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Today a commemorative ceremony was held at City Hall to recognize the 100th anniversary of a decisive battle that was not only a turning point in World War I, but proved to be a defining moment for the young nation of Canada: the Battle of Vimy Ridge.
In 1917, British command assigned four divisions of the Canadian Corps to overtake Vimy Ridge in advance of the larger British offensive. The ridge was a seven-kilometre stretch of escarpment that served as a heavily-fortified stronghold for the German army, providing them with a perfect view of the surrounding countryside. Previous British and French attacks on this ridge had resulted in failure, with casualties totaling close to 150,000 people. Less than 100,000 Canadians were tasked with taking the stronghold that had repelled so many before.
Many of the Canadian soldiers who fought in the decisive battle hailed from Ottawa and the surrounding areas. The regiments included the 38th Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force (now perpetuated by The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa), which recruited from Ottawa, Prescott, Alexandria and Brockville. Troops from the Governor General’s Foot Guards, headquartered in Ottawa, also took part in the battle.
The four Canadian divisions were led by Lieutenant-General Sir Julian Byng, who later became Governor General of Canada. Byng carefully planned the attack, including strong tactical innovations, extensive training of the troops and heavy artillery power. The offensive began early in the morning on Easter Monday, April 9, 1917.
The Canadian soldiers ran into intense resistance from the Germans. As well, the muddy and wet conditions posed a natural obstacle as they approached the ridge. Amazingly, they captured most of Vimy Ridge by the end of the first day. Three days later, the entire ridge had been taken by Canadian troops.
The hard-fought Battle of Vimy Ridge is forever etched in Canadian history as a moment of national pride, for the victory raised Canada’s profile on the world stage significantly. Because of our great commitment to the war effort, our young nation earned a seat at the table negotiating the Treaty of Versailles that formally ended the war in 1919.
But the success at Vimy Ridge came at a heavy cost, and we mark this anniversary in remembrance of the brave soldiers who were casualties of the battle. Of the nearly 100,000 Canadian soldiers who served at Vimy Ridge, 3,598 lost their lives and another 7,000 were wounded.
If you’d like to pay tribute to the 100th anniversary of this significant event in Canadian military history, please visit veterans.gc.ca to learn about the official commemorative events taking place in Ottawa on April 8 and 9, 2017.
查看原文...
In 1917, British command assigned four divisions of the Canadian Corps to overtake Vimy Ridge in advance of the larger British offensive. The ridge was a seven-kilometre stretch of escarpment that served as a heavily-fortified stronghold for the German army, providing them with a perfect view of the surrounding countryside. Previous British and French attacks on this ridge had resulted in failure, with casualties totaling close to 150,000 people. Less than 100,000 Canadians were tasked with taking the stronghold that had repelled so many before.
Many of the Canadian soldiers who fought in the decisive battle hailed from Ottawa and the surrounding areas. The regiments included the 38th Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force (now perpetuated by The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa), which recruited from Ottawa, Prescott, Alexandria and Brockville. Troops from the Governor General’s Foot Guards, headquartered in Ottawa, also took part in the battle.
The four Canadian divisions were led by Lieutenant-General Sir Julian Byng, who later became Governor General of Canada. Byng carefully planned the attack, including strong tactical innovations, extensive training of the troops and heavy artillery power. The offensive began early in the morning on Easter Monday, April 9, 1917.
The Canadian soldiers ran into intense resistance from the Germans. As well, the muddy and wet conditions posed a natural obstacle as they approached the ridge. Amazingly, they captured most of Vimy Ridge by the end of the first day. Three days later, the entire ridge had been taken by Canadian troops.
The hard-fought Battle of Vimy Ridge is forever etched in Canadian history as a moment of national pride, for the victory raised Canada’s profile on the world stage significantly. Because of our great commitment to the war effort, our young nation earned a seat at the table negotiating the Treaty of Versailles that formally ended the war in 1919.
But the success at Vimy Ridge came at a heavy cost, and we mark this anniversary in remembrance of the brave soldiers who were casualties of the battle. Of the nearly 100,000 Canadian soldiers who served at Vimy Ridge, 3,598 lost their lives and another 7,000 were wounded.
If you’d like to pay tribute to the 100th anniversary of this significant event in Canadian military history, please visit veterans.gc.ca to learn about the official commemorative events taking place in Ottawa on April 8 and 9, 2017.
查看原文...
