Vimy Ridge Day

In 2003, the Government of Canada declared 9 April to be "Vimy Ridge Day", to honour and remember the Battle of Vimy Ridge which took place during the First World War at Vimy Ridge, France, in 1917.{{citation|url=http://www.calgarysun.com/2014/04/06/remembering-vimy--cadets-mark-one-of-nations-great-battles |work=Calgary Sun |title=Remembering Vimy – cadets mark one of nation's great battles |first=Katie |last= Schneider |access-date=7 April 2017 |date=5 April 2015}}{{cite book |last1=Cunningham |first1=Jack |last2=Maley |first2=William |title=Australia and Canada in Afghanistan: Perspectives on a Mission |date=2 May 2015 |publisher=Dundurn |isbn=978-1-4597-3126-4 |page=218 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2RIiBQAAQBAJ |language=en}} The initiative to create the day of commemoration was spearheaded by Robert Manuel, a Korean War veteran.{{citation |url=http://www.elliotlakestandard.ca/2017/04/06/bob-manuel-to-mark-100th-anniversary-of-vimy-ridge-in-elliot-lake-with-lieutenant-genera |title=Bob Manuel to mark 100th anniversary of Vimy Ridge in Elliot Lake with lieutenant-general |work=Ellior Lake Standard |date=6 April 2017 |access-date=7 April 2017}} The annual non-statutory observance was created through passage of Bill C-227, introduced by Brent St. Denis, the Member of Parliament for Algoma-Manitoulin.{{Cite news |url=http://www.elliotlakestandard.ca/2017/04/12/elliot-lake-marks-100th-anniversary-of-battle-of-vimy-ridge |title=Elliot Lake marks 100th anniversary of Battle of Vimy Ridge |last=McSheffrey |first=Kevin |date=12 April 2017 |work=Elliot Lake Standard |access-date=7 April 2018 |language=en-CA |archive-date=7 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180407120134/http://www.elliotlakestandard.ca/2017/04/12/elliot-lake-marks-100th-anniversary-of-battle-of-vimy-ridge |url-status=live }} By law, it is required that the Canadian flag on the Peace Tower of Parliament Hill in Ottawa be lowered to half-mast.{{cite web |url=http://canada.pch.gc.ca/eng/1444133232495 |title=Rules for half-masting the National Flag of Canada |date=28 August 2017 |language=en |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=7 April 2018 |df=dmy-all |archive-date=16 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416000710/http://canada.pch.gc.ca/eng/1444133232495 |url-status=live }} Small ceremonies, including the laying of wreaths, also normally take place at the Canadian National War Memorial in Ottawa, the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France and other areas across Canada.{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}}

{{Main|Battle of Vimy Ridge}}

For the first time, all four Canadian divisions were to be assembled to operate in combat as a corps. The Canadian divisions were joined by the British 5th Infantry Division, and reinforced by artillery, engineer and labour units.Nicholson p. 229 The Canadian Corps was supported to the north by the 24th British Division of I Corps which advanced north of the Souchez river and by the advancing XVII Corps to the south.Turner p. 39 The attack began at 5:30 a.m. on Easter Monday, 9 April 1917, whereupon every artillery piece at the disposal of the Canadian Corps began firing. Light field guns laid down a barrage which advanced in predetermined increments, often {{convert|100|yd|m}} every three minutes, while medium and heavy howitzers established a series of standing barrages further ahead, against known defensive systems.Cook p. 117

The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Canadian Divisions reported reaching and capturing their first objective, the Black Line, by 6:25 a.m.Nicholson p. 254 The 4th Canadian Division encountered a great deal of trouble during its advance and was unable to complete its first objective until some hours later. After a planned pause, during which positions were consolidated, the advance resumed. Shortly after 7:00 a.m., the 1st Canadian Division had taken half of its second objective, the Red Line, and moved a brigade forward to mount an attack on the remainder.Nicholson p. 255 The 2nd Canadian Division reported reaching the Red Line and capturing the town of Les Tilleuls at approximately the same time.Campbell pp. 178–179 Units at the 3rd Canadian Division reached their section of the Red Line at around 7:30 a.m.Hayes p. 200 However, due to an exposed left flank caused by the failure of the 4th Canadian Division to capture the top of the ridge, the 3rd Canadian Division was forced to stop and establish a divisional defensive flank to its north.Hayes pp. 202–203 It was not until 11:00 a.m. that the defending German 79th Reserve Division mounted a counterattack, by which time only the 4th Canadian Division had not reached its objective.Godefroy p. 231

Three fresh brigades were moved up to the Red Line by 9:30 a.m., 10 April to support the advance whereupon they leapfrogged existing units occupying the Red line and advanced to the Blue Line.Campbell p. 179 By approximately 11:00 a.m., the Blue Line, including Hill 135 and the town of Thélus, had been captured.Campbell pp.179–181 The advance briefly halted, the artillery barrage remaining stationary for 90 minutes to give troops time to consolidate the Blue Line and bring supporting machine guns forward.Nicholson p. 257 Shortly before 1 p.m., the advance recommenced with the Brown Line being secure around 2:00 p.m.Campbell p. 182 By this point only the northern half of Hill 145 and "the Pimple", a fortified highpoint outside of Givenchy-en-Gohelle, remained under German control. Fresh troops finally forced the remaining German troops from the northern half of Hill 145 at around 3:15 p.m and by nightfall of 10 April, the only objective not yet achieved was the capture of "the Pimple".Godefroy p. 220 Supported by a significant amount of artillery and the 24th British Division of I Corps to the north, the 10th Canadian Brigade attacked the hastily entrenched German troops and captured "the Pimple" on 12 April, bringing an end to the battle.Nicholson p. 263 By nightfall on 12 April 1917 the Canadian Corps was in firm control of the ridge.

