Major Canadian Battles of World War I

Ypres The Somme Passchendaele Vimy Ridge



Ypres
Strategic location because of itds proximity to the North Sea andthe English Channel Germans wantedaccess to the port city of Calais Three major battles there but the main one was on April 22, 1915 when the Germans usedpoison gas for the first time Canad ians were there to assist British troops The attack was largely unsuccessful

The Somme
Started the end of June 1916 Major battle happened July 1, 1916 The attack was preceded by an eightday artillery bombardment, in which 1537 British guns fired 1,723,873 rounds. It did not penetrate the trenches nor did it work at blowing apart the barbed wire General Haig, the British commander, order the men to attack and the Germans were waiting for them

The attack happened in broad daylight It was a dismal failure 57, 470 British Soldiers were killed Of 801 members of the Newfoundland Regiment, only 68 responded to role call the following morning.

Passchendaele
3rd battle of Ypres began on July 31, 1917 It continued until November 6, 1917 Canadian offensive began on October 26, 1917 and by November 6 1917, they had taken the Town of Passchendaele The goal was for the British to break the German line of trenches, but the allied troops were bogged down by rain and mud They advanced only 8 kilometres 300,000 allied soldiers were killed 20,000 Canadians fought 15,000 Canadian were dead or wounded

Vimy Ridge
Canadians were led by General Arthur Currie In 1917, Currie plans a mock attack to prepare the troops They decided to combine an artillery barrage with advancing troops This would give the enemy no time to prepare for the approaching troops Battle occurred on April 9, 1917 Curries plan worked and by nightfall, the Ridge was in Canadian hands 10, 602 Canadian soldiers were killed in this battle

The battle meant that allied troops had access to a high ridge which meant that they had access to a view of the land all around It was a decisive victory which lead to a great deal of national pride Canadians had proven themselves to be professional soldiers