This year we celebrate Canada ’ s 150th birthday by taking a look back at some milestones of Canadian history , and how they involved and affected Southern Alberta and made it the place we know and live in today . This issue we look at the effect Vimy Ridge has had on our area and its residents .
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BELINDA CROWSON PHOTOGRAPHY : COURTESY OF GALT MUSEUM & ARCHIVES
VIMY RIDGE
This year we celebrate Canada ’ s 150th birthday by taking a look back at some milestones of Canadian history , and how they involved and affected Southern Alberta and made it the place we know and live in today . This issue we look at the effect Vimy Ridge has had on our area and its residents .
ONE HUNDRED YEARS after the Battle of Vimy Ridge , the name Vimy still resonates with many Canadians . Indeed , Vimy Ridge is one of those rare occurrences when an event was recognized as important when it occurred , and whose importance has remained , or even grown , over the past century . But what was it really ? What does Vimy Ridge have to do with Southern Albertans of 100 years past and the people who live here today ?
By the spring of 1917 , Canada and the British Allies had been at war with Germany for two and a half years , with trench warfare resulting in an essential stalemate between the combatants . The First World War was dragging on , resulting in the deaths of many people and great expenses and losses for the countries involved . The Allies knew that in the spring offensive of 1917 , a great victory was needed .
In 1915 and 1916 , the French and British had tried to take Vimy Ridge from the Germans , but both had been pushed back . This piece of high ground was vital if the Allies were going to break the impasse , and keeping Vimy Ridge was vital to the German defence .
In the spring of 1917 , it was Canada ’ s turn to take on the Germans at Vimy Ridge , with our soldiers succeeding where others before had failed . Careful planning helped lead to their success , and the Canadian Artillery alone had a 35-page plan for action . The Artillery was essential to the victory , as bombardment of the enemy in advance of the battle was an important part of the plan , and in March relentless shelling of the German position started . In the two weeks leading up to the battle , over a million rounds were fired . Additionally , guns were brought forward and hidden for the battle to come .
A new way of attack , the creeping barrage , where the infantry creeps ahead just behind artillery fire , and other techniques were also employed . As part of the plan , the men were told specifically what to carry in their bags , which included a spare tin of oil for their rifles , Iron Rations ( a small package including one tin of bully beef , two hardtack biscuits , a small bag of sugar , and a bag of tea ), one field dressing , two bombs , ammunition , wire cutters , picks , and shovels . The men were forbidden to carry any papers that might be of use to the enemy if they were captured .
At 5:30 a . m . on April 9 , the assault began . All the guns went silent for several seconds and then nearly 1,000 fired on the enemy ’ s position . The infantry forced its way across no man ’ s land , sweeping through the German trenches . It was a difficult day , with rain turning to sleet and snow flurries .
By the end of the first day all but “ the Pimple ” at Vimy Ridge was taken and the Canadians dug into their new position . Almost all the Canadian
36 LETHBRIDGELIVING . COM MAR-APR 2017