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
FallenSoldiers - RockwoodCenotaph
7
ThomasEdwardswas born inHalifax, NovaScotia on 15September 1899 toWilliam J. andAlice
Maude (neeMurley) Edwards. Hewas the second oldest of their nine children (William b.1898,
Edwardb.1901, Fredrick b.1903, Flora b.1904, Constance b.1907, Geraldine b.1908,Alexander b.
1910 andAlfred b.1916). His family subsequentlymoved toCarrol St. inRockwood, Ontariowhen
William startedwork at one of the local stone quarries. Thomaswasworking on the farmof John
Lister, a short distance south of Rockwood, when on 27April 1916 he volunteered inSt. Catharines
for overseas service at the age of 16 years and 7months. Theminimum age to enlist was 18
sohe declared that hewas two years older than his true age by stating that hewas born on 15
September 1897 on hisAttestationPapers (his true agewas not discovered until later). Immediately
after joining hewas referred to theDental Corps for treatment. When that was completed, hewas
assigned to the 176th OntarioBattalion. After a short periodof basic training, he left Halifax on 8
July 1916 onboard theS.S. Lapland andarrived inEngland on the 25th of July. InSeptember 1916
it was discovered that hewas underageand prohibited from proceeding to theContinent (France
andBelgium) and sent to the78thBattalion. Hewas still inEnglandwhen fivemonths later he
was admitted to theWestcliffeHospital after becoming ill. InMay he returned to service andwas
transferred to the 5thBattalionand subsequentlyCompanyB of the 3rdBattalion inFrance.
On 19August 1917, at the age of 17 years and 11months, hewas reportedKilled inActionat Hill
70, the result of Germanmining activity. His bodywas never found andhe has no known grave. His
name is engraved on theVimyMemorial near Pas deCalais, France and is alsomemorialized in the
Books of Remembrance, in thePeaceTower of theCanadianParliament Buildings, Ottawa.
Sadly, PrivateThomas LentonEdwardswas the older brother ofAlfred JamesEdwards, whose
name is also engraved on theRockwoodCenotaph under the 1939 – 1945Names of theFallen.
Born:
15September 1899 inHalifax, NovaScotia
Familymoved toCarrol Street inRockwood, Ontario
PreviousOccupation:
Farming (Edwards lied about his age to enlist at the age of 16)
Enlisted:
27April 1916 inSt. Catharines, Ontario
Died:
19August 1917 at the age of 17
uried:
Body n ver found / No kn wn gr ve
THOMASLENTONEDWARDS
850549Private
Battle for HILL70
TheB ttle for HILL70, near Lens, France, took place duringAugust 1917and has sometimes been
overlooked because it took placebetween theCanadianCorps’ success at VimyRidge and the
horrors of Passchendaele. TheGermans held this prominent hill and had fortified it heavily. This
gave them control over awidearea, including theTown of Lens. TheGerman fortificationswere
so heavy theywere considered impregnable. TheCanadian attack started on the evening of 14
August andby 18August, they had succeeded in gaining control of Hill 70. During these 4days,
they had successfully fought off 21German counterattacks. TheCanadian losseswere 1,505 killed,
4,297wounded and 41prisoners. TheGerman casualtieswere