The corps had suffered 10,602 casualties; 3,598 killed and 7,004 wounded.Moran p. 139 The German Sixth Army suffered an unknown number of casualties with an approximate 4,000 men becoming prisoners of war.{{cite web |url= https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9904E2DE153AE433A25752C1A9629C946696D6CF |last= Gibbs |first= Philip |title= All of Vimy Ridge Cleared of Germans |work= The New York Times |date= 11 April 1917 |access-date= 9 April 2025 |archive-date= 7 November 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121107050109/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9904E2DE153AE433A25752C1A9629C946696D6CF |url-status= live }} Four Victoria Crosses, the highest military decoration awarded to British and Commonwealth forces for valour, were awarded to members of the Canadian Corps and at least two Orders Pour le Mérite, the Kingdom of Prussia's highest military order, were awarded to German commanders.Godefroy p. 233 The Germans did not attempt to recapture the ridge, including during the Spring Offensive, and it remained under British control until the end of the war.

{{Portal|Holidays}}

• Vimy Award
• Vimy Ridge (march)
• Robert Manuel (veteran)

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• {{Citation | ref = Reference-Cook | last = Cook | first = Tim | year = 2007 | contribution = The Gunners of Vimy Ridge: 'We are Hammering Fritz to Pieces' | editor-last = Hayes | editor-first = Geoffrey | editor2-last = Iarocci | editor2-first = Andrew | editor3-last = Bechthold | editor3-first = Mike | title = Vimy Ridge: A Canadian Reassessment | location = Waterloo | publisher = Wilfrid Laurier University Press | pages = 105–124 | isbn = 978-0-88920-508-6 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Pf5y7sehRwAC&pg=PA105 }}

• {{Citation | ref = Reference-Campbell | last = Campbell | first = David | year = 2007 | contribution = The 2nd Canadian Division: A 'Most Spectacular Battle' | editor-last = Hayes | editor-first = Geoffrey | editor2-last = Iarocci | editor2-first = Andrew | editor3-last = Bechthold | editor3-first = Mike | title = Vimy Ridge: A Canadian Reassessment | location = Waterloo | publisher = Wilfrid Laurier University Press | pages = 171–192 | isbn = 978-0-88920-508-6 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Pf5y7sehRwAC&pg=PA171 }}

• {{Citation | ref = Reference-Godefroy | last = Godefroy | first = Andrew | author-link = Andrew Godefroy | year = 2007a | contribution = The 4th Canadian Division: 'Trenches Should Never be Saved' | editor-last = Hayes | editor-first = Geoffrey | editor2-last = Iarocci | editor2-first = Andrew | editor3-last = Bechthold | editor3-first = Mike | title = Vimy Ridge: A Canadian Reassessment | location = Waterloo | publisher = Wilfrid Laurier University Press | pages = 211–224 | isbn = 978-0-88920-508-6 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Pf5y7sehRwAC&pg=PA211 }}

• {{Citation | ref = Reference-Godefroy2 | last = Godefroy | first = Andrew | author-link = Andrew Godefroy | year = 2007b | contribution = The German Army at Vimy Ridge | editor-last = Hayes | editor-first = Geoffrey | editor2-last = Iarocci | editor2-first = Andrew | editor3-last = Bechthold | editor3-first = Mike | title = Vimy Ridge: A Canadian Reassessment | location = Waterloo | publisher = Wilfrid Laurier University Press | pages = 225–238 | isbn = 978-0-88920-508-6 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Pf5y7sehRwAC&pg=PA225 }}

• {{Citation | ref = Reference-Hayes | last = Hayes | first = Geoffrey | year = 2007 | contribution = The 3rd Canadian Division: Forgotten Victory | editor-last = Hayes | editor-first = Geoffrey | editor2-last = Iarocci | editor2-first = Andrew | editor3-last = Bechthold | editor3-first = Mike | title = Vimy Ridge: A Canadian Reassessment | location = Waterloo | publisher = Wilfrid Laurier University Press | pages = 193–210 | isbn = 978-0-88920-508-6 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Pf5y7sehRwAC&pg=PA193 | access-date = 9 April 2025 | archive-date = 21 December 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221221015623/https://books.google.com/books?id=Pf5y7sehRwAC&pg=PA193 | url-status = live }}

• {{Citation | ref = Reference-Moran | last = Moran | first = Heather | year = 2007 | contribution = The Canadian Army Medical Corps at Vimy Ridge | editor-last = Hayes | editor-first = Geoffrey | editor2-last = Iarocci | editor2-first = Andrew | editor3-last = Bechthold | editor3-first = Mike | title = Vimy Ridge: A Canadian Reassessment | location = Waterloo | publisher = Wilfrid Laurier University Press | pages = 139–154 | isbn = 978-0-88920-508-6 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Pf5y7sehRwAC&pg=PA139 }}

• {{Citation |ref= Reference-Nicholson |title= Official History of the Canadian Army in the First World War: Canadian Expeditionary Force 1914–1919 |last= Nicholson |first= Gerald W. L. |author-link= G. W. L. Nicholson |year= 1962 |publisher= Queen's Printer and Controller of Stationery |location= Ottawa |url= http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/his/docs/CEF_e.pdf |access-date= 13 January 2011 |archive-date= 26 August 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110826165151/http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/his/docs/CEF_e.pdf |url-status= dead }}

• {{Citation |ref=Reference-Turner |title=Vimy Ridge 1917: Byng's Canadians Triumph at Arras |last=Turner |first=Alexander |year=2005 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |location=London |isbn=1-84176-871-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R19FvgAACAAJ }}

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Category:April observances

Category:Remembrance days

Category:Spring (season) in Canada