What does it mean to you?
Do you have a relative that served our country in the military?
It means something to each of us. Or it should do anyway. There are plenty of sources for anyone to look up why we honour this time of year and specifically, this day.
This is mine (please forgive it's length).
His name was Walter. He was a pioneer and a son of Canadian pioneers.
He also volunteered to go overseas in WW1. He was my grandfather. This is a piece of his story that I gave to with my niece and nephew.
Part of what he did and where he fought for this country, and all of us.
162nd Battalion, C.E.F. [Canadian Expeditionary Force]
This group was formed by volunteers to fight in the First World War.
It sailed for England in November 1916. Upon arrival, his unit was absorbed by the 3rd Reserve Battalion.
[ As the war progressed and casualties began to mount it became necessary to replace losses in the field with fresh troops. New Battalions were now being trained and sent to England as fast as possible. Upon arrival in England most of the new Battalions were absorbed into reserve Battalions. From there troops were sent where they were needed ~ either as reinforcements for the 1st and 2nd Divisions or to the 3rd and 4th Divisions as they were being formed in England.]
He served in the 58th Battalion of the 9th Infantry Brigade under the Canadian 3rd Division. He was a 'sapper'.
[A sapper is an individual usually in British or Commonwealth military service. Called a combat engineer by the Americans, a pionier by the Germans and a génie by the French, a sapper may perform any of a variety of tasks under combat conditions. Such tasks typically include bridge-building, laying or clearing minefields, demolitions, field defences as well as building, road and airfield construction and repair. In other words, the sapper's tasks now involve facilitating movement of allied forces and impeding movement of the enemy's.]
He participated at Vimy Ridge and the battle for Hill 70. There are many sources for these two battles that you may research on your own, online. (...this was written and sent in April 2007...>>>This Sunday is the 90th anniversary of the battle for Vimy Ridge. He ultimately suffered the effects of mustard (chlorine) gas during this time. He was sent to hospital in England and then returned home to Canada.
From Wikipedia:
The Battle of Hill 70 took place near the French city of Lens on 15 August and 25 August 1917 and was fought between attacking units of the Canadian Corps under the command of General Arthur Currie and British I Corps (6th Division and 46th Division), and the defending German units of the 7th and 185th Infantry Divisions as well as the 4th Guard Infantry Division.
Hill 70 was a terrain feature rising only fifteen feet over surrounding terrain, located north of Lens, France. The Canadian operation was a diversionary attack to relieve pressure on the city of Lens itself.
Like the Battle of Vimy Ridge, the attack began with a creeping barrage behind which the infantry advanced close behind. By the end of the morning, the Canadians occupied the high ground overlooking Lens, with the remaining objectives in Canadian hands by the end of the next day. Having been asked to capture a much larger area, Currie recognised the importance of this one dominating feature and that German doctrine would result in immediate counter attacks. Using 'Bite and Hold' operational doctrine, the Canadians took only this feature and dug in. During the battle, the Germans counter-attacked numerous times, using mustard gas and flamethrowers, but were beaten off each time at an enormous cost. By the end of the battle, the Canadian Corps had suffered nearly 9,200 casualties.
From Veteran Affairs Canada:
Hill 70 and Lens
Following the victory at Vimy the Canadians continued operations in the Arras area to divert attention from the French front, and to conceal from the Germans the planned offensive in Flanders. In the Battle of Hill 70, August 15-25, Canadian forces captured this strategic position on the northern approach to the city of Lens and secured the western part of the city. The fighting here cost the Canadian Corps 9,198 casualties. However, considerable ground was gained and enormous casualties inflicted on the Germans by skilful use of machine guns and the creation of deliberate 'killing grounds' across which the Germans would have to counter-attack; the battle hampered enemy plans to send fresh troops to Flanders.
From Canada and The Great War:
(http://pages.interlog.com/~fatjack/)
Hill 70 & the Lens Offensive:
August & September of 1917
Prior to the British offensive at the Third Ypres – Passchendaele – the British wanted to secure their flank in the region facing Vimy Ridge at the French city of Lens. Luckily, this allowed the Canadians to participate in this tragic offensive in another region and under their own command. This would spare them the misery of the initial waves of attacks at Passchendaele. Initially, their task as desired from the British planners called for some kind of a diversionary attack to occupy and distract the Germans.
Arthur Currie had emerged from the astounding success at Vimy Ridge as the Canadian Commander when Julian Byng was reassigned by the British. Currie planned for the Canadian offensive to be a little more than a mere distraction for the Germans. The British plan called for what was essentially a frontal attack on German positions at Lens. Currie realized that this plan, although maybe workable, would result in tremendous infantry casualties as this strategy had been used time and time again by the British and seemed to be handled with success by the German defenders. Currie’s plan would accomplish the same general objective but would, if successful, result in far fewer Canadian losses.
