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Introduction - Britain Declares War on Germany, Canada at War
When the British declared war on Germany and the other Central Powers in 1914, Canada automatically became a combatant nation. Due to its semi-independent Dominion status under Britain, the English Parliament had control of Canadian foreign policy. This reflected Canada's own view of its place in the world, as they saw themselves as both English subjects in the Empire and as Canadian nationals. Most Canadians had either emigrated from Britain, or were descendants of British immigrants. -
Period: to
The Canadian Army in World War I (1914 - 1918)
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Members of Canada's 48th Highlanders Regiment, with the 12th Infantry and 10th Royal Battalions, depart an armory in Toronto.
http://www.wikiwand.com/en/48th_Highlanders_of_Canada
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/48th_Highlanders_of_Canada
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10th_Battalion_(Canadians),_CEF
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12th_Battalion,_CEF#:~:text=The%2012th%20Battalion%2C%20CEF%2C%20an%20infantry%20battalion%20of,reinforcements%20for%20the%20Canadian%20Corps%20in%20the%20field. -
48th Highlanders in Formation Preparing to Embark for France
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Germans Use Poison Gas for First Time in WWI vs Canadians During Second Battle of Ypres, Flanders, Belgium (BE)
The Canadian 1st Division held the most northern section of the British line, linking with the French Army. After using chlorine gas against the flanking French Algerian Division, the Germans released it at the Canadians the next day. The 13th Battalion (3rd Brigade,1st Canadian Division) took heavy casualties. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_Ypres
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13th_Battalion_(Royal_Highlanders_of_Canada),_CEF
https://www.warmuseum.ca/collections/artifact/1017198/ -
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3rd Division Formed In France
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
3rd_Canadian_Division
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:
3rd_Canadian_Infantry_Division_
Patch_(Modern_Correct_Pantone).png -
Map - Battles of the St Eloi Craters
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Period: to
St. Eloi - 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Divisions of the Canadian Corps in Action, Ypres Salient, Flanders, BE
The Canadian Corps relieves the British Second Army during its offensive, despite having to replace troops while in action. The Corps ultimately retreats to pre-attack lines after days of Canadian and German counterattacks.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actions_of_St_Eloi_Craters -
Period: to
Battle of the Somme - Canadian Corps Fights with Four Divisions
Near the end of a series of battles on the Somme Front (France) running from September through November, the 4th Division captures the Regina Trench, a main German defensive position, in mid-November.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Somme
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Ancre -
Battle of Vimy Ridge
The Taking of Vimy Ridge,
Easter Monday 1917
(Painting, 1919)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:
The_Battle_of_Vimy_Ridge.jpg
https://www.warmuseum.ca/
collections/artifact/1017197/ -
Map - Battle of Arras/Vimy Ridge
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:
Battle_of_Arras,_April_1917.PNG -
Map - Battle of Vimy Ridge
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Battle_of_Vimy_Ridge#/media/
File:Defender_and_Attackers_
-Vimy_Ridge.jpg
http://www.wikiwand.com/
en/Military_history_of_Canada
during_World_War_I#/Battle_of_Vimy_Ridge -
Period: to
Battle of Vimy Ridge - A Unified Canadian Corps
The Battle of Vimy Ridge was part of the larger Battle of Arras, which began a British offensive from April 9-16 May 1917. The Canadian Corps captured most of the German-held high ground of Vimy Ridge on the first day. The battle was also the first time that all four Canadian divisions operated together as an unified Corps. Over 10,600 soldiers were casualties, with 3,600 killed/7,000 wounded. http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Battle_of_Vimy_Ridge
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Arras_(1917) -
Period: to
Second Battle of Passchendaele - Third Battle of Ypres, Flanders, BE
The Corps, now commanded by a Canadian general, was transferred to the Ypres area as the main attacking unit, continuing the advance started by the First Battle of Passchendaele. After three attacks, the Corps captured Passchendaele village, but without a hoped-for breakthrough. The cost was 15,654 casualties, with 4,028 dead. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_Passchendaele
http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_passchendaeleII.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Currie -
Battle of Amiens
After the failure of the 1918 German spring offensives, the Allies launched a surprise offensive at Amiens. The attack, led by both Canadian and Australian units, nearly broke through the front lines in one day. The Corps advanced 8 miles in the worst German defeat since WWI began. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Amiens_(1918)
https://www.warmuseum.ca/firstworldwar/history/battles-and-fighting/land-battles/amiens/
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/battle-of-amiens -
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Map - Battle of Amiens
https://www.warmuseum.ca/
firstworldwar/objects-and-photos/
archival-documents/maps/
map-of-the-battle-of-amiens
-8-august-1918/ -
Period: to
The Hundred Days Offensive
The Canadian Corps played a key role in the final attacks that led to the end of WWI. It penetrated the northern Hindenburg Line in late September, the last German defense on the Western Front, and routed elements of 47 divisions representing 25% of the German forces fighting. But Canada also suffered 20% of its battle-sustained casualties of the war during this time, 46,000 personnel. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hundred_Days_Offensive
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada%27s_Hundred_Days -
Map - The Hundred Day's Offensive
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The Armistice
The signing of the Armistice at Compiegne, France. Canadian casualties of World War 1
- Enlistments – 619,636
- Sent overseas – 418,052
- Killed overseas – 59,544
- Killed due to enemy action
- 51,748 (Army)
- Total fatalities – 66,655
- Wounded – 172,950
- Battle casualties - 138,000 https://wwwwarmuseum.ca/firstworldwar/objects-and-photos/art-and-culture/official-art/armistice-november-1918/
https://www.warmuseum.ca/firstworldwar/history/after-the-war/legacy/the-cost-of-canadas-war/ -
The Significance of Vimy Ridge
Because of Canada's numerous casualties in WWI, the idea that Canadians had their own separate national identity grew. A key event forming this belief was the large-scale army fighting in the Battle of Vimy Ridge. The battle was the first time that all four Canadian divisions operated together as an unified Corps. The Battle earned a place in Canada's national mythos, with military sacrifice creating a sense of Canadian patriotism. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_National_Vimy_Memorial -
4th Division Arrives in France
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
4th_Canadian_Division
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
File:4_Canadian_Armoured_
Division_patch.png -
The Western Front - Canadian Operations 1914-1918
www.journal.forces.gc.ca/
vol13/no2/page46-eng.asp
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