Battle of Vimy Ridge, 1917 | First World War 

My great great grandfather fought on Vimy Ridge. He served out of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Not much is known about his service outside of that. He kept it so quiet that we didn’t even know he was there until a few years ago around the 100th anniversary of the battle after a family member did some digging long after he had passed.

The last part about the maple leaf sent shivers through me. Couldn’t be more proud to be Canadian. My great grandfather fought on this ridge.

My great-grandfather and his brother were at Vimy and Somme. They were from Prince Edward Island, Canada. They didn't talk about it much but both were ruined human beings when they came back. We know they were forced to serve on firing squads. When they got to the top of the ridge and saw how badly the Germans were suffering, they asked what they could do to help. My great-grandfather used to tell my dad (his grandson), "I've seen more dead men, young fella, than you'll ever see live ones." Heartbreaking.

My family is Canadian. I play the bagpipes, and while I live in Australia, I have always played 'The Maple Leaf Forever' on ANZAC Day. This one's for you, Sir, and for the heroes of Vimy Ridge.

The Canadian soldiers in both wars achieved well deserved reputations for valour and as an Englishman I think all Canadians should be extremely proud of them. Today was our Queen’s funeral and the parade of thousands of military personnel was lead by a group of Mounties escorted by two Metropolitan Police riders. There must have been some very proud family members watching. Regards.

As a Canadian, I really appreciate this focus on the Canadian side of the war, a side the rest of the world tends to ignore. My family comes from Liverpool and Belfast. A long history of service in Royal Navy, Marines, and Army in both world wars dating back as far as the wars of roses. As I am only a second generation Canadian I can’t be proud of my family’s personal involvement in these battles, but I am proud of the reputation these men created for my country. I love this channel, so glad I found it.

As a 17 year old student I love learning about actual important and interesting history, as schools seems to focus on ancient farming techniques or crop rotations haha. All jokes aside though your channel is brilliant and you can tell you have a passion for history and storytelling in each video.

My grand uncle fought here at Vimy.This presentation brought me tears.

Man, Kevin, I would've given anything to have had a history teacher who was even half as enthusiastic about, and interested by, history, when I was in school. As a teenager, back before RU-vid really took off, I did very poorly in history class and didn't like it at all because year after year I got teachers who just treated it like a bunch of soulless facts to be memorized, rather than these biblically awesome, appalling events with such lasting impacts, full to the brim with real people. The way you talk about history breathes such life into the events and the real, living, breathing people who were there, and you make it impossible to not relate to them. Thanks for everything you do. I'm glad that younger people have videos like yours to get and keep them interested in history. There are few subjects more vitally important to all of us.

You have by far the best video on Vimy Ridge that i can find... proud to be Canadian 🇨🇦

Thank you for this. My great grandfather fought at vimmy. He later returned to Canada and settled on the prairies until the dust bowl 30s ... Canadians such understated pround and strong people 🇨🇦

My daughter and I visited Vimy ridge on Canada Day and it was an overwhelming experience. Never been prouder of being a six generation Canadian from a military family.

My great grandfather fought at Vimy. He was a coal miner in Nova Scotia before the war and took part in these tunneling operations. I had another great grandfather serve in the medical corps. I served with 1RCHA in Afghanistan myself. The Canadian artillery really developed and pioneered many techniques during these battles. Keep up the great videos!

My grandfather, a proud Nova Scotian,was at Vimy. He was with the 25th Battalion and was blown up on the 9th April trying to take the trench Turko Graben on the summit of the ridge between Bois des Bonval and Les Tilleuis. He survived although he was shipped back to England to recuperate. Later on he re-enlisted for ww2. Loving your channel, extremely interesting and well put across.

Kevin you're a star, you're the Attenborough of human history and I'm buzzing I've found the channel

I was with 11RCA for almost 10 years. John McRea had served in the Regiment in the Boer War. It is Canada's oldest Artillery Regiment formed in 1866 to defend Wellington County from the Fenians. I spoke with Norm Christie coming out of the loo in Walkerton when he was giving a talk about the 100 days. I think the Hundred Days was actually Canada's greatest achievement, but Vimy is the battle in our mythology. One thing the artillery plan managed to nail was every pillbox had been marked. Telescopes would point at flashes that the patrolling infantry enticed to fire. The two telescopes would be angled, and since we knew the distance, measuring the angle gave us the range. Each position was this premarked and assigned to a particular battery for destruction. The assault teams were groups of 4 with one man facing backwards so when concealed Germans popped out to fire into the backs of the advancing infantry they got a nasty surprise. As a rule these "back stabbers" were never permitted to surrender. By that I mean if they thew up their hands our guys would give them the cold steel. I grew up in Owen Sound. A town of 20,000 that has 3 VC winners who all survived the war as citizens. The ace Billy Bishop is the most famous, but Tommy Holmes won the VC at Passchendele capturing a pill box single handed with grenades. I knew his niece. I really appreciate your work.

