The Battle of Vimy Ridge began at 5:30 am on April 9, 1917. The German troops had the advantage as they were on top of the ridge, and could see any advancing enemies. But the Canadian troops were led by Arthur Currie who had a strategy called the “creeping barrage”. This strategy required the soldiers to shoot their machine guns until a curtain of smoke appeared. This curtain of smoke covered the advancing troops and the Canadian soldiers were able to take over Vimy Ridge from the Germans in just a few hours. The Canadian soldiers were obedient and carried out their orders so well that it was recognized internationally, and the soldiers became known as tough soldiers and the Canadian troops as an independent military. Four Canadians were awarded
The Battle of Ft. Donelson was on February 11-16. It was fought near the Tennessee Kentucky border. It was a key position because it gave the union access to the cumberland river giving naval access to other southern forts and positions. This battle lead to the capture of the confederate fort. The union soldiers were lead by Ulysses S. Grant and the confederates were lead by. After the defeat of Ft. Henry the majority of the confederate troops went to this fort to help reinforce it. Grant encircled it and sent a flotilla to bomb them lead by Gen. Foote from the river. The confederate forces made one last rush at them to try to open up an escape route and was so close to but for some reason Gen. Gideon ordered his troops to fall back. So
The battle of Somme took place during the 1st of July and the 18th of November 1916 in the region Somme department of France, on both banks of the river of Somme. It was during the time of the First World War that Newfoundland was still under the power of the British Empire. Britain declared war on Germany in August of 1914. This was the beginning of Newfoundland's first regiment. There was a great response from Newfoundland with many proud Newfoundlanders ready to serve in the war. There was such a huge demand that from a population of 240,000 that more than 12,000 people joined up for the regiment. When war had been declared an enormous amounts of soldiers were being killed and the rapid progression of military warfare such as tanks, grenades and mines were being introduced promptly in large numbers. In order to end this war, generals came up with the conclusion of making what they called the "Big Push" which was the joining of the British and French troops against enemy Germany. These troops would start the assault at the Somme. This would be the Battle of Somme near Beaumont Hamel that the first Newfoundland Regiment would partake in. On the morning of July 1st thousands of British and French troops marched towards No Man's Land, within half an hour of walking to their destination, the troops were dramatically decreasing in soldiers
17 August 1951 through 18 October 1951 for the hills of 983, 940, and 773, as well as hills 894,
The following day, the Canadians took over the rest of the city. The troops invaded from the South and West, but the divisions assigned to the west had to cross the Canal using small boats and a cork bridge while the Germans fired at them. In doing so, they surrounded Valenciennes and all German forces were either captured or killed. The Battle of Valenciennes was where Canadians showed what they learned from their four years at war. Mont Houy is similar in shape to a ridge so Currie adjusted the use of the creeping barrages from Vimy Ridge. They did the unexpected by going through the flooded canal, even though there were alternative ways by taking the east so they could also see their enemy. By winning this battle, Canadians proved themselves better than the British troops because they easily captured land that the British could
The Battle of Vimy Ridge was one of the greatest military battles ever fought. This battle contributed to Canada’s coming of age as a nation. The taking of Vimy Ridge claimed more than 200,000 lives during the first World War and will forever remain in the history as one of the worlds great military triumphs. The Canadian Military used extensive planning, new innovative weaponry and relied on the tremendous courage and sacrifice of its soldiers in order to claim victory.
Furthermore, the Battle of Somme was the worst battle Canada fought. The Battle of Vimy Ridge lasted for 3 days and 13,400 soldiers were killed, the Battle of Passchendaele lasted 94 days and 15,564 soldiers were killed. Although Canadian soldiers waited for reinforcements to come and they never got their in time so a lot of them were killed but that wasn’t the worst. The Battle of Somme lasted 141 days Canadian soldiers endured the pain coming from the Germans, they unleashed attack after attack until the Canadians needed to rethink their whole plan. Canada still used the same plan as before. Was the plan thought out or was there just no other
The Battle at Bunker Hill had many events leading up to, and causing the event. The first of these was the Battle at Lexington and Concord which ultimately slowed the British down and keeping them inside Boston by Minute Men. Then Fort Ticonderoga was captured by Benedict Arnold, and the Green Mountain Boys. These two events were the start of the tensions between Great Britain and the Colonies. Later this tension became physical and appearing on the battle field. The Colonies decided they needed to talk about it, so the Second Continental Congress took place, it was here that it was decided that the Colonies would try and separate from their Mother Country, so the Continental Army was formed the Congress came to a conclusion “All voted in favor and Washington became the new Commander-in-Chief” (Yost, 2011, p. 2). The Continental Army’s first mission was to fortify Breed’s Hill and defend it from the British coming from Boston, which Breed’s Hill and Bunker Hill overlooked. The British wanted these positions in order to completely fortify Boston and drive all the Patriots out of the area.