The large scale frontal assault on Lens would be changed to an attack on two hills that, when taken would give the Canadians high ground and strong point to destabilize the German defenses at the city. Sallaumines and Hill 70 would be taken by the Canadian Corps. Rather than having the Canadians exposed to enemy shelling from the high ground in a costly assault against the city, this would give the Canadians the opportunity to shell German positions at the city and render the German held region of little use.
The attack on the hills would add the element of surprise in favour of the Canadians. Should the hills be taken successfully, the plan called for immediate positioning of machine guns and artillery on the high ground to take on the expected German counter-attack. Instead of solid German installations killing Canadians in the open fields of the region, the tables would be turned and the German forces, well entrenched in the city would have to move out to the open ground and face Canadian guns.
As at Vimy, Currie left nothing to chance. The plan was rehearsed and the ground to be covered well known. The attack took place on August 15, 1917 using many of the tactics used at Vimy. Artillery would lead the way with a "rolling barrage". Smoke screens and diversionary attacks at Lens would shield the true intent of the day. Success was initially achieved in the first 20 minutes as the Canadians took the high ground of Hill 70 that same morning. By the end of the next day, August 16, the remaining objectives were secured. As expected, the Germans counter-attacked using everything they could. For two days the German unleashed their new weapons – flame throwers and mustard gas – while the Canadians, using wireless radio communications for the first time, countered with devastating artillery and machine gun fire. After 21 counter-attacks the Germans retired: Canadians had held their ground.
The victory has not come easily. The Canadian Corps had suffered in dead and wounded, 5843 casualties during the attack and counter-attacks. This number would rise in later attacks to 9198 casualties as attempts to consolidate more territory, such as the attack on Green Crassier, would prove unsuccessful and deemed too costly.
The final result would see the area dominated by the Canadians, rendering what had been a secure zone for the Germans into one of little use. The Germans had been successfully stopped from using this ground as a staging area to attack the British positions at Ypres in Flanders. Unfortunately, the British attack that was being protected by this action was still doomed to become one of the worst experiences of the war as the mud-filled killing ground of Passchendaele would prove far more difficult than imagined.
The success of the Canadians at Lens during August and September of 1917 would lead them into the lead role at the Passchendaele front during October and November.
Walter James:
So your great grandfather (your dad's and my grandfather) was there, among the horrors of the first world war. He may have volunteered for a good-paying job when times were very tough, but most of us wouldn't do that today. He was there at Vimy Ridge and Hill 70. Grampa has his medals from that war. It wasn't a very nice time but those young guys went over and did their jobs. Just so you know.
Your Uncle
Part of me, part of our history.
With respect and gratitude Grampa.
Do you have a relative that served our country in the military?
It means something to each of us. Or it should do anyway. There are plenty of sources for anyone to look up why we honour this time of year and specifically, this day.
This is mine (please forgive it's length).
His name was Walter. He was a pioneer and a son of Canadian pioneers.
He also volunteered to go overseas in WW1. He was my grandfather. This is a piece of his story that I gave to with my niece and nephew.
Part of what he did and where he fought for this country, and all of us.
162nd Battalion, C.E.F. [Canadian Expeditionary Force]
This group was formed by volunteers to fight in the First World War.
It sailed for England in November 1916. Upon arrival, his unit was absorbed by the 3rd Reserve Battalion.
[ As the war progressed and casualties began to mount it became necessary to replace losses in the field with fresh troops. New Battalions were now being trained and sent to England as fast as possible. Upon arrival in England most of the new Battalions were absorbed into reserve Battalions. From there troops were sent where they were needed ~ either as reinforcements for the 1st and 2nd Divisions or to the 3rd and 4th Divisions as they were being formed in England.]
He served in the 58th Battalion of the 9th Infantry Brigade under the Canadian 3rd Division. He was a 'sapper'.
[A sapper is an individual usually in British or Commonwealth military service. Called a combat engineer by the Americans, a pionier by the Germans and a génie by the French, a sapper may perform any of a variety of tasks under combat conditions. Such tasks typically include bridge-building, laying or clearing minefields, demolitions, field defences as well as building, road and airfield construction and repair. In other words, the sapper's tasks now involve facilitating movement of allied forces and impeding movement of the enemy's.]
He participated at Vimy Ridge and the battle for Hill 70. There are many sources for these two battles that you may research on your own, online. (...this was written and sent in April 2007...>>>This Sunday is the 90th anniversary of the battle for Vimy Ridge. He ultimately suffered the effects of mustard (chlorine) gas during this time. He was sent to hospital in England and then returned home to Canada.
From Wikipedia:
The Battle of Hill 70 took place near the French city of Lens on 15 August and 25 August 1917 and was fought between attacking units of the Canadian Corps under the command of General Arthur Currie and British I Corps (6th Division and 46th Division), and the defending German units of the 7th and 185th Infantry Divisions as well as the 4th Guard Infantry Division.
Hill 70 was a terrain feature rising only fifteen feet over surrounding terrain, located north of Lens, France. The Canadian operation was a diversionary attack to relieve pressure on the city of Lens itself.
