Today is John Erickson’s 50th birthday (or so he claims) & because he is such a great guy I am putting aside my grief over Newtown to post again. John is a recent addition to the blogging community – he spent quite a while commenting on other’s blogs before he could be convinced to start writing a blog of his own. But once he started . . . he really got going. John is a great guy, interested in history (especially war), cars & good arguments. He also loves re-enactments. We may have differing opinions on gun control, but I’m lucky enough to call him my friend. Happy Birthday John!
As a tribute to John, I thought I would give him something to think about by sharing some Canadian history of the Great War with him, specifically Vimy Ridge.
No Allied operation on the Western Front was more thoroughly planned than this deliberate frontal attack on what seemed to be virtually invincible positions. Vimy Ridge was so well fortified that all previous attempts to capture it had failed. However, Canadian commanders had learned bitter lessons from the cost of past frontal assaults made by vulnerable infantry. This time their preparations were elaborate. As the Canadian Commander of the 1st Division, Major-General Arthur Currie, said,”Take time to train them.” This is exactly what the Canadian Corps did, down to the smallest unit and the individual soldier.
Vimy Ridge marked the only significant success of the Allied spring offensive of 1917. But though they had won a great tactical victory, the Canadians were unable to exploit their success quickly with a breakthrough, mainly because their artillery had bogged down and was unable to move up with them through the muddy, shell-torn ground. Instead, some Canadian artillerymen took over captured German guns which they had earlier been trained to fire.
The Canadian achievement in capturing Vimy Ridge owed its success to sound and meticulous planning and thorough preparation, all of which was aimed at minimizing casualties. But it was the splendid fighting qualities and devotion to duty of Canadian officers and soldiers on the battlefield that were decisive. Most of them citizen-soldiers, they performed like professionals.
Canadians attacked German machine-guns, the greatest obstacles to their advance, with great courage. They saved many comrades’ lives as a result. Four won the Victoria Cross for their bravery in such dangerous exploits. Of these, three were earned on the opening day of the battle.
The Canadian success at Vimy marked a profound turning-point for the Allies. A year-and-a-half later, the Great War was over. The Canadian record, crowned by the achievements at Vimy, won for Canada a separate signature on the Versailles Peace Treaty ending the war. Back home, the victory at Vimy, won by troops from every part of the country, helped unite many Canadians in pride at the courage of their citizen-soldiers, and established a feeling of real nationhood.
Sources: For King & Empire, Veterans Affairs Canada, Library and Archives Canada
If you would like to know more about Vimy Ridge, I can highly recommend “Vimy Ridge” written by Pierre Berton.
These other bloggers are participating in wishing John a Happy Birthday & I encourage you to visit their blogs to check out their posts for John:
AFrankAngle http://afrankangle.wordpress.com/
FiftyFourAndAHalf http://fiftyfourandahalf.com/
LifeOfJaimie http://thelifeofjamie.wordpress.com/
BrainRants http://brainrants.wordpress.com/
Madame Weebles http://fearnoweebles.wordpress.com/
El Guapo
Dec 22, 2012 @ 09:12:23
That’s a great piece of history, and a perfect gift for John on his birthday!
LikeLike
benzeknees
Dec 22, 2012 @ 12:54:12
I hope he enjoys the history. Vimy Ridge was especially close to my heart since there were some Winnipeggers (my birth place) who fought so valiantly in this battle, they renamed Pine Street in Winnipeg to Vimy Road.
LikeLike
Enchanted Seashells
Dec 22, 2012 @ 10:01:37
I enjoyed the historical perspective and I don’t know John, but happy birthday!
LikeLike
benzeknees
Dec 22, 2012 @ 13:00:57
You should definitely head over to his site, he’s a hoot: http://windycitywonderer.wordpress.com/
LikeLike
Madame Weebles
Dec 22, 2012 @ 14:01:34
Now THAT’S good stuff, benzeknees. I found this really interesting—my knowledge of WWI history is pretty wanting, and the Canadian role in both WWI and WWII aren’t really well known down here in the US. So thanks for the history lesson!
LikeLike
benzeknees
Dec 22, 2012 @ 16:57:19
Glad you enjoyed it Madame! I just hope John likes it.
LikeLike
Mark Petruska
Dec 22, 2012 @ 15:20:51
I’ve seen John’s name around the blogosphere. And also on a bathroom wall or two around town. Let’s just say his reputation precedes him. And also, happy birthday, John!
LikeLike
benzeknees
Dec 22, 2012 @ 16:58:27
He’s quite the character Mark, if you have the time I would suggest you pop on over to his blog from time to time.
LikeLike
John Erickson
Dec 22, 2012 @ 16:57:05
That was a VERY special present, benze, and I thank you for it. I have an especial love of Canadian military history, having gotten hooked on the history of the 1942 invasion of Dieppe France – so much so, that one of my personas in re-enacting was that of a Royal Hamilton Light Infantryman. (And I must’ve done SOMETHING right, ’cause several of the veterans “adopted” me to the unit when I visited Hamilton some years ago!
Once again, thank you SO much for all of this, and thanks to everyone for all their great responses to my birthday!
LikeLike
benzeknees
Dec 22, 2012 @ 17:00:16
You’re welcome John. Vimy Ridge has always been close to my heart too because of the role Winnipeg soldiers played in the offensive which led to the re-naming of Pine Street to Vimy Road in Winnipeg.
LikeLike
Elyse
Dec 22, 2012 @ 19:27:11
What a fascinating bit of history, Benze. Beautifully written.
WWI was such a horrible tragedy and most of the world has forgotten it. Sad.
But lovely post for John’s birthday.
LikeLike
benzeknees
Dec 22, 2012 @ 22:26:13
Thanks Elyse! I enjoyed participating in this & it got me out of mourning for Newtown.
LikeLike
Elyse
Dec 23, 2012 @ 07:24:59
Me too. A bit anyway!
LikeLike
On 22 December: A Tribute « A Frank Angle
Dec 23, 2012 @ 16:15:11
aFrankAngle
Dec 23, 2012 @ 18:32:01
Ah yes …. a fitting tribute of Canadian military history for John … which also includes his own additions. Well done! … and Happy Birthday John!
LikeLike
benzeknees
Dec 24, 2012 @ 10:17:44
Thanks Frank – I had to represent the Canadian POV
LikeLike
aFrankAngle
Dec 24, 2012 @ 10:31:39
You did well … now another celebration, so hope you can stop by my holiday party!
LikeLike
BrainRants
Dec 23, 2012 @ 19:48:03
I know of Vimy Ridge… and good post. Love it! I’m blogrolling you, but mainly because you’re a devoted commenter.
LikeLike
benzeknees
Dec 24, 2012 @ 10:16:05
Thanks Brain! Have been admiring you from afar for a while now. Either today or tomorrow I will be posting with a gift for you & a couple of my other blogging buddies who all love the same thing, simply because I can’t figure out how to insert a link into my comments. Has to be virtual because of where you are, but it’s the thought that counts, right?
LikeLike
writerwannabe763
Dec 23, 2012 @ 21:30:12
That was good information…my brother-in-law’s grandfather fought and was killed at Vimy Ridge…Diane
LikeLike
benzeknees
Dec 24, 2012 @ 10:16:52
Thanks Diane, I also lost some family members at Vimy Ridge.
LikeLike
gold price
Dec 31, 2012 @ 12:19:51
Vimy Ridge is a gradually rising escarpment on the western edge of the Douai Plains, eight kilometres northeast of Arras . The ridge gradually rises on its western side, dropping more quickly on the eastern side.
LikeLike