As my father was in the military, I grew up in PMQs, primarily in Calgary, Canada. Our streets were named after major battles in WWI; I lived on Somme Crescent. Such a simple act naming the streets but it created memories of a time long past. I am so proud of our Canadian soldiers.

As a Canadian this was one of the first things we are taught in school . Ww1 made Canada into a real Nation . Thank you for the video. ( you are Canadian now living here )

Unfortunately my grandfather lost his leg at the battle of Arras , he was only 19 . He was lucky the 2 friends he was with at the time lost their's 😔😔. God bless every single one of them .

This guy is such a great storyteller! Love these videos

Mister Kevin Hicks with the high quality videos always provides.

My Grandfather fought in this, a Scotsman who moved to Canada in his teens. Born in 1895, died in 1977 when I was only 6....a man with an interesting back story that we are still piecing together.

Shorter comment. General Byng became our Governor General. Once an adopted Canadian he became an avid hockey fan. His wife, Lady Byng created a trophy for the most gentlemanly player in a sport which has its genesis in Rugby. In its original form hockey was rugby on skates. The Toronto Mappe Leafs got their sweater from the Canadian Army cap badge. The founder of the team, Conn Smythe was an officer in both World Wars.

I had the honour of visiting VIMY Ridge and the Monument really does take your breath away, I also like he fact that all of the Guides are young Canadians, each replaced by other Canadians to keep the history alive back home. A fascinating, yet humbling place to be.

I just watched the Movie/Documentary Storming Juno. The Canadians were the first ones to successfully capture an objective before any other allied counterpart. It’s crazy to think how many other supporting nations had a lot to do with the major victory’s in any conflict. Kudos to any military vets out there, past or present.

As a Canadian myself. You warmed my heart. That was a great episode.

I'm loving this channel, it feels like my grandpa retelling his experience from WW2

Thanks again for this history lesson Sir! Absolutely love to watch this and listen to you!

Thank you for naturally acknowledging the First Nations and Metis contributions.

My interest in the battle of Vimy ridge began during the marking of the Battle in 2017. Later that year, while I was visiting family in Ottawa, my sister and I visited the National War Museum. There, they had a huge display of the war, featuring diary’s of soldiers and metals from families that had relatives in the battle. The display left me speechless., and fostered a hobby of investigating Canada’s war history. Your video enlightened me. Also, you left out how, not only did this battle help define a nation, but also it frightened the Germans, and sealed a reputation for Canada as “ shock troops”. Good video overall. You got another subscriber! Stay safe, stay sane, stay Strong Ukraine 🇺🇦

Saw you do a demonstration at a big old tree which I recall you are ever so familiar with many many years ago. Only just found your RU-vid channel and now I've got a whole load of videos to go back through and watch. Aside from being one of the events that inspired my long lasting love for history, your clear and consistent passion for the subject is honestly admirable. I'm glad you've decided to venture here because as I remember, you were very personable and entertaining while doing your archery presentation. I wish only the best for you and would like to extend, for what little it is worth, my earnest thanks for all you've done. You put enough awe into a young lad that as a 30 year old man now I've made (and exploded in material trial and error) several of my own longbows. (Joiner by trade). Thanks for reading this far if this comment finds you well - Sam

As always a brilliant video. I’ve said this before and I will keep saying this. Thank you so much for making history understandable and very entertaining. Keep up the great work 👍🏻😺😺

I recommend “Vimy” by Pierre Berton. A great author, a ripping good read, and I dare say, the definitive book on the battle.

