The battle of Vimy Ridge is one of the significant events in Canada’s history. It is often acknowledged as the watershed when Canada changed from part of the British Empire into it’s own nation.
Vimy Ridge is a low ridge north of Arras that was held by the German Army for much of the war, although it may not look that imposing today, it was high enough to offer a commanding view of the Allied lines and surrounding area, and it offered a significant advantage for German artillery. The Germans thought of it as impregnable, and indeed in previous battles the French suffered more that 100,000 casualties trying to take it. (I often cringe when people portray the French as cowards and capitulators in jokes and monologues. They suffered some 5.6 million casualties in the Great War, including 1.4 million dead, a rate of some 75% of the 7.5 million men mobilized by them).
After their contributions at the Somme the entire Canadian Corp was moved to the Vimy Sector, functioning as its own distinct Corps. The Canadian Corps was fast developing the reputation as the "go to guys" of the British army, and that reputation was soon to be solidified at Vimy. When asked to take the Ridge they used some innovations that were to serve them well throughout the war. For one thing they trained hard, a life size mockup of Vimy Ridge was created in the Canadian Sector and by the time came for the actual battle, the troops knew the terrain they would be travelling over, and what their objectives were (and rather than trying to take as much land as they could they had specific objectives, in a series of steps). Maps were not the exclusive domain of officers and detailed maps were distributed down to at least the NCO’s of the regiments. Perhaps the greatest innovation was the way they used their artillery. The men would advance behind a "rolling barrage" following the shelling at a specific rate. More significantly they had developed better methods of determining the location of enemy artillery and were able to take out most of them (I believe something like 80 percent) once the battle began.
Two weeks before the battle the Canadians and British artillery began what was the heaviest bombardment (to that time) of any war. In the week proceeding the battle they pounded German positions with over a million rounds of shells of all calibres. The Germans refer to the week prior to the attack as the "Week of Suffering". The battalions moved up to the front line late on the night the 8th of April 1917, early morning of the 9th of April. Most of them moved to the front line through tunnels cut into the Flander’s chaulk. This both hid the movement of the troops and protected them from enemy shells.
At 5:29 am the 9th of April, 1917 the Canadian/British guns commenced their bombardment and at 5:30 am, all four Canadian Divisions, acting as a unit for the first time, went over the top, and by the end of the day most of Vimy Ridge was in Canadian hands. The fourth Division which had early suffered large losses (and significantly many of their trained and experienced soldiers) in a huge trench raid, were unable to capture the highest ground on Vimy Ridge, Hill 145 and The pimple, in the face of fierce enemy opposition. They were finally captured on the 12th of April and the Battle of Vimy Ridge was over.
Since the war had turned into the static trench warfare of attrition gains and losses were usually measured in yards. The capture of Vimy was the first tangible gain by the Allies, and was celebrated by France (who had paid dearly in trying to capture it. I don’t have the exact quote but a senior French general upon hearing that Vimy had been captured said "It’s impossible." but upon being told it was the Canadians that had captured it then said. "Oh, it is possible!") and the British Empire. But it was a victory that had come at a great cost. Between the 9th and the 12th 3600 Canadians were killed, out of the 30,000 that went over the top. Each battalion had 80 to 100 men killed in it, roughly one in every ten. My grandfather fought with the 16th Canadian Scottish. He lost many comrades that day, and saw his best friend killed. He was knocked to his knees by a piece of shrapnel (our own, from a shell that burst short) but some of his equipment diverted it and while it ripped off part of his clothing, it never penetrated his skin. The 16th suffered 333 casualties that day, 79 killed and another 19 missing, and some 235 wounded. They started with about 800 men in the trenches that day.
Today part of Vimy Ridge is on Canadian Soil. In honour of their sacrifices France gave over some 250 hectares in perpetuity to Canada. On that soil stands arguably the most impressive memorial to the sacrifices made in war ever. That is where I hope to be this April, 90 years after my grandfather went over the top, helping to make Canada the nation it is today, and me the man that I am.
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A most excellent post Clare. Thanks for the lesson. Please correct me if I am wrong, but did Pierre Burton not also spin one of his historical fiction books on Vimy?
Hi Gary,
Yes Pierre Burton wrote a book “Vimy” on the battle. It’s not historical fiction though but history, what might be called popular history.
It will be a great event in your life Clare, I’m happy for you.
Excellent piece on Vimy, Clare. I’m glad you’ve decided to go. It seems like an important thing to do.