGEDY. JULY 1ST IS LIKE REMEMBRANCE DAY ON THE ROCK. FORGET ME NOTS • 1918 ROYAL NFLD REGIMENT BY GEORGE V • SEPTEMBER THE CANADIANS ARRIVE ON THE SOMME • SEPT 15 1ST DIV POZIERRES RIDGE • 2ND AT COURCELETTE • 3RD FABECK TRENCH
AS SEPTEMBER PASSED RAIN AND MUD ON THE SOMME • BY NOVEMBER REGINA TRENCH CAPTURED. • END OF NOVEMBER SOMME OFFENSIVE ENDS. • CANADIANS SUFFERED 25,000 CASUALTIES FROM SEPT TO NOVEMBER (REMEMBER NOT REALLY “INVOLVED”) • ALLIES IN GENERAL OVER 600 000 ALL FOR 10 KM OF LAND. • LITTLE STRATEGIC SUCCESS. • ALL FOUR CDN DIVISIONS NOW LEAVE SOMME AND CONCENTRATE OPPOSITE VIMY
BEAUMONT HAMEL BATTLEFIELD THE MONUMENT TO THE FALLEN AT BEAUMONT HAMEL. NAMES OF THE LOST APPEAR HERE.
BELOW IS THE BATTLEFIELD TODAY. STILL POCKMARKED 90 YEARS LATER ABOVE PICTURE SHOWS THE REMNANTS OF THE NFLD TRENCH LINE.
THE FAMOUS TREE FROM BEAUMONT HAMEL. THIS IS THE FURTHEST POINT REACHED BY THE NFLD REGIMENT. BODY OF ONE DEAD NFLDer WAS HERE "It was a magnificent display of trained and disciplined valour, and its assault only failed of success because dead men can advance no further."- Major-General Sir Beauvoir de Lisle, Commander of the 29th British Division, reporting on the efforts of the 1st Newfoundland Regiment.
TRENCH LINE FROM 1917. THIS IS NEAR THE BR LINES SPECIFICALLY NEXT TO THE AID STATION.
TOP LEFT: WOUNDED NFLD SOLDIER RETURNING FROM BEAUMONT HAMEL. LEFT: NFLD TRENCH LINE TOP RIGHT: EXPLOSION OF HAWTHORNE RIDGE STARTING THE SOMME YouTube - Mine Explosion
YouTube - Battle of the Somme - Real Footage • YouTube - BEAUMONT HAMEL
CANADIANS AT THE SOMME POZIERE RIDGE BATTLE TO SOLIDIFY THE BRITISH LINES AND ELIMINATE A SALIENT.
THE FIRST PICTURE OF A TANK GOING INTO BATTLE AT COURCELETTE. IT IS OBVIOUSLY A MATILDA MARK I
AERIAL SHOT OF REGINA TRENCH. FIGHTING ALONGSIDE THE CDNS HERE WAS A BRITISH UNIT THAT INCLUDED JOHN TOLKIEN.