Fascinating stuff. My great-great-grandfather, William Bennett from Llandinam, Wales, was one of the Brits involved in the wider Battle of Arras. He was a gunner with the 259th Siege Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery. Sadly, he was wounded on 17th April 1917 and died the following day. And just one month earlier, his eldest son was killed at the First Battle of Gaza. I didn't realise you had a YT channel until it just popped up in my feed this evening. So naturally I have subscribed and will be bingeing my way through the videos over the next week or two! :D

I love the way you tell historic events, I almost fall off my chair every time

As someone who wasn’t in the forces, and wouldn't of entertained it , all those years ago, I've suddenly become quite obsessed with D Day, the invitation of sicily, and the incredible allied action that was beyond belief....also love your knowledge.

Hi from Manitoba, i fell off my chair when in one of your wonderful longbow videos, you mentioned that you were in Saskatchewan. I enjoyed your "no nonsense" take on medieval battles as well as the more recent Vimy Ridge (which is the best explanation that I have heard). Please keep making this awesome content.

The level of detail but yet the entertaining way it's conveyed is exceptional.

These models help tell the story so much. Thank you for putting an insane amount of detail into them!

What an incredible story from WWI. I absolutely love all of the topics this channel covers. I could honestly listen to you telling stories of history all day long.

I am a huge history buff and I know most of the info that you cover already. But I get excited every time you post a video just so I can hear your take on it. They were lucky to have you working at the castle all those years because I think you could have been on T.V.!

This was so interesting to listen to and you put so much effort into the models and you deserve more subscribers than any other history channel!The dedication is astounding so keep up the hard work!

Thank you for this amazing video. I'm Canadian myself and our military history is always overlooked. But we are fighting, rough, and courageous men who fought during both world wars since the beginning.

Wow! What an incredible job you did pulling together such an interesting explanation of this battle. I served for 25 years as a member of the British Columbia Regiment (then known as the 7th Battalion that formed part of the 1st Canadian Division at Vimy Ridge). As a senior NCO, I wish I had you, at my side, to help bring to life, for my NCO's and other soldiers, the relevance, and importance of this particular battle - and battle honour, we wore proudly on our cap badge. LCol (Ret) Chris Mullins, CD.

Really enjoy your material fell in love with your enthusiasm to bring what we only knew in pictures and paragraphs in textbooks My ancestor was a Captain in the Canadian fencibles during the war of 1812 would love to watch you explain some more defining Canadian moments Cheers Cole Ottawa Canada

Your content on RU-vid is second to none. Every piece you do is excellent, it's so hard to convey the details in an educational as well as an entertaining manner. Once again you smashed it out of the park. There's a movie come documentary about Vimy Ridge, not brilliant but worth a watch. Vimmy Ridge : Heaven to hell. Thanks again for your work.

My Grandfather fought at Vimy Ridge. I always have strong feelings about this battle. After the 1st world war he refused for any of my uncles to fight in the 2nd world war. It caused strife with some of my oldest uncles not being allowed to

I’m glad I found your channel. WW1, 2 and the Middle Ages are my favorite periods of history to read about. Awesome stuff.

I have become an 'enthusiast' of thehistorysquad. Always presented in a detailed and interesting manner. Never pause and turn out the light because I've gotten tired when listening to your programs. Thank you for your individual service and especially your continued tribute to the memory of experiences from the past.

My relatives are all over Canada, many having supported the Crown in the War of Independence. ( That war, like our Civil War, split the family.) As Gallipoli was for Australia and New Zealand (and Canada), a defining moment, I agree that Vimy was for Canada. Well done, Kevin!

As a Canadian, Merci/Thank you Sir With Respect 🇨🇦🇬🇧🇫🇷

Haven't even watched it yet, but I know it'll be epic when I'm off work....Damn!! You're an uploading machine!!!

My great great grandfather was from Montréal and fought in WW1

Thanks for doing this engaging video about an very important battle for Canada!

Well done. My wife and I went to Verdun and Vimy Ridge 30 years ago . We also went down in the tunnels 40 feet below and saw the carvings . Very moving . What a horrible meat grinding war of futility . I can’t even fathom it . The thing that has stuck with me the most though , is the Bayonet Trench in Douaumont where allegedly , 47 French soldiers were buried alive standing in the trench by a massive shell explosion . Much controversy around the memorial but the sight of the tips of the rifles sticking up through the ground going down the line as they waited all those years ago has haunted me ever since . Maybe one day you could do an episode about it. Cheers for now. PS - apparently , during WW II , the Germans destroyed a lot of the WW I memorials when they occupied France but even Hitler was so moved by the beauty of the Vimy Ridge Memorial that he ordered SS soldiers to guard it to protect it from a similar fate.

