Major Canadian Battles of WWI Flashcards
The 2nd Battle of Ypres
-took place April 22nd, 1915 in Ypres, Belgium
-During this battle chlorine gas was introduced by the Germans
-Due to this, many English, and French soldier fled their positions
-A Canadian soldier recognized the gas and came up with a temporary solution: putting a urine soaked cloth over your nose
-The Canadians were able to fend off the German attack until the French and British returned to support them (but suffered 2000 casualties)
Why was Ypres important?
it was Canada’s first battle in the war.
● Canadians (and Algerians) were able to hold the line despite the gas attack.
● Canadian troops gained experience in trench warfare and gained the respect of
both ally and enemy.
The Somme
July 1, 1916 - November 18, 1916.
● Somme River, France.
● General Douglas Haig’s strategy was to use a massive bombardment of artillery to clear no man’s land.
● It would destroy the barbed wire, machine guns and enemy artillery and make it easy for the infantry to follow up with their advance and capture the German position.
● His bombardment lasted for seven days and fired over 1.5 million shells on the German position.
What happened at the Somme?
-Haig’s strategy failed- rather than clear the battlefield it made it more difficult to cross
-He failed to hit and destroy almost all of the German artillery positions.
● No man’s land was filled with deep craters that were difficult to navigate.
● The German machine gunners took refuge in the trenches.
● When the shelling stopped, they set up positions in the newly positioned
craters, creating a killing ground for the British and Canadian soldiers to cross.
● On July 1, 1916 Haig ordered the infantry to attack.
● After the first day, the British and Canadian soldiers had
suffered 57, 470 casualties (19, 240 KIA) and nothing had
been taken back.
● The Newfoundland regiment was tasked with taking
Beaumont Hamel.
● Of the 778 men in the unit, only 68 men were able to
answer when roll call was done the next day.
● Rather than change strategy, Haig ordered further
bombardments followed up by further infantry advances.
● The battle continued for 5 months of fighting, Haig finally gave up the attack.
● In total, both sides suffered more than 1, 250, 000 casualties (625, 000 Entente and 400, 000 German).
● The British only managed to acquire a strip of land 10 km wide by 32 km long - an insignificant change for the war effort.
● This further solidified Canadians reputation for being fearless, fierce fighters.
● Following the battle, Canadians began to question the ability of British commanders to lead them.
● They began to agitate for their own leadership.
Vimy Ridge
-it took place in Vimy Ridge, in Arras France from April 9-12, 1917
-The Germans originally captured Vimy Ridge early in the war and both the French and the English were unable to take it back
-In 1916 the Canadians led by Arthur Currie were tasked with taking the ridge
-He took aerial photos of the ridge and mapped out all the German positions and defences
-he built models of the Ridge to practice on
-each unit and person had a specific objective in the battle but, they also new the greater plan which made it flexible
-○ Currie also constructed a series of tunnels in the soft stone of the area that was just out of sight of the ridge to its base. This was so that the Germans could not see them coming,
○ These tunnels were wide to accommodate movements of troops and supplies.
○ At the time of the assault, the Canadian troops would emerge to surprise the Germans.
Ridge Results
● Currie’s plan worked. Canada took the ridge in three days and suffered only 10,600 casualties (3800 KIA).
● This was the only significant Entente victory in 1917 and significantly altered the way both sides fought the war.
● As a result, Canada demanded - and was granted a seat of its own during the peace talks.
Passchendaele
-It took place in Passchendaele Belgium from July-November 1917
-it was originally a down created through a damn system so when those were compromised by artillery fire it gave way to huge sinkholes which many men disappeared in
● The Canadians had to attack from the low ground and were especially vulnerable to German shelling and the muddy conditions.
● The Canadian troops took the ridge but lost 16, 000 men.
● Shortly afterwards, General Haig decided the terrain had no strategic value and
withdrew, allowing the Germans to re-occupy the region.
Passchendaele Importance to Canada
● Prime Minister Robert Borden to the British Prime Minister.
○ “Mr. Prime Minister, I want to tell you that if there is a repetition of the
battle of Passchendaele, not a Canadian soldier will leave the shores of Canada as long as the Canadian people entrust the government of Canada to my hands.”
War in the Air
-Canada had no airforce during WWI so they had to join the British Airforce
-● Canadian pilots became known as some of the best in the world.
● By 1918, 40% of the RAF were Canadian.
● Billy Bishop (72 kills) and Roy Brown (killed the Red Baron) were some of
Canada’s most well-known Ace pilots (at least 5 kills)
War at sea
-Canada had very weak navy
