Why Canadian troops were/are considered the best assault troops of the Commonwealth army, they ran across no mans land, didnt just saunter across at a slow pace like us Brits. Time and time again we done it, cost us alot of young men. Thanks Canada, for WW2 as well, from the UK.
You brought a tear to my eye, thank you. I will say though that we proudly share that renown as shock troops of the British Empire with our friends the Aussies. ;)
As an ex Canadian Forces Infantry Officer both Regular Force and Reserve I served with the 3rd Battalion The Royal Canadian Regiment in the 80`s and met a very old ex RCR soldier while living in Winnipeg who served during the Great War ..we brought him to the Officers mess and spent an afternoon with him as he told us about his experience and showed us his old documents and memorabilia..he was 90 at the time in 1984 and we were all completely captivated by this brave man and his quiet unassuming demeanor. It was very humbling and gave us all perspective as to how fortunate we are to be Canadian and live Strong and Free....
My Grandpa volunteered with the CEF and survived many critical battles involving the Canadian Corps. - including the attack on Vimy Ridge. He would talk of his buddies, the mischief they got up to, the sound shrapnel made as it headed towards you, and he would sing some of the trench songs he’d learned. He would show my brother and I his MM, his spurs, his Stetson, his letter from King George, but never too much about his combat experience, or the battle wounds which impacted him throughout his entire life. Conversations like that were to be had at the legion with his fellow veterans. His generation was a stoic one. Facta non verba.
I just found out last night through research online that my Grandmother's brother died at Vimy Ridge. I knew he had died in "The Great War" but did not know the details. Buy coincidence it is the 100 year anniversary of the battle this week. (Battle: 4/9/1917 - 4/12/1917). He was initially listed as missing in action, but was later found and pronounced dead on 4/29/191, he was just 18 years old. He lied about his age at enlistment (17). God rest your brave soul, Merton H. Goodwin! Long Live Canada!!!
My great great uncle James Thomas Dolan of the 26th regiment was one of 3598 Canadians who died at Vimy ridge. He was killed on the first day, April 9th 1917. He will always be remembered by my family.
Hello 👋 my grandfather fought at VIMY RIDGE too. My GOG bess all of THEM. I'm so very PROUD of him ❤️ and all the others too!!! ( I'm exstreamly proud to be 4th generation CANADIAN) Because of all of them we are a FREE COUNTRY! May GOG BLESS them 🙏 ALL
The vimy ridge memorial is one of the most hauntingly beautiful things I've ever had the fortune to see. So many people disregard the contribution of Canadians in both world wars, yet they were some of the finest men in the empire. God bless Canada!
As a french, born circa Vimy ridge, I cannot forget the Canadians sacrifice during this fierce battle. As a french, from northern France, I cannot forget the Canadians sacrifice to chase out the Germans from our country, during the first & the second world war. I hope that nowadays young men shan't have to fight again within our fields, villages & towns.
I had the opportunity to visit many of the Great War battlefields, Vimy was among them. I was retracing the steps of my Great-Grandfather who was a seasoned Veteran by the time the Vimy was taken. He was there. I used old maps to find where his Battalion started from and where they ended up on the 12th of April 1917. I was amazed that it only took me about an hour to walk from their start line to Farbus Woods. It was a pleasant walk in the beautiful French countryside. I could hear the hum of a tractor turning the soil on what once was some of the most contested bit of real estate in the world at that time. My Great-Grandfather unfortunately did not return from The Great War as he was wounded and later declared missing in action a few kilometres from Vimy in an operation known as The Third Battle of the Scarpe. Although he was (and still is) missing, I did locate the Commonwealth Cemetery near the site of the Casualty Clearing Station. It contains the remains of many of his fellow members from his Battalion who were killed the same day, as well as a few thousand “A Canadian Soldier of the Great War”. I believe that he just may be one of them. I think that all Canadians should make the effort to research what your ancestors did. You don’t have to physically stand on the same ground as they did, however try and put yourself in their same boots. It certainly made me a prouder Canadian.
The French and British lost 150 000 men trying to take Vimy Ridge. The Germans even before the assault had given the Canadian troops the nick name "Storm Troops". It should be noted that when the Germans found out they had the Canadian Corps across from them they started making preparations for the worst.
@Logan Hilts dude, the battle was huge, it saved alot of lives allowing us to support our allies at the Somme who loss 100 000 lives on the first day of the damn battle, and i think you replied to the wrong comment, no one here said it was a turning point.
@@Jon962-h4i The British XVII corps fought alongside the Canadians. There's a 1920s house on Moorwell Road, Scunthorpe, in North Lincolnshire with "VIMY RIDGE" engraved in the lintel. In J B Priestley's English Journey he describes: "that first sight of Vimy Ridge in the snow, like a mountain of despair." Robin Witting
I sat down with my grandmother one on one for a bit of a catch up and chat today, where she shared with me the story of my great uncle and great grandfather, who both went to fight overseas and fought on Vimy Ridge.. Apparently they didn't know they were both there, until their superiors learned of this and put them together to fight. Apparently at some point when the fighting started, my great grandfather was called over to assist with one of the first wounded, and it was my great uncle, who I understand passed at that point or shortly thereafter. My great grandfather himself then continued to fight, where he himself fell on the battlefield some 3 to 4 hours later.. I feel saddened of their story but proud our their courage and conviction, to serve and stand for what is right, their warrior spirits surely still around me and in my blood on this day.. Thank you, gentlemen, and to all of these soldiers for the sacrifices you made so I could live with the freedoms that I today now enjoy. I'll continue to honor these men in my own ways, but not sure who else to chat with really about this, so just thought I'd share.. May peace and wellbeing find you all..
