Canadian Expeditionary Force
baptism by fire - the first contingents
The eager and often inexperienced initial contingents of Canadians began arriving in France in late 1914. Desires for glory and misconceptions of modern conflict were quickly replaced with a hard dose of reality as they entered the trenches and combat on the Western Front. Horrific battles such as Ypres and Festubert claimed the lives of many and hardened the fortunate survivors who would help form the nucleus of the CEF.
into the abyss - somme
By 1916 the CEF had grown rapidly thanks to a steady stream of volunteers from the 1915 recruitment frenzy. Fresh Battalions of men marched eagerly into the Somme region to participate in what was to supposedly be the war winning offensive. Canadians went head first into the hellfire of the Somme, suffering immense losses for small pieces of ground such a Regina Trench and Courcelette.
shock troops - vimy ridge & passchendaele
Bloodied but unshaken, the CEF reformed and refitted in preparation for a year of conflict that was to cement its legacy. Reinforced units led by veterans of the Somme created an organized force to be reckoned with which swept over the battlefields of Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele. These successes were costly but became the pride of the nation and created an independent identity which was uniquely Canadian.
CANADA'S 100 DAYS - AMIENS & THE FINAL PUSH
The final year of the war tested the limits of the CEF as they fought a continuous engagement against an enemy with their backs to the wall. Serving as the spearhead of Entente forces starting at Amiens and until the end of the war, they suffered the highest casualties of the conflict. With few volunteers left, draftees began to trickle in, though hardly enough to keep the units at full strength. Despite the suffering, it was truly one of Canada's finest moments, the war winning offensive being dubbed "Canada's 100 Days", a testament to the forces bravery and endurance.
life blood OF THE CEF - SUPPORT UNITS
The secret to the CEF's success lied in great preparation and organization, neither of which could be completed without the support of those behind the lines. Engineers, lumbermen, and logistical personnel provided services which kept the men at the front supplied and prepared. The work was often back breaking and no less dangerous as they endured enemy shelling and the horrors of trench warfare with little recognition for their sacrifices.
the guns went silent - PEACE & POSTWAR
On November 11th the guns finally went silent and the Great War came to an end. Yet though the endless slaughter had finally subsided, there remained much for the exhausted Canadian Corps to do. Germany would have to be disarmed and occupied per the peace treaty. There also remained thousands of unburied Canadians and a war ravaged Europe in need of repair. These tasks would fall mostly on those Canadians who arrived just before the Armistice was declared. They may not have endured the conflict itself, but certainly bore witness to it's destructive remnanets and scale.