"I became a Canadian on Vimy Ridge... We became a nation in the eyes of the world. It cut across French and English, rich and poor, urban and rural. Vimy Ridge confirmed that we were as, if not better than, any European power."-Reginald Roy, CEF
The Canadian Corps had gone up Vimy ridge divided by region, religion, language, and creed. They marched back down that ridge as Canadians. Many historians believe that the unity and patriotism that is so common in Canada was born with confederation, and became fully grown on Vimy Ridge. It was the first battle that all 4 Canadian divisions fought together, under a command that was comprised of primarily Canadian officers. After the stunning success at Vimy, Currie was promoted to corps commander. He was a huge hit with the troops under his command, as he was strict, yet fair, while also a brilliant commander in trench warfare. He spent the summer training the Canadians for their new role as Commonwealth shock troopers. The 85th battalion was included in this new role, and following their spectacular success at Hill 145, they were assigned the role of spearhead for the 4th division. This would prove a costly position in the battle to come.
The town of Passchendaele had been hotly contested since the early stages of the war. Located at the edge of the Ypres salient, the fighting had been non stop since 1915. What had once been a small town in Flanders, was now crater with the imprint of an old cross road on top. The French, British, and Australians had all failed in taking Passchendaele ridge, and now it was Canada's turn. The trenches were no more than craters filled half way with water, and it became impossible to maneuver without using duckboards. If you fell into the mud in full kit, chances were slim that you'd survive.
The Canadians entered the Ypres salient in late October of 1917. There had been non stop rain for weeks, and the salient was as much of a soup as it had ever been. The 85th was tasked with taking an area just south of the town of Passchendaele, which was considered by many to be the hardest point on the ridge. The night before, D company, the Cape Bretoners, was sent into the line to prepare the position while the rest of the battalion rested. As the company was crossing no mans land, a German battalion attacked. The remnants of the 47th battalion, who were being relieved, scattered in retreat, while the Novies were trapped in no man's land. Capt. Mckenzie, the company commander, ordered the men to fix bayonets and drop all non essential kit. Outfitted with rifles, bayonets, bandoleers, and gas masks, the company charged the German battalion. Seeing the valiant charge, the 44th rallied, and assisted D company in pushing back to the jumping off point for the next day's offensive.
The next morning, at dawn, the attack began with A, B, and C companies charging the German positions. D company remained in the line as support. Within seconds of advancing, the battalion came under heavy machine gun fire. Within minutes, heavy casualties, particularly among officers, were reported. A, B, and C companies soon became stagnated in no man's land, and D company came to their aid. They charged the German line and were able to push through to the final objective. The Germans had seen the reinforcements, and having suffered so heavily, they decided to retreat. Major Anderson, who was commanding D company, was one of the first men to enter the German line. Upon arrival, he called for a runner to tell battalion HQ that all objectives had been achieved. These were his last words, as he dropped dead shortly after.
Heavy counter attacks followed for the remainder of the day, and every day thereafter until relief came on the 31st of October. The battalion war diary states that spirits were not higher than when the 102nd battalion arrived as relief. The battalion had gone into battle with 662 ranks, of which 371 were wounded or killed over the course of the three days. Of the officers, of which there were 26, 12 were killed and 11 were wounded. The battalion went to rest camps in the days following the battle, and in the following months, every inch of ground that had been taken was lost to the Germans. The Nova Scotia Highlanders memorial was built in 1919, and falls in the middle of a farmers field on the road to Zonnebeke.
The Canadian Corps had gone up Vimy ridge divided by region, religion, language, and creed. They marched back down that ridge as Canadians. Many historians believe that the unity and patriotism that is so common in Canada was born with confederation, and became fully grown on Vimy Ridge. It was the first battle that all 4 Canadian divisions fought together, under a command that was comprised of primarily Canadian officers. After the stunning success at Vimy, Currie was promoted to corps commander. He was a huge hit with the troops under his command, as he was strict, yet fair, while also a brilliant commander in trench warfare. He spent the summer training the Canadians for their new role as Commonwealth shock troopers. The 85th battalion was included in this new role, and following their spectacular success at Hill 145, they were assigned the role of spearhead for the 4th division. This would prove a costly position in the battle to come.
The town of Passchendaele had been hotly contested since the early stages of the war. Located at the edge of the Ypres salient, the fighting had been non stop since 1915. What had once been a small town in Flanders, was now crater with the imprint of an old cross road on top. The French, British, and Australians had all failed in taking Passchendaele ridge, and now it was Canada's turn. The trenches were no more than craters filled half way with water, and it became impossible to maneuver without using duckboards. If you fell into the mud in full kit, chances were slim that you'd survive.
The Canadians entered the Ypres salient in late October of 1917. There had been non stop rain for weeks, and the salient was as much of a soup as it had ever been. The 85th was tasked with taking an area just south of the town of Passchendaele, which was considered by many to be the hardest point on the ridge. The night before, D company, the Cape Bretoners, was sent into the line to prepare the position while the rest of the battalion rested. As the company was crossing no mans land, a German battalion attacked. The remnants of the 47th battalion, who were being relieved, scattered in retreat, while the Novies were trapped in no man's land. Capt. Mckenzie, the company commander, ordered the men to fix bayonets and drop all non essential kit. Outfitted with rifles, bayonets, bandoleers, and gas masks, the company charged the German battalion. Seeing the valiant charge, the 44th rallied, and assisted D company in pushing back to the jumping off point for the next day's offensive.
The next morning, at dawn, the attack began with A, B, and C companies charging the German positions. D company remained in the line as support. Within seconds of advancing, the battalion came under heavy machine gun fire. Within minutes, heavy casualties, particularly among officers, were reported. A, B, and C companies soon became stagnated in no man's land, and D company came to their aid. They charged the German line and were able to push through to the final objective. The Germans had seen the reinforcements, and having suffered so heavily, they decided to retreat. Major Anderson, who was commanding D company, was one of the first men to enter the German line. Upon arrival, he called for a runner to tell battalion HQ that all objectives had been achieved. These were his last words, as he dropped dead shortly after.
Heavy counter attacks followed for the remainder of the day, and every day thereafter until relief came on the 31st of October. The battalion war diary states that spirits were not higher than when the 102nd battalion arrived as relief. The battalion had gone into battle with 662 ranks, of which 371 were wounded or killed over the course of the three days. Of the officers, of which there were 26, 12 were killed and 11 were wounded. The battalion went to rest camps in the days following the battle, and in the following months, every inch of ground that had been taken was lost to the Germans. The Nova Scotia Highlanders memorial was built in 1919, and falls in the middle of a farmers field on the road to Zonnebeke.