⭐️ If you've watched a few episodes and feel like I've earned it, be sure to subscribe so that you don't miss any new content when it comes out. Also be sure to check out The Gettysburg Museum of History and their store at www.gettysburgmuseumofhistory.com. Thanks!
My great - great - grandfather, Sgt Angus Roderick McNeil from Nova Scotia, served with the 85th Highlanders. He died on September 2nd, 1918, while breaking through the Drocourt-Quéant Line. He is buried in the Dury Mill cemetery. Thank you for doing this series, it's incredible to hear about the things he might have experienced.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.
My great grandfather was in the 58th battalion CEF (3rd division) got his regimental diary and his war record front the Canadian government and followed his journey from Ypres , mount sorrell and the Somme. If you get your great great grandfathers war records it’s such an eye opener
JD, I've been following your channel for 4 years. I'm a Canadian, and I'm very grateful your doing a mini series about Canada and WWI. The Vimy sector I give nothing but props to you thank you very much. It's an amazing series so far
Thank you. That really means a lot. I have a great deal of admiration for what the Canadians accomplished in WWI and WWII. Hope that you'll share this out with some of your fellow Canadians. :)
@@TheHistoryUnderground from watching your videos from the American civil war, and fanous battles like antitem and gettysburg, I've learnt alot myself about American history as well. I will always follow your videos and I indeed will pass this series of arras to other fellow Canadians and friends. I think to at Vimy, there was a regina regiment that was in one of the Canadian corps. I'm from Saskatchewan. Regina well is the capital of my province. Overall though your doing an excellent job of your videos. 🙏
Another interesting fact I don't think you know about. In the episode when you were at the memorial, you said the Canadians got a nickname and Germans called them shock troops. At Pachendale, the Germans gave the Canadians the name storm troops
🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 I love the history you share. As a proud Canadian this battle was one of the topics of history when in high school and having had the privilege of visiting the Vimy Monument site when I was 17, 49 years ago. Thanks for profiling this monument and reminding people of the valuable contributions of Canadians in WW1. 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
Thank you for taking an interest in Canada’s role. We have a very rich military history here and being a small country population wise almost every family at that time contributed. Both my grandfathers were in WW1 fighting for Canada and my father, 5 Uncles and an Aunt all served in WW2.
Thanks, JD, for another awesome video! I appreciate everything that you put into these episodes. Always top-notch! I've been following you since around Episode 66 regarding the Battle of Franklin Tennessee (which is near and dear to me). Thanks again, and God bless.
My great-grandfather's youngest brother was killed at Vimy. He was unmarried so we the descendants of his siblings do the remembering. At least he is not one of those with no known grave, listed on the Vimy Memorial, he is buried in the La Chaudiere cemetery.
I’m an American and you’re right-we don’t know too much about Canada’s contributions in the world wars. Your Vimy video is fascinating. The thing that jumped out at me was how close the trenches were to each other. You could literally look the enemy right in the eye. The sacrifices they made for freedom can never be appreciated enough.
Driving through the mud heading to Lichfield crator gives an insight into what the battlefield would look like during the battle for Vimy Ridge. After mass bombardments the whole area was a quagmire.
I am watching your latest video. You showed my great uncle's name in the Zivy Crater. George Buchanan who was in the 18th battalion. He died the first day of the battle at Vimy Ridge.
@@TheHistoryUnderground My nephew went on a school trip to France and has been the only member of our family to visit Zivy Crater. It would have been around 2006.
Great job yet again. Truly appreciate your hard work and dedication to all the videos y’all make. Thank you for helping keep history alive and available for us and our children.
Another outstanding episode! Every time I watch one of your episodes, I learn something new, and I'm almost 59! What you are doing is so important. Your work keeps these past heroes memory and sacrifice alive so that we never forget! Thank you again. (quick question, have you ever done an episode or found one of the forest camps of the escaping Jewish people that had set up 'communities' within the forest to hide?)
Did you go in the tunnels under Vimy ridge? I went there on a school trip in the 1980s. The soldiers were just 1 or 2 years older than us and carved their names int he chalk walls. History coming alive
There were Russian units serving on the Western Front. After the revolution many did not want to return to Russia. You might not recognize these units as they were usually equipped with French gear.
@@TheHistoryUnderground it really is!!! Just amazing! I need to listen to the Old Front line more. I’ve been working extra shifts and just can’t keep up with so many. (Calmer days are coming)
Wow! I am so impressed with the photos you shared on this episode! The crater reminded me of the crater at Petersburg! But I am positive Petersburg had nothing compared to Vimy explosion!
Beautifully shot drone footage. Quality production all the way. If you go back, some suggested spots that we found to be impactful and with interesting storylines - Lochnahar crater, largest known of the mine craters - The story and use of the Levins projector. First use of flamethrower Technology on a large scale - The Devonshire Trench Heartbreaking - Mont Facon strategic Point battled for over the centuries ( the ancient ruins are stunning). This was the start of the final push by the AEF ( American Expeditionary Force) Near this spot was Americas first real tank battle, one in which a young tank commander named Patton got his start. - Just north of Mont Facon is the newly developing Sgt York site. - The American Cemetery nearby is incredible. The British would bury their dead near the site of each skirmish. So many cemeteries all up and down the line as you mention. The Americans would gather (as best they could) into a single location.
