Re: [VWoT] OT: Lest We Forget

["Drew" <drew@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Mark Reda <m.reda@rogers.com> wrote:
> While I was at the Vimmy Memorial I had the great oppertunity of taking a
> tour given by Canadian university students provided by the Canadian
> government.
>

> When the time came the Canadian military literally popped out of the
> ground
> and practly surrounded the Germans to win the battle.

This is perhaps the most glorious simplification I've ever heard... :)

The Canadian troops did prepare for months ahead of time, under the
command of British Lieutenant-General Sir Julian Byng.  Reconnaissance was
a key to maintaining up-to-date mock-ups and models of the German
defenses, using balloons to track the German fortifications.

The success at Vimy is attributed to a combination of factors.  A
three-week barrage of heavy artillery fire was laid down prior to the
attack, weekening the German defences.  The preparedness of the Canadian
forces who had trained extensively to take an objective that had seen the
death of almost 200,000 Allied and German soldiers was certainly not to be
downplayed.  However, also not to be underestimated was the sheer
determination of the soldiers.

Almost 100,000 Canadian soldiers took 4 days to take the Ridge.  The 4th
division, which suffered the heaviest losses of the battle, took Hill 145
on the 10 and the Pimple on the 12 to secure the Ridge.

> The Canadian soldiers wore British uniforms but the only distinguishing
> mark
> was the Canadians had a Maple Leaf on their shoulder.


Up to that point in the war Canadian troops were under the command of
British Generals.   However, it was demonstrated that as a unified
fighting force the Canadians were the most efficient and effective
military of the war.  Canadian Major-General Arthur Currie, commander of
the First Division, was knighted and given command of the Canadian Corps
in June of 1917 as a result.

>
> I could go on and on....

Unfortunately, the Candians had to as well.  The Canadian troops had
developed a reputation, and were called upon to defend it repeatedly
throughout the remainder of the war.  At Passchendaele, a battle fought
against Currie's better judgement, Canadian troops demonstrated their
ability to get the job done.  The Germans came to equate Canadian troop
movements as a sign of impending attack.

The beginning of the end came when Canadian forces attacked and devastated
the Germans at Amiens.  The suprise attack caught the Germans totally
unprepared, and began "the last hundred days" leading up to the end of the
war.

Drew

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