Wonderful presentation. When I studied Canadian history in high school, we definitely covered Vimy Ridge. There is no mention here of the silent tunnelling the Canadians did, mostly by miners from Ontario, some from my small mining town birthplace. They dug a tunnel beyond the German lines. When it was clear the Germans were about to attack, they blew up the ridge and thousands of German soldiers died instantly. Got an A+ for my essay in the topic, still have a copy of it although I’m 70 now. I was expecting the tunnelling to be part of this short doc. Enjoyable but incomplete. 🇨🇦🖖🏻🇨🇦
My Great Grandfather fought in both World Wars for Canada, his brother fought in WW1 and was a Sapper with the 3rd Canadian Tunnel Co, he was gassed, shot and eventually passed away due to complications. My Grandfather fought during WW2 for Canada, I got to tour with him just before he passed away, the places he served when he fought. We went to quite a few of WW1 monuments, Vimy was one of them, I remember when getting close to most of them, it seemed life stopped, seemed like only thing you could hear was the wind blowing, it is very eerie but they are so beautiful and makes you proud to be Canadian!
While visiting the gravesite of my grandparents here in Vancouver, Beside them was a tall monument to a Canadian Soldier Who had died at Vimmy Ridge, , My dad served in WWll in the RCN all 4 of my kids went threw Army cadets even the girl who aged out as chief warrant officer.... Much respect.for the brave Canadian men & women in our armed forces.
Canadians do not commemorate wars, we honour and remember those young men who volunteered to fight those despicable wars. A mother's young son, scared, cold, tired and stressed. The whistle blew and they went over, into a storm of steel and death. In spite of it all, knowing that will likely be there last few breathes on earth...and they did it anyway. We will remember "them".
Great choice of narrator...like our biggest heros...mr shatner in true canadian style has adapted and conquered to acheive success. Canadians never say die Lest we forget
My Grandfather John MacKenzie was a sergeant with the 10th battalion at Vimy Ridge. He was wounded on April 9th. He survived the war returned to Strathmore Alberta and started a family.
I first learned of this battle years ago when my dads took me there on the 100 year anniversary while we were in Paris, that’s what made me first start getting into war history
My late Grandfather Lt Donald Gordon Coutts fought there (and later, Passchendaele) with the Seaforth Highlanders. He was 19 but somehow survived the Great War, although badly gassed.
A great effort-and sacrifice, by very loyal and brave men. Their story is NOT given enough prominence when this horrible war is commemorated--OR , Canada's contribution over the years generally.
I do not Believe my Great Grandfather Fought with Canada during the war, but I do know that he Enlisted around 100 years ago, and after the war he moved to Canada and started a family. Thank you Canada.
I use to read books about this..........as a youth,.later as an instructor in the Airforce,...and even now. I ask do you remember Vimy Ridge? If they served in the military,........YES! Civilian? About 50/50. Nice to have Canada’s own tell the tale. So many story’s from that war,....this was a definite High point,.....on all kinds of levels. Like Black Jack Pershing,.....it was important to have Canada’s troops,..not divided into existing French and British units,....be under Canadian command. And act as 1 Army,.....1 Nation. Although not quite independent at the time,....soon,.....this helped immensely! Vimy Ridge! Remember! It’s more then a monument......it’s Canadian!
I was at the 100th anniversary at Vimy Ridge last April. It is amazing to know that there was snow on the ground in 1917, as when I was there exactly 100 years to the date it was summer like temps at 23 Celsius.
RIP John Cooper Sumner died 9 April 1917 aged 19 at Vimy Ridge. 20th Bn, 1st Central Ontario Reg. Buried at Zivy Crater Cemetery. My 2nd cousin remembered with pride every year.
Considering this is one of the defining moments of our nation’s history, and is, in fact, often referred to as the battle that made a nation, one wonders why there isn’t a movie about this?
We have a small monument at the Legislative Building in Regina. It is specifically for WW 1 with all names of our Fallen Soldiers carved into the Tyndall Stone, Yesterday June 1 2020 it was defaced by some one with black spray paint and the words " Black Lives Matter" I wish that I could speak with him for 10 minutes and show him how much his life matters.
My Great Great Grandpa climbed those trenches and ran toward those bullets flying over that ridge. giving his life for our freedom, he died there in Vimy Ridge. RIP 4th .CMR Pvt. Napoleon, Paul died April 9th 1917.
Former Scots Guardsman here. Britain has no better friend than the maple-sucking moose-humpers. Terrific soldiers and you have carved out a truly delightful country. God bless Canada.
Proud to be a Canadian.As Winston Churchill once Quoted Give me American Technology,British Officers and Canadian TROOPS and i would rule the world Lest We Forget
Was not meant to be a detail technical account, it was generalized as the point is Vimy ridge brought a nation together. Don’t bring that in this conversation
God rest their souls, …. May they live for ever brave men, and women of Canada and England, and France never forget sacrifice of Canada made for this endeavor.