Greetings once again from nova Scotia, thank you for A very important look at what, I think is the moment Canada came into its own. I love the models that you put together to better convey the reality of the situation, some of us are visual learners and I thank you. I said before my grandfather was at Vimmy, it was the end of his war, he was gassed that day. He was 13th Battalion, Royal Highlanders of Canada, Black watch. Canadian Expeditionary force. Thank you for the hard work making the great films for us to enjoy....Best regards, Arthur

I've never known much about war or anything like that until I came across your channel. Your videos are always so interesting, you go above and beyond to tell the story and make it easy to follow yet packed with info! Thank you so much for your service in your earlier years. Keep up the great work xx

Greetings, from a born and raised Ontarian!! Love your coverage of The Great War. Cheers my British mate

I was never one for history but this channel really broadens my horizons with these videos. nothing more relaxing than watching your videos with a blanket and a good snack. thank you sir for the lessons.

What a great telling of Vimy Ridge. 😢 I remember being taught this battle in Social Studies class and how is was a very important battle to win the war.

Wonderful recount of this attack. Your concise explanations and demonstrations (the diorama is wonderful) make things easy to understand. Thank you and keep up the great work!

Great job on this! I was comparing it with old memories of my history class, and I found out even more from you than my class! My teacher never mentioned the struggle to take the pimple after the main ridge, nor did he mention the snipers and cavalry use. I am so glad that you appreciate what every army has done and give them the proper credit they deserve!

Dammm I was really scared at first when I saw the profile pic… thought it was by the not so historical History Channel. But loved the video and the phenomenal content. Plus as a proud Canadian this was extra great to learn more about. Didn’t know it was the first victory for the allies for example.

Thanks for covering this Kevin. I was privileged to participate in the Parade at The Vimy Memorial on Vimy Day. 1982. Our Company. November. Of the 3rd Battalion. The Royal Canadian Regiment. Was chosen to parade. We practiced for a month. The monument and the preserved battlefield is spectacular and humbling, and it is the property of Canada. Given to us by France.

Once again, brilliant content brilliantly delivered! And Canada showed their allies how to do the job the proper way. Cheers Canada and Cheers Kevin! :D

We went up Vimy Ridge as Albertans and Nova Scotians. We came down as Canadians.

I still can't imagine the fear and trepidation that must have pervaded those trenches prior to jumping off... Knowing the hellscape that awaited, just the other side of the trench lip and going over the top anyway...

I'm not sure if there's another war that affects the British psyche as much as WW1. It must be the most evocative emotionally, the way its remembered each year. Even though its so long ago now, the respect given to it is still huge. Perhaps because virtually every British family was directly affected, I had family fight in it, some survived (I wouldn't be here if they hadn't), and some died. I'd imagine the tragedy is similarly marked in France?

My great uncle served in the Kings Own Scottish Borderers 4th battalion and saw action at both Gallipoli and Vimy Ridge. He was called up the day war was declared and was demobbed in march 1919 holding the rank of Lance Sergeant which is a rank I had never heard of before.

I stumbled upon your channel by accident and I absolutely love it. Its great to see somebody teaching history with a passion and enthusiasm that we don't really get to see anymore. Im a huge history fan and look forward to seeing more videos, keep up the great work!

Was searching "Vimy ridge", and you came up Kevin. Should have checked with you in first place. Thanks Kevin. Great presentation.

my grandfather was in newfoundland regiment and i was so proud of him my dad came over to england in the mercantile marine 1939 stayed and was in the merchant navy till he retired he came from mcallum a small fishing community in Newfoundland .

When Kevin tells "the main story" he goes off onto these like "tangents." But the tangents are more like foot notes that relate entirely to the main story and they help to give more of a 3 dimensional idea of the battle field. Like when he was talking about clearing barbed wire and tunnelling under into no mans land....

Well done Kev, I just watched this and the Titanic clips bçk to back. Both creative, engaging and very well narrated. Thanks and well done for highlighting the great efforts and sacrifices that our allies made to help support the allied war effort. Respect brother.

