The Taking of Vimy Ridge, Easter Monday, 1917 by Richard Jack. Image courtesy of the Canadian War Museum /
Perhaps no other battle has stirred the patriotic impulses of Canadians like the battle of Vimy Ridge. After recovering from the deleterious effects of fighting on the Somme, the Canadian Corps was tasked with capturing the ridge that had been in German hands since the early months of the war. It was a dominant piece of high ground in a relatively flat region. This was a ridge that both the British and French had tried and failed to capture on several occasions, a ridge that seemed unconquerable. Led by Sir Julian Byng, the Canadian Corps attacked Vimy Ridge from April 9 to April 12 with all four of its divisions, the first time in the war this had occurred. The Corps had been extensively prepared for the attack, specifically training over mock battlefields constructed to the rear of the Canadian lines. On the day of the attack the Canadian Corps successfully integrated a number of key battlefield innovations, particularly the creeping barrage and counter-battery fire, which were crucial to supporting the attack. Within hours of the Canadian assault almost all of the objectives for all four divisions were captured. As one eyewitness wrote, “As the guns spoke, over the bags they went, men of C.B. [Cape Breton] sons of NS [Nova Scotia] & NB [New Brunswick] – FC’s [French Canadians] and westerners – all Canucks… So far it was the most decisive, the most spectacular and the most important victory on this front since the Marne and Canada may well be proud of the achievement”. Only a small German position on the highest point of the ridge held out after 9 April. Known as ‘The Pimple,’ this strong point finally fell on 12 April.
Although the battle was an incredible victory for the Canadians it came at a high cost: nearly 11,000 Canadians were killed or wounded in the battle for Vimy Ridge. April 9 stands alone as the bloodiest single day in Canadian military history, more than Beaumont Hamel, Dieppe, and D-Day combined.
Learm more about the Battle of Vimy Ridge and Canada's experience during the First World War by visiting our History section.
Featured Image: credit: Wikimedia /