“In those few minutes I witnessed the birth of a nation.”
Brigadier-General A.E. Ross
April 9-12, 1917 World War One
In 1917, the four Canadian divisions attacked a single target for the first time in the country’s history; Vimy Ridge. It was indeed the veritable birth of a nation. It was the first time Canadian troops had worked on their own without being under the wing of the British Empire.
British and French troops had attempted to take the ridge, a stronghold for the Germans in Northern France and a key connection to German fronts. The long low ridge overlooked Both the British and French assaults failed without making much of a dent in the German strong-hold. It was critical that this 7 kilometre ridge be taken as the Germans had a commanding view over the front lines Allied troops. The Canadians were ordered to take the hill and began preparations. On April 9, 1917 at 5:30 AM, the assault on Vimy began. It took four days of struggle, hand to hand combat and slaughter on both sides before the Canadians reached the top of the ridge, finally attacking with bayoneted rifles against German machine gun nests.
Despite most of the commanding officers being dead or injured, the troops kept on with the assault until it was complete. 15,000 men began the campaign on April 9. 4,500 were left at the end on April 12. 3,598 men died and almost 7,000 men were wounded in the battle. The German casualties were equally as horrendous.
For one of the many moments in recent history, Canadians showed the world who we really were; loyal to each other, proud of our nation, proud of who we are and loyal to a just cause to a fault. Vimy Ridge and the surrounding area, was ceded in perpetuity to Canada by the French government in 1922. There is now a monument that was completed in 1936 to honour our fallen soldiers. It stands overlooking the Northern France landscape, a haunting reminder of the 60,000 Canadian men who died in World War One.
Today, there will be parades. Men who fought in the Second World War will march by, their boots and medals shined, their uniforms pressed neatly, their chins held out and their pride justified. Those of the First World War are only memories now, yet they walk beside us all. If you happen to meet one of these men, look him square in the eye, shake his hand and say thank you.
Wear the poppy proudly.
Namaste
