UNIT 1 WORLD WAR I
Canada and World War I Battles
Source: Counterpoints
Battle of Ypres (Belgium)April-May 1915
- April 22 1915 Germans release chlorine gas on the Ypres Salient
- French forces crumbled and fled leaving four mile gap in the Allied line
- German troops pressed forward threatening Canadian and British trenches
- Germans planned a limited offensive and were unable to exploit the gap
- Canadian troops mounted a counter-attack at Kitcheners’ Wood
- Canadians launch two more disastrous attacks
- little ground was gained but it bought some time to close the flank
- April 24 Germans attack near St. Julien and use chlorine gas
- Canadians held the line until reinforcements arrived
- Casualties: Canadians suffer 6,035 casualties with more than 2,000 dead
Battle of the Somme (France)July-November 1916
- September 15 1916 launch offensive outside Courcelette
- advancing with tanks they captured a defence bastion Sugar Factory
- they pushed ahead to Courcellete
- repulsed German counter-attacks
- following weeks repeatedly attacked German entrenchments
- November 11 captured Regina Trench
- a week later they advanced to Desire Trench
- rain turned battlefield into a bag and offensive halted
- line moved forward only six miles
- Casualties: Canadians suffer 24, 029 casualties
Battle of Vimy Ridge (France)April 1917
- Canadian objective of British attack on Arras was capturing Vimy Ridge
- Vimy was an important element in German defensive system
- preparation was elaborate and planning was thorough
- engineers dug tunnels and roads and railways were improved
- the area was simulated behind the lines, troops practiced and given aerial photos
- March 20 preliminary bombardment began to conceal time and place of attack
- April 2 bombing intensified “the week of suffering”
- Easter Monday April 9 at dawn Canadians attack and capture most of the Ridge
- Hill 145 and the Pimple taken within three days
- Casualties: Canadians suffer 10, 602 casualties
- victory at Vimy Ridge celebrated as national coming of age as it was the first time all four divisions of the Canadian Corps attacked and won together
Battle of Passchendaele (Belgium)July-November 1917
- part of British offensive to capture channels ports used by German submarines
- July 31, 1917 British launch attack with artillery barrage
- artillery bombardment and heavy rains turned the battlefield into sea of mud
- British advance stalled and Germans inflict huge casualties
- October Canadians ordered to relieve forces in Ypres and capture Passchendaele
- Lt-Gen Currie objected and thought the operation impossible but was overruled
- October 26 20, 000 Canadians begin a series of attacks under heavy German fire
- October 30 Canadians attack Passchendaele
- Canadians capture ruined outskirts of the village
- Casualties: Canadians experience 15, 654 casualties with 4, 028 killed
The Hundred Days (France)August 8-November 11 1918
- August 8 Canadians attack salient near Amiens and advance 12 miles in 3 days
- Canadians suffer 9,074 casualties
- Canadians attack Hindenburg Line near Arras
- Aug 26-Sept 2 launch attacks that broke through German defences near Canal du Nord (main part of the Hindenburg Line)
- Canadians suffer 11,440 casualties
- Sept 27 Canadians cross dry section of Canal du Nord and capture Bourlon Wood
- Canadians capture Cambrai
- October 11 they reached the Canal de la Sensee
- Canadians advance to Valenciennes and Mount Houy
- Casualties: Canadians reach Mons at the time of the armistice on November 11