Wondering when you shot this series of videos on Vimy? My group and I were just there on October 17/18, 2024. We stumbled upon the Lichfield Crater cemetery while trying to get to the Thelus Military Cemetery. There is a Canadian VC buried there. Keep up the great work.
Thank you for your work on covering the Western Front. Question: As your drone flys over the shell cratered landscape at approx minute 2:00, I noticed white stakes in clusters in and around the old craters Do you know what they represent? Best regards from Downunder.
One thing I found odd about Lichfield was there was no visitor's guestbook to sign. Every other Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery has a guestbook, generally at the entrance, but we could find no book to sign. Not to be pedantic, but your American Medal of Honor emulates our Victoria Cross. Thr Victoria Cross was first created in 1856 whereas the Medal of Honor was first awarded on 1862. Since its inception, 1358 VC's have been awarded to 1355 recipients, 99 of them Canadian.
@@OTDMilitaryHistory - Oh dang. I must have missed that one but just went back and watched it. For those who may see this comment, check out what we’re talking about here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-BXZYV-23XPk.htmlsi=z4VIoe0IFxjWJN-t
@@TheHistoryUnderground No worries. Thanks for sharing the video. For those interested in Upper Canada’s history, the headstone for Sifton is in the cemetery where Colonel Thomas Talbot is buried. The historical plaque is across the street.
If you're interested in Canadian role in WW1, TVO (public t.v. in Ontario) ran a really good series hosted by Norm Christie, called I think, "For King and Empire". He also investigates cemeteries with background goal of tracing and naming all MIA Canadian soldiers lost in that conflict.
@@TheHistoryUndergroundI agree. “For King and Empire” was a very good series. Very respectfully done. Christie knew his stuff because he was formerly an employee of the CWGC.
As always, outstanding video JD! One question though, are the guys buried in the craters all enlisted men? As you scanned over the names I saw NCOs and privates but didn’t notice any officers. Was thinking that was indicative of the attitude towards enlisted at that time. Officers would be gathered and interred in marked graves while, because of their lower status and the sheer number of them, the enlisted were more likely to be placed in mass graves.
The best channel on UTube. Brilliant JD. My great uncle A&SH was killed in Arras apr 1916. I have all his letters until his death in a forward sap. Can’t believe that Canadians, under Trudeau have forgotten these brave heroes, Vimy, Dieppe, Juno Beach and Passchendale, some of Canada’s finest hours.
Nice to see that Canada is getting some notice for a change, all too often Canada is just mentioned in similar documentaries. Canada played an important role in every conflict she has been called to, has done her duty usually above and beyond yet seldom gets mentioned let alone credit for her actions. It si so refreshing to see and hear Canadian war history especially when it is told by an American, a job well done sir, BZ.
Sixty one Canadian's have been awarded the medal of honor since the civil war. The last one to be awarded the medal of honor was in Vietnam when eighty thousand Canadians served in the U.S military thirty thousand in combat. There's a million people that have dual citizenship, and many like me that have family in both countries. Most Americans with brains know of Canada's contributions in time of need. The one's that don't oh well.
Are those clam shells in the cemetery walls etc? I couldn’t tell what the walls and some of the floors were made of. Significance to Canada in particular?
My great great grandpa severed in 1917 in the US army , even brought back a k98 mousin rifle and bayonet, but I'm not shure yet all what he was doing , or did, I gotta ask my grandma more about what she knows what james "chunky" Franklin barnett did in the 1st world War, as fare as I know both my grandpa, 1st name was james and my great grandpa ,both james were in the us army , but I think it might be my great great grandpa, not my pappy , cause my pappy server in Korea, I'll have to find out more, and then get back with you on that
William Johnston Milne VC earned his Victoria Cross for an action at Vimy Ridge. He would be killed later that day and ultimately buried in a mine crater along with 43 other men. The location of these temporary graves was lost and today these men lay under a potato field turning up crops. norm Christie nearly ten years ago located these men to give them their proper respect and dignity but the French government quickly put a stop to their recovery. In my opinion a great dishonour was done. Perhaps you could highlight this story and help to get these men the proper burials they deserve.
The Russian may have fought with the Russian Expeditionary Force, who fought on the Western Front. "In December 1915 the French politician, Paul Doumer while on a visit to Russia, proposed that 300,000 Russian troops be sent to fight in France in exchange for French munitions."
@@thomashillabrand482 yes, they moved through here in the initial invasion. Hitler even visited the Vimy Ridge memorial. I covered a bit of the wwii action in this area a few episodes back. Link in the description.
Great job Jd I learned something new from this video as well as your recommendation to seek some Paul Reed content ,I would have hoped that you would have mentioned Norm Christie ,he is the author of the "For King & Empire" series and did host a excellent history channel show of a similar title called "For King & Country" you would love the stories of individual soldier stories somewhat the way you do it thanks again JD.
Ever WONDER what those YOUNG Men experienced in thier Lives before it was SNUFFED out in a Instance🤔. Like WHAT type Of shenanigans,JOKES, pranks, Site Seeing, Fights, LOVE ❤️ they Went thru. As I Rode my Bike this morning 🌄 going up a Hill. I noticed the PAVEMENT had like 7 layers to it on this one stretch of Road off in the cut kinda winding thru the woods n Creek/River. Got me THINKING 🤔 what mofos was doing On each Layers Riding thru the SAME stretch as I was Enjoying The SAME scenery doing GOD knows What 🎉...
