Canada & WW 1, 1914 - 1918Canadians in Battle

The War on Land: Trench Warfare

Trench WarfareSchlieffen Plan almost succeeded as German forces made it to the outskirts of Paris within a few short weeksGermans retreated built trenches in flat countryside to defend against machine gun fire & exploding shells

Trench WarfareNo-man’s land – the area between the enemy trenches full of barbed wire entanglements & land minesRaids between trenches occurred at night, dusk & dawn with men going “over the top” of the trenchMany men died making futile attempts to break through enemy lines as they were mowed down by machine gun fireSniper fire made rescue of wounded soldiers dangerous

Trench WarfareWet, dirty conditions led to trench foot/mouthRats fed on the dead whose body parts were scattered by shells in the quicksand of no-man’s landShell-shock led some soldiers to have severe nervous breakdownsAfter a month at the front soldiers went to the rear to bathe & eat good food

Battles: Ypres April 1915

Canada’s first major battle of WW 1First poison gas (chlorine) attack in history Canadian troops the only ones to hold their positionCovered faces with urine soaked handkerchiefs for protection6000 casualties / 2000 dead Cdn.Lt. Col John McCrae wrote “In Flanders Fields” after friend killed

In Flanders Fields By: Lieutenant

Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)

Canadian Army In Flanders Fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses row on row, That mark our place; and in the

sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset

glow, Loved and were loved, and now we

lie In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we

throw The torch; be yours to hold it

high. If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

Battles: the Somme July 1916

1 July 1916 British / Canada suffered 57,470 casualties, including 19,240 dead—the bloodiest day in the history of modern warfareNewfoundland & Labrador troops had a 90% casualty rate at Beaumont Hamel greatest single disaster in 500+ yr history July 1 Memorial DayBritish General Haig insisted attack go on despite heavy losses war of attrition (wearing down)Tanks first used at the Somme, but not affectively in the mud

The Somme Memorial

German Cemetery – The Somme

Beaumont-Hamel

British Lines German Lines

Danger Tree – furthest most point of Newfoundlanders advance

Battles: Vimy Ridge Apr. 1917

Cdn General Arthur Currie was given orders to capture Vimy RidgeCurrie wanted all Canadian divisions fighting togetherCurrie made sure every soldier knew his job100,000 Cdn troops were to closely follow a creeping barrage using tunnels to move soldiers & suppliesGermans caught by surprise allowing Canada to capture in a few hours more ground, more guns, & more prisoners than in the first 2.5 yrs of warNational spirit born led to independence

British Lines

German Trenches

The Tunnel System

The casket represents the fallen soldiers of Canada

The Mourning Woman looking down on the casket represents Canada mourning her lost

Battles: Passchendaele Oct ‘17

16,000 Cdns died for 7 km of mud that was soon won back by the GermansBritish Generals lacked common sense & empathySoldiers unable to move through the mud some sucked in & drowned in it

War in the AirAirplanes new invention at the beginning of the warCanada had no air force so Canadians joined BRFCDogfights (duels in the air) led to lifespan of 3 weeksCdn. Billy Bishop won Victoria Cross for 72 kills4 of the top 7 aces in RAF were Canadians

The War at SeaGerman U-boats (submarines) were a serious threat to the island nation of Britain receiving supplies Lusitania sinking in 1915 held back Germany out of fear of US joining war1917 desperate Germany began very effective unrestricted submarine warfare sinking 1000 Allied ships in 4 monthsConvoy system (groups of supply ships escorted by armed destroyers) were effective deterrent to U-boats

The Last Hundred DaysUSA joins Allies end of 1917 as Russia surrenders to GermanySpring 1918 desperate Germany launches mighty offensive on Western Front before US troops arriveGermans stopped 80 km from ParisAug 8 Canadians spearheaded Allied attack that pushed Germans back 130 km in 6 weeksNov. 11, 1918 Germany formally surrenders at 11 am ending WW 1