Major Canadian Battles in WW1

First Battle of Ypres

• April 22-24 1915• 6035 Canadian casualties in 48 hours, over 2000

died• Canadians held a salient (a bulge) in the line in front

of the town• On the 22 Germans attacked with artillery and

chlorine gas, followed up by infantry attacks• The French, who were to the left of the Canadians

retreated, the Canadians counterattacked and filled the gap left by the French

Battle of Beaumont Hamel

• July 1, 1916• Opening battle of the larger, Battle of The Somme• Artillery was to soften up infantry targets but either missed or

was ineffective• Germans knew of the coming Allied attack• Newfoundlanders moved overnight to Allied trenches• At 8:45 they attacked across no man’s land• They were to attempt to march in formation, uphill, through

barbed wire, in broad daylight, 900 meters to enemy lines, then fight

• The battle was over in less than an hour• 733 of 801 Newfoundlanders were killed or wounded

Battle of Vimy Ridge

• April 9-12 1917, over 40,000 Canadian soldiers involved• The ridge was the highest point in a large area• Previous attacks had been made by the French and

British, now it was Canada’s turn• There was massive preparation, including observation

balloons and a 3 week artillery barrage• The battle began on April 9, Canadians took the ridge that

afternoon• On April 12 Canadians took Hill 145 and “the pimple” a

hill on the North end of the ridge• 10,602 Canadians wounded, 3,598 dead

Battle of Passchendaele

• July 31-November 1917, Canadians involved on October 26, 20,000 Canadians involved

• Heavy rains and artillery turned the battlefield into a field of mud so thick soldiers and horses drowned

• Objective was to take the village of Passchendaele• On October 30 the assault on the village began, one

week later it was taken• 15,654 Canadian casualties, 4,028 of which were

killed