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Canada Prepares for War

Canada Prepares for War. War is Declared. Canada was part of the British Commonwealth in 1914. This meant Canada could control its Domestic Policy (inside of Canada) but Britain controlled its Foreign Policy (relations with other countries)

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Canada Prepares for War

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  1. Canada Prepares for War

  2. War is Declared • Canada was part of the British Commonwealth in 1914. • This meant Canada could control its Domestic Policy (inside of Canada) but Britain controlled its Foreign Policy (relations with other countries) • Therefore, when Britain declared war, Canada was automatically involved. • We had no choice

  3. The Canadian Expeditionary Force • Canada had no professional Army • Canadian Prime Minister Sir Robert Border realizes that Canada must build an army quickly in order to live up to their colonial obligations • Sir Sam Hughes (the Minister of Militia) is selected to build the Canadian Expeditionary Force

  4. Sir Sam’s Achievements • Hughes was an excellent recruiter – thousands of men volunteered in the first months of the war • Most Canadian’s were British and many felt compelled to defend England • Also, most recruits expected an adventure and that the war would be short • Hughes also built a large training camp at Valcartier, Quebec in record time. • Thanks to Hughes, large amounts of Canadian men would be ready to fight by early 1915

  5. Sir Sam’s Failures Part 1:Training • Canada had few men with modern military experience. • Therefore, the training soldiers received at Valcartier was often useless and outdated • The training was so bad that when Canadians were sent to Britain, they were assessed as “Not Fit for Combat” • The British had to re-train Canadian at Salisbury Plain, a base in England

  6. Sir Sam’s Failures Part 2:Uniforms • Hughes gave military contracts for clothing and equipment to personal acquaintances and sub-standard contractors • Therefore, Canadian equipment was not fit for Trench Warfare • Uniforms fit poorly, were extremely itchy and had weak stitching • In the wet trenches, many uniforms simply fell apart • Canadian boots were even worse • Instead of Leather or Rubber, boots were made with thick, treated paper. If they stayed wet, they would often disintegrate

  7. Sir Sam’s Failures Part 3:The Mac Adam Shovel • Hughes order that every soldier be given a MacAdam shovel as their entrenchment tool • This shovel was too short and heavy to be useful in the trenches • Also, the shovel had a hole in the blade, to allow it to be used as a shield • This meant it was completely useless at moving wet soil.

  8. Sir Sam’s Failures Part 4:The Ross Rifle • Modeled after a successful hunting Rifle, the Ross Rifle was given to every Canadian Soldier • It was too long and heavy to be used effectively in the trenches • Although it was accurate, it jammed if it got dirty, wet, cold or hot. • Many Canadian died because their rifle failed them in combat

  9. The fate of Sam Hughes • Canadian Soldiers often stole equipment from British depots in order to survive. • However, Sam Hughes refused to back down and insisted that his choices were correct • He ordered the Canadian soldiers found without their original equipment would be arrested (court marshaled) • Hughes resigned in 1916 after pressure from Sir Robert Borden • After this, the Canadian Army starting purchasing good quality British Equipment

  10. Canada’s Baptism by Fire:The Battle of Ypres • The First Canadian division got to France in early 1915 and were sent to defend the Trenches around Ypres, the last free Belgian city • Supporting the Canadians were untested French troops from Algeria • The Germans realized they were facing soldiers with no experience and decided to take advantage of the situation • On April 22, 1915 the Second Battle of Ypres began

  11. Poison Gas • The Germans unleashed their newest weapon on the Algerians and Canadians: Chlorine Gas • As the Germans released the gas, a thick green cloud came from their Trenches and drifted over no-man’s-land. • The Algerians panicked and ran away while choking and dying from the gas

  12. The Canadians Hold their Ground • The Canadians used urine soaked rags to neutralize the gas • Although they were under horrible conditions, using poor equipment and outnumbered, the Canadians held off the German Assault • The Germans continued to hammer the Canadaians for 17 straighrt days • The 1st Canadian divsion suffered 50% casualties in the battle but held the line • Canadians quickly earned a reputation as being smart and tough

  13. Key Points • Canada was not prepared for war • Sam Hughes did a poor job building Canada’s Army • The Ross Rifle, MacAdam Shovel, training programs, uniforms and boots were all a disaster • Canadians won at the Battle of Ypres despite facing chlorine gas

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