World War 1

Canada before the War

Before the war Canada had just become a nation, with less than half a century of existence under its belt Canada still had to have decisions approved by the British first. At the time Canada had a regular army of only 3,000 men and at the beginning of the Great War an estimated 650, 000 Canadians had been mobilized to serve and fight in the war. By the end of the war one in every ten Canadians would be killed and many more wounded, but Canada would be recognized as a autonomous country and would achieve a foothold on the international stage.

We have Entered into this War

During early 1914 Canada was in the midst of a depression, Canada’s bread basket In the Parries had gone through two straight summers of drought and unemployment was skyrocketing. Canada entered the war as a fledgling state on August 4th 1914, after Germany invaded Belgium and declared war on France, pulling Britain and Canada into the war. The Canadian prime minister at the time Robert Borden mobilized the country and called for the training of thousands of Canadians, he said this “Not for love of battle, not for lust of conquest, not for greed of possessions, but for the cause of honour, to maintain solemn pledges, to uphold principles of liberty, to withstand forces that would convert the world into an armed camp; yea, in the very name of the peace that we sought at any cost save that of dishonour, we have entered into this war.”

Into the Trenches

By 1915 Canadian soldiers were ready and trained for battle, they entered the trenches at Ypres Belgium, and they were met with German gas attacks. As our Canadian troops were not yet issued gas masks they had to urinate on handkerchiefs in order to survive. Ypres was the first major battle Canadian troops fought in, it cost Canada 6000 lives to hold the lines against the German advances creating a stalemate. Canadian soldiers gained the reputation of bravery amongst their allies and enemies. It was during the battle of Ypres the Canadian Lt.-Col. John McCrae wrote the poem “In Flanders Fields”. Thus Canada and its allies adopted the poppy to commemorate the fallen.

Battle of the Somme

The battle of the Somme is remembered as one of the bloodiest battles in history, estimates put the total number of deaths just over a million for all sides. The battle took place during the summer of 1916, casualties were heavy on both sides and by the time the battle was over in November Canada had sacrificed over 24,000 lives and further prolonged the stalemate.

Vimy Ridge

Vimy Ridge was know to allied commanders as an impregnable ridge held by the German army, many a time British and French commanders had tried to take the ridge and failed, resulting in heavy casualties. The Canadian Battle fought at Vimy ridge as we all know it began April 9, 1917 when allied commanders decided to advance upon the German trenches once again, Canadian soldiers were assigned to Vimy Ridge. The Battle cost 3,600 Canadian lives and left another 5,000 wounded, but the battle was won and the ridge was taken within 24 hours. This battle brought great pride to the country as Canadian soldiers were able to achieve victory where the British and French armies could not. Later in the war Canadian soldiers continued to push on and make progress but at great costs. 9,000 Canadian soldiers lost their lives at hill 70 in 1917 and thousands more at the muddy fields of Passchendaele.
The Great War Ends

The Great War came to a close after the battle of Amiens, where Canadian soldiers pushed the Germans back 13 kilometres. The Germans labelled the day “black day”. The battle had now put the German army on the defensive. By this time a cease fire was very close, the two sides decided to put down their arms for discussion. The Ceasefire was to be taken into effect November 11th at 11am, the last Canadian soldier to die during the Great War Pte. George Lawrence Price died at 10:58 am. The war was over. By the end of the war Canada had sacrificed 66,000 lives. The total number of deaths was staggering but Canada had taken a major step forward, it had now become a nation of its own, Canada had its own seat at Versailles and put its own signature ending the war, Canada had finally arrived on the international stage.