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Major Canadian Battles of the First World War

Major Canadian Battles of the First World War. Second Battle of Ypres. April – May 1915 British offensive tactics prove ineffective First use of chlorine gas Establishes Canada as a fighting force 59,000 casualties – 6,000 CAN John McCrae writes In Flanders Field Significance:.

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Major Canadian Battles of the First World War

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  1. Major Canadian Battles of the First World War

  2. Second Battle of Ypres • April – May 1915 • British offensive tactics prove ineffective • First use of chlorine gas • Establishes Canada as a fighting force • 59,000 casualties – 6,000 CAN • John McCrae writes In Flanders Field • Significance:

  3. In Flanders Fields the poppies blowBetween the crosses, row on row,That mark our place; and in the skyThe larks, still bravely singing, flyScarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days agoWe lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,Loved, and were loved, and now we lieIn Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe:To you from failing hands we throwThe torch, be yours to hold it high.If ye break faith with us who dieWe shall not sleep, though poppies growIn Flanders fields. The general impression in my mind is of a nightmare. We have been in the most bitter of fights. For seventeen days and seventeen nights none of us have had our clothes off, nor our boots even, except occasionally. In all that time while I was awake, gunfire and rifle fire never ceased for sixty seconds ..... And behind it all was the constant background of the sights of the dead, the wounded, the maimed, and a terrible anxiety lest the line should give way.

  4. Battle of the Somme • July – November 1916 • Attack lead by British General Douglas Haig • Deadliest battle of the war (over 1 million casualties - 24,000 CAN) for very little gain (8 km) • First use of tanks – prove ineffective • Beaumont-Hammel – NLFD Regiment decimated on the first day of battle (801 over the top – 68 return) • Significance:

  5. Battle of Vimy Ridge • April 9-12, 1917 • Strategically important high area that French and British could not capture • Canadian divisions fought together under Arthur Currie’s command • Careful planning and preparation (ie maps, creeping barrage) led to victory – but at a cost of 10,600 casualties • Significance:

  6. “We went up Vimy Ridge as Albertans and Nova Scotians. We came down as Canadians.” ~ Veteran

  7. Passchendaele • October – November 1917 • British are adamant that the area be taken despite Currie’s opposition and concerns • Flooding of battlefield made the attack extremely difficult • Canadian success with high casualties (16,000) for little gains (5 km) • Significance:

  8. Last Hundred Days • August – November 1918 • Canadian forces spearhead the final assault on German forces • Battles at Arras, Amiens, Canal du Nord, Mons • Allied forces capture numerous prisoners, weapons and supplies, while demoralizing German troops • Armistice takes effect November 11th • Significance:

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