The Battle of Vimy Ridge is one of the most important battles in all of Canadian history. Prior to Vimy Ridge, the four divisions of the Canadian Corps had never fought with each other as one unit, but in this battle, they were assembled together and fought as a country. In addition to that, the whole battle was planned and prepared by General Byng and Arthur Currie, two high-ranking Canadians. They created an all new strategy called involving a creeping barrage of artillery which was so effective, it was even adopted by the British army in 1918.
Easter weekend in 1917 has become legend in Canadian military tradition. It was the weekend that Canadians took Vimy Ridge in World War I. The Ridge was an important strategic point as it was the only high point in an otherwise flat area, and is located so as to protect the industrial centre of Lille and the coal mines of Lens. Though the location was strategically important, the capture of Vimy Ridge would inevitably not have much impact on the outcome of the First World War. The Canadian capture of the ridge did weaken the German position and forced the Germans to reassess their defensive methods in the area north of Arras, but all the British, French, and Canadian troops lost momentum after the first day. The objective of the offensive
In January of 1917, the 50th battalion headed north to Artios, France, the location of Vimy Ridge. Vimy ridge was a very important battle for the allies as holding the location would give them a great vantage point that overlooked the vast network of trenches on either side and No Man’s Land. It was even more important to the CEF and Canada, as it was the first time they received worldwide recognition, they were no longer seen as an afterthought of Britain. It was crucial that the allies win this battle. The next months were spent preparing and going over strategy. During this time, Colonel E.G. Mason was transferred to another battalion and replaced Lieutenant-Colonel Page. Under new command the 50th battalion was ready to on the offensive,
Dear Mother, It’s been a long time since I had the opportunity to sit down and write you a letter. I miss you and father a lot. I am overjoyed to be writing this letter to you. The mood here is one of jubilation. Our assault on Vimy Ridge began at 5:30 am on Easter Monday, eight days ago. We lost a lot of good boys but I am so very pleased to inform you that the Canucks got the job done! What the French couldn’t do for two years and the Brits too we, Byng’s Boys did in three days. I was assigned to the front line in the trenches as part of the 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade attached to the 4th Canadian Division. This is actually the first time all four divisions got to work together as a unified Canadian Corps. They
Many countries have tried but failed to capture this area. Both French and British armies tired but failed the Germans were too strong. This area was known as Vimy Ridge, which has many high hills and was located in France. The Germans had captured this area since September 1914, the Germans started to build artillery proof bunkers and trenches. Germanys had the advantage in every battle; Germanys had their bases on top of the long hills. Which lead them to look down on their enemies, which was easier for Germanys to kill their target. After countries failing to capture Vimy Ridge, Canada decided they were going to attempt to fight for Vimy Ridge. For the first time Britain asked for generals to lead Canada to victory for the battle of Vimy Ridge. Sir Julian Byng and Major Arthur Currie were asked to lead the Canadian Military to win the battle of Vimy Ridge. After months of practicing a strategy Canada was ready. April 1917, Canada went to battle with Germany for Vimy Ridge. This became one of the most devastating battles ¬in Canadian history. Canadians should remember that Vimy Ridge was not their triumph alone. British artillery and the elite 51st Highland Division helped make victory possible (Desmond Morton, Significance of Vimy Ridge). Vimy Ridge is considered a defining moment in Canadian history because, it was Canada’s first time using a general to plan tactics and strategy’s, Canada was the only country that succeeded on capturing Vimy Ridge, lastly all Canadian
Up to this point the Canadians were not regarded as fighting soldiers and were thus given the assignment of occupying this relatively quite sector of the front. The importance of Ypres would soon be realized when on April 22, 1915 the German line used the first poisonous gas attack in war against the Canadians and Algerians troops to gain access to the important roads that intersected in Ypres. The Algerian troops fled leaving a gap of six kilometers along the trench system. Now the German side had the ability to take control of the area. Somehow the gap was filled with the Canadians who even managed to counterattack, a strategy that came as a complete surprise to the Germans. John McCrae’s post was near a particularly dangerous section of the road. The Germans had it covered with artillery fire for seventeen days of battle. McCrae would later
One of Canada’s largest military endeavors was the battle of Vimy Ridge during World War One. It was a fierce battle between Germans and Canadians. Canada was trying to take over the German controlled ridge, which ran from northwest to southwest between Lens and Arras, France. Its highest point was 145 feet above sea level, which was exceptionally helpful in battle because of the very flat landscape. Already over 200,000 men had fallen at Vimy, all desperately trying to take or defend this important and strategic ridge. As a result of its success in taking the ridge, Canada gained a lot more than just the strategic point. Canada was united as a nation, and the victory changed the way other counties viewed them. Canadians no longer
The brigade inflicted great damage to the enemy troops with minimal casualties. Ultimately, Canada’s actions earned them a United States Presidential Unit Citation and prevented the communists from crossing through the 38th Parallel and recapturing South Korean territory once again.