A bit off topic here, I just want to thank (I can never do it enough) many brave Canadians who gave their lives in the battle of Hong Kong, WWII. HK is just a little dot that you can't even see on the map, and yet these men (the C force, and also men from all over the Commonwealth) went there and fought for a place that had nothing much to do with their lives. They fought like hell, I think the first Canadian VC winner of WWII earned it in HK. Also the C force commander (a Brigadier) was KIA, the highest ranking Canadian casualty of the war. I don't know why, but there is something special about the Canadians. When it is time to fight, they fight like there is no tomorrow. Many thanks, Kevin, love your content and please keep them coming.

The formations and constant forward aggression is truly outstanding. As you said, so brave. Good stuff.

I love hearing Canadian war stories were such a quiet place when it comes to our military history and stories

As ever, a fascinating piece of history, well-told. While I deplore the practice of war, I'm both fascinated by it, and immensely grateful for the sacrifice of those who volunteered to defend what they believed were values worthy of support - even dying for. Thank you.

You are truly one of the best. Your way of teaching is second to none. Thank you...

Just stumbled upon your channel and I have to say that I love it ❤ I love how you completely submerged yourself into the... (what i can only describe as a very good and comprehensive research into the subject matter) topic at hand. Thank you for all your hard work 😅

So fun the way he tells stories. I'm glad I get to learn from this man.

Another good one Kevin, I don't actually know much about the first world war, so thanks for the history lesson, keep them coming😎🏹🙏

Very interesting information! love the scenography and the recreation of the battle field for explanation, very entretaining and educative video.

I’m commenting so this man hopefully gets more traffic his way! You certainly have a gift and I hope you continue to produce these video!!

Wow another amazing video ill be waiting for the next one thank you for not just giving us history like the other 1000 channel's that do the same thing you help to take us there and show us what the battles really mean and most importantly what they cost

In the words of one veteran: ‘We went up Vimy Ridge as Albertans and Nova Scotians. We came down as Canadians.’

You must have a Hugh storage area for all your models!!!!!!! Love your channel brother! Well researched, and your enthusiasm for every topic is spectacular! I love your passion you share with us! Well done brother!

I’ve visited the Great War battlefields many times over the past 30 years or so, including, of course, many times to Vimy, I was there for the 95th Anniversary event - extremely touching. I hade never been aware of the Canadian gunner’s method of “boxing in” the enemy positions, great information, thanks to you. We were lucky enough to have a meal at our favourite eatery in Arras, (The Rib Bar in le Grande Place) which is in a cellar, and which I always try to book in my very halting French, and mentioned to the owner that we had visited the Wellington Barracks and he said to wait until everyone had left the restaurant and then he took us further down the cellar and opened a door to what he called his own tunnels. He supplied us with a tipple and we drank a toast to the troops. A very memorable occasion for us. Incidentally, I have to compliment you on your amazing dioramas, simply superb.

I really enjoy your presentations. Especially your WW1 history. Please keep up the great work. Your refreshing, not boring or stagnant. And there's nothing like a British accent to tell a good story

Seen a couple of your videos, you have a knack for storytelling! subbed.

I never heard of Vimy Ridge until I found a missing relative while doing family history. John Cooper Sumner was one of the home children shipped to Canada from England in 1912. He was one of the lucky few who went to a good family in Sonya,Seagrave, Ont called James and Barbara McDougall. He still had a mother living at the time of his removal to Canada. He enlisted into 20thBn 1st Central Ontario Regiment. While he was on route to France he had time in England where he went AWOL for two days. I wonder if he tried to see his mother but there is no written record of this happening. A few months later he was killed on 9 April 1917 on Vimy Ridge, he was 19 yrs old. He was buried at the Zivy Crater, Nr Thelus. Tried to trace the McDougall family but found no trace of them. He is remembered every Remembrance Sunday.

wow what a great story well told. The model, soldiers, filming - EXCELLENT :-)

Love to hear you tell these battle stories. Much respect to Great Britain and Canada they have been 👍 great allies to the US

I’m a jock (Scottish soldier) but take my hat off to the bravery and fighting spirit of the Canadians.

Another brilliant video and it's good to hear about the Canadian contributions to both wars. You have some of the coolest toys btw that shell is amazing.

I enjoyed the model and cool bits of historical pieces of the battle of the somme mortar. Very cool and a great historical story, thanks

I really enjoy your presentation style. One of the most watchable presenters on youtube. Thank you for this wonderful content.

A very informative explanation, on that battle.

I love how you always dress the part, Kevin.

Hey Kevin - great video. I was wondering if you can do a video about the ANZACs and Gallipoli? Would be very interesting to see your great story telling and that campaign.