Like the Battle of Vimy Ridge, the attack began with a creeping barrage behind which the infantry advanced close behind. By the end of the morning, the Canadians occupied the high ground overlooking Lens, with the remaining objectives in Canadian hands by the end of the next day. Having been asked to capture a much larger area, Currie recognised the importance of this one dominating feature and that German doctrine would result in immediate counter attacks. Using 'Bite and Hold' operational doctrine, the Canadians took only this feature and dug in. During the battle, the Germans counter-attacked numerous times, using mustard gas and flamethrowers, but were beaten off each time at an enormous cost. By the end of the battle, the Canadian Corps had suffered nearly 9,200 casualties.
From Veteran Affairs Canada:
Hill 70 and Lens
Following the victory at Vimy the Canadians continued operations in the Arras area to divert attention from the French front, and to conceal from the Germans the planned offensive in Flanders. In the Battle of Hill 70, August 15-25, Canadian forces captured this strategic position on the northern approach to the city of Lens and secured the western part of the city. The fighting here cost the Canadian Corps 9,198 casualties. However, considerable ground was gained and enormous casualties inflicted on the Germans by skilful use of machine guns and the creation of deliberate 'killing grounds' across which the Germans would have to counter-attack; the battle hampered enemy plans to send fresh troops to Flanders.
From Canada and The Great War:
(http://pages.interlog.com/~fatjack/)
Hill 70 & the Lens Offensive:
August & September of 1917
Prior to the British offensive at the Third Ypres – Passchendaele – the British wanted to secure their flank in the region facing Vimy Ridge at the French city of Lens. Luckily, this allowed the Canadians to participate in this tragic offensive in another region and under their own command. This would spare them the misery of the initial waves of attacks at Passchendaele. Initially, their task as desired from the British planners called for some kind of a diversionary attack to occupy and distract the Germans.
Arthur Currie had emerged from the astounding success at Vimy Ridge as the Canadian Commander when Julian Byng was reassigned by the British. Currie planned for the Canadian offensive to be a little more than a mere distraction for the Germans. The British plan called for what was essentially a frontal attack on German positions at Lens. Currie realized that this plan, although maybe workable, would result in tremendous infantry casualties as this strategy had been used time and time again by the British and seemed to be handled with success by the German defenders. Currie’s plan would accomplish the same general objective but would, if successful, result in far fewer Canadian losses.
The large scale frontal assault on Lens would be changed to an attack on two hills that, when taken would give the Canadians high ground and strong point to destabilize the German defenses at the city. Sallaumines and Hill 70 would be taken by the Canadian Corps. Rather than having the Canadians exposed to enemy shelling from the high ground in a costly assault against the city, this would give the Canadians the opportunity to shell German positions at the city and render the German held region of little use.
The attack on the hills would add the element of surprise in favour of the Canadians. Should the hills be taken successfully, the plan called for immediate positioning of machine guns and artillery on the high ground to take on the expected German counter-attack. Instead of solid German installations killing Canadians in the open fields of the region, the tables would be turned and the German forces, well entrenched in the city would have to move out to the open ground and face Canadian guns.
As at Vimy, Currie left nothing to chance. The plan was rehearsed and the ground to be covered well known. The attack took place on August 15, 1917 using many of the tactics used at Vimy. Artillery would lead the way with a "rolling barrage". Smoke screens and diversionary attacks at Lens would shield the true intent of the day. Success was initially achieved in the first 20 minutes as the Canadians took the high ground of Hill 70 that same morning. By the end of the next day, August 16, the remaining objectives were secured. As expected, the Germans counter-attacked using everything they could. For two days the German unleashed their new weapons – flame throwers and mustard gas – while the Canadians, using wireless radio communications for the first time, countered with devastating artillery and machine gun fire. After 21 counter-attacks the Germans retired: Canadians had held their ground.
The victory has not come easily. The Canadian Corps had suffered in dead and wounded, 5843 casualties during the attack and counter-attacks. This number would rise in later attacks to 9198 casualties as attempts to consolidate more territory, such as the attack on Green Crassier, would prove unsuccessful and deemed too costly.
The final result would see the area dominated by the Canadians, rendering what had been a secure zone for the Germans into one of little use. The Germans had been successfully stopped from using this ground as a staging area to attack the British positions at Ypres in Flanders. Unfortunately, the British attack that was being protected by this action was still doomed to become one of the worst experiences of the war as the mud-filled killing ground of Passchendaele would prove far more difficult than imagined.
The success of the Canadians at Lens during August and September of 1917 would lead them into the lead role at the Passchendaele front during October and November.
Walter James:
So your great grandfather (your dad's and my grandfather) was there, among the horrors of the first world war. He may have volunteered for a good-paying job when times were very tough, but most of us wouldn't do that today. He was there at Vimy Ridge and Hill 70. Grampa has his medals from that war. It wasn't a very nice time but those young guys went over and did their jobs. Just so you know.
Your Uncle
Part of me, part of our history.
With respect and gratitude Grampa.
