Canada in World War I April 3 rd, 2018
Canada in 1914 Prime Minister Robert Borden Population 8 Million Still strong ties to England as a Commonwealth Nation Newfoundland not yet a province Canada flag not yet created
The Canadian Expeditionary Force The CEF was the field force created for deployment to Western Europe in WWI Over 600,000 men and women were enlisted with the CEF as soldiers, nurses and chaplains Soldiers from Newfoundland fought with the Royal Newfoundland Regiment Over 60,000 killed Over 170,000 wounded
Impact of the War Increased Nationalism Conscription crisis of 1917 Suffragette movement Social Changes
Key Battles for Canada in WWI The Battle of Ypres (1915) The Battle of the Somme (1916) The Battle of Vimy Ridge (1917) The Battle of Passchendaele (1917)
Canada in WWI: The Big Question Which battle was most historically significant for Canada in WWI?
Historical Significance 1. Significance depends upon one s perspective and purpose. 2. Significance depends upon our ability to link a person or event to larger trends and stories that reveal something important for us today. 3. To assess the historical significance of something we must define criteria for significance
Criteria for Significance Importance at the time Resulting Change Profundity: How were people affected by this event? Scale: How many people were affected? Durability: How long lasting have the results from the event been? Legacy How does the event shed light on issues we face today?
Ypres The Somme Vimy Ridge Passchendaele What was the strategic importance? What role did Canadians play? SCALE: How many people affected? LEGACY: How do we relate to it today?
The (Second) Battle of Ypres Fought around Ypres, Belgium. On the Western Front - 1915 Canada s first appearance on the European battlefield Germans released 160 tons of chlorine gas and broke through French lines Canadians held them off until reinforcements arrived At this battle John McCrae wrote In Flanders Fields Victory for the Allied forces
Ross Rifle Lee- Enfield Rifle
The Battle of the Somme - 1916 The French had been fighting to defend the town of Verdun The British were under pressure to launch an offensive to help out British General Haig planned to break through German lines The Big Push He launched an attack along the 20 mile front, near the Somme River in Northern France Creeping Barrage was perfected Casualties were very high 60,000 Allied troops in the first day! A total of nearly 700,000 men had been killed by the time fighting ended. Both sides were forced to withdraw their forces, Allies advanced approx. 10 km Germany was never able to assemble an effective fighting force after this
Background In March 1917 the Germans withdrew to strong defenses called the Hindenburg Line The Hindenburg Line was heavily fortified. Concrete Bunkers Machine Gun Nests Heavy Belts of barbed wire Underground tunnels Vimy Ridge was one of the strongest points on the H. Line and provided an unrestricted view of enemy positions French and British forces had tried unsuccessfully to capture the ridge in the past It would now be the job of the C.E.F
The Battle Heavy Shelling took place for 2 weeks prior to the offensive On the morning of April 9 th, Easter Monday, all four divisions of the CEF, under the command of Lieutenant-General Byng commenced attack By mid-afternoon the Canadian divisions were in command of the whole crest of the Ridge with the exception of two features known as Hill 145 and the Pimple. Within three days these too were taken. The fighting had been hard and costly 3,598 dead and another roughly 7,100 wounded.
The Battle of Vimy Ridge 1. First time all four divisions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force fought together 2. They succeeded, against the odds, where others had failed 3. 4 Victoria Crosses were awarded 4. Legitimized Canada as a nation on the world stage, greatly bolstered feelings of Canadian nationalism
Squire nagged and bullied till I went to fight, (Under Lord Derby's scheme). I died in hell (They called it Passchendaele). My wound was slight, And I was hobbling back; and then a shell Burst slick upon the duckboards: so I fell Into the bottomless mud, and lost the light At sermon-time, while Squire is in his pew, He gives my gilded name a thoughtful stare; For, though low down upon the list, I'm there; "In proud and glorious memory"... that's my due. Two bleeding years I fought in France, for Squire: I suffered anguish that he's never guessed. I came home on leave: and then went west... What greater glory could a man desire? - Siegfried Sassoon (1918)
The Battle of Passchendaele AKA the 3 rd Battle of Ypres Fought for control of Passchendaele ridge as part of a bigger campaign to capture railways and eventually U- Boat ports in the North. Due to low geography, heavy shelling and constant rain, the battlefield was a quagmire Canadians were led by one of their own Sir Arthur Currie Causalities were very high, but the battle was a success. Nine Canadians were awarded the Victoria Cross