Canada at War continued

1. Canada at War continued

2. Under Byng’s leadership Byng developed strategies for attack and trained the troops very well Byng decided to attack the Germans on the west side of the ridge Canadian troops bombarded German positions for over a month straight

3. Battle of Vimy Continued… During this month long offensive, army engineers constructed tunnels to move troops secretly to forward positions. On April 9th, 1917 Easter Monday Canadian troops moved into position. The weather was cold and snowy with strong winds.

4. On April 10th 1917 the Canadian’s captured Hill 145, the highest point on the ridge, by April 12th they had taken “the pimple” the last German position. It was an amazing victory for the allies. The Canadians had gained more ground, taken more prisoners, and captured more artillery than any previous British offensive in the entire war.

5. The land did not come with out a cost though, 3500 men were killed and 7000 injured, although the loss was less than any previous offensive The victory at Vimy Ridge marked a Canadian milestone. Many historians consider the victory at Vimy the point were people were “Canadian”

6. Passchendaele Byng was promoted for his role at Vimy and his replacement was a Canadian, General Arthur Currie. Currie was the first Canadian to command Canadian troops. Currie and the CEF were called upon to retake Passchendaele Ridge in Belgium

7. Passchendaele Unlike Vimy, Passchendaele had little strategic value. Haig’s earlier assault on Passchendaele had left massive shell craters. Autumn rains had actually drowned soldiers and horses from the odd combination Currie warned that the cost of life may be high, but Haig was determined to get it back

8. Passchendaele The Allies won the battle at Passchendaele, but the victory cost was over 15,000 Canadian lives and nearly half a million from both sides