WorldWar I
FallenSoldiers - RockwoodCenotaph
Page 6
TheBattleof VimyRidge, France,April 1917, was the first time theCanadians fought as aCorps,
under aCanadianGeneral (Gen.Arthur Currie) and followed aCanadian battle plan. TheCanadian
force succeeded in takingVimyRidge, a task that had previously been unsuccessfully attempted
by first theFrenchArmy and later theBritishArmy. An extract from the official CanadianWar
Diary reads “TheBattle of VimyRidgewas amilitary engagement fought primarily as part of the
Battle ofArras, in theNord-Pas-de-Calais region of France, during theFirstWorldWar. Themain
combatantswere theCanadianCorps of four divisions, against three divisions of theGermanSixth
Army. The battle, which took place from 9 to 12April 1917, was part of the openingphase of the
British-ledBattleofArras, a diversionary attack for theFrenchNivelleOffensive.”
TheVIMYMEMORIAL is located near Pas deCalais, France. It isCanada’smost impressive tribute
overseas to thoseCanadianswho fought and gave their lives in theFirstWorldWar. Thismajestic
and inspiringMemorial overlooks theDouai Plain from the highest point of VimyRidge, about eight
kilometres northeast ofArras on theN17 towards Lens. TheMemorial is signposted from this road
to the left, just before you enter the village of Vimy from the south. Thememorial itself is someway
inside thememorial park, but again it iswell signposted.At the base of thememorial, thesewords
appear inFrench and inEnglish:
TOTHEVALOUROFTHEIRCOUNTRYMEN INTHEGREATWARAND INMEMORYOFTHEIR
SIXTYTHOUSANDDEADTHISMONUMENT ISRAISEDBYTHEPEOPLEOFCANADA
Inscribed on the ramparts of theVimyMemorial are the names of over 11,000Canadian soldiers
whowere posted as ‘missing, presumeddead’ inFrance.Aplaque at the entrance to thememorial
states that the land for thebattlefield park, 91.18 hectares in extent, was the free gift in perpetuity of
theFrench nation to the people of Canada. Construction of themassivework began in 1925, and 11
years later, on26 July 1936, themonument was unveiled byKingEdwardVIII.
The park surrounding theVimyMemorial was created by horticultural experts. Canadian trees
and shrubswere planted in great masses to resemble thewoods and forests of Canada.Wooded
parklands surround the grassy slopes of the approaches around theVimyMemorial. Trenches and
tunnels havebeen restored and preserved and the visitor can picture themagnitude of the task that
faced theCanadianCorps on that
distant dawnwhen historywas
made.
On 3April 2003, theGovernment
of Canada designated the9th of
April of each year as a national
day of remembrance of theBattle
of VimyRidge.
Battleof VimyRidge and theVimyMemorial
