Vimy Ridge

[Kitdy]

Well, this is kind of Canada specific, but today marks the first day, 90 years ago, of the battle of Vimy Ridge, Canada's first major battle as a nation. Led by General Arthur Currie, the 27,000 men of the Canadian Corps pushed deep into enemy lines after the largest artillery bombardment in history to that point, and attacked the Austro-Hungarian/German held Vimy Ridge. The excellently planned attack succeeded due to careful planning and precise execution and led to one of the most decisive - and most deeply penetrating - victories for the Ententé powers in the war. By April 12th, the Canadian Corps held all of the Ridge.

However, the victory was not without it's cost. Over 23,000 died on both sides. Over 20,000 Austro-Hungarian/German dead, many more wounded, over 4,000 captured, and 3,598 Canadian soldiers killed along with 7,104 wounded.

Many Canadians regard Confederation as the day Canada was born and Vimy Ridge was where Canada was born on the world stage.

I would like to pay my respects to the thousands of soldiers that died fihgting bravely in this battle on both sides, and I would like to think that these men can now rest easy as their descendents live free and peaceful lives.

Feel free to comment and leave your thoughts.

[The_Canuck]

Watched a great program on it this morning. A truly amazing accomplishment but not without it's costs.

[IWantAnAudiRS6]

I went there about 3 years ago, it was amazing. I loved it. The place has a very strange vibe about it.

[baddabang]

Canada has an army? Whoa.

[The_Canuck]

Canada has an army? Whoa.

Yeah, and we fought in WW1...

[baddabang]

Yeah, and we fought in WW1...

NO WAI!!!!

[IWantAnAudiRS6]

NO WAI!!!!

Yes way, a country over the Atlantic managed to help their Allies in time, rather than a few years too late!

[The_Canuck]

Yes way, a country over the Atlantic managed to help their Allies in time, rather than a few years too late!

and the pacific! Austrailia/NewZealand!

[baddabang]

Yes way, a country over the Atlantic managed to help their Allies in time, rather than a few years too late!

I suppose you are lucky we were at least late. We just had to wait for the proper invitation.

[IWantAnAudiRS6]

I suppose you are lucky we were at least late. We just had to wait for the proper invitation.

"If we're not involved, it's not our problem"?

This is why I would only have my British friends at my back in a pub brawl.

[The_Canuck]

We just had to wait for the proper invitation.

Less enemy troops?

Anyway, we're getting off topic. Back to Vimy.

[Kitdy]

I meant to get up to watch the ceremonies but I missed them.

I am so glad that the Canadian Red Ensign will be allowed to fly beside the Canadian and French flags at Vimy as it was essentially our flag back in the day and the flag that all the soldiers would salute to and the like.

[bmwpower]

Ahh well the price was dear but we did give better then we got. I've been too bust studying accounting to watch TV but it's good to know that people take time to remember these events past the required gr. 10 history class.

[fisetdavid26]

Interesting, we're studying WWI and WWII this year in History. I don't know too much about Vimy Ridge, but I know Canadian were implicated in WWII, in the Débarquement de Normandie, and that there were a lot of French Canadians implicated, which makes me proud of my small, french-speaking province in the middle of an ocean of english-speaking folks. I'm proud of everything Canadian even if I'm from a province with a population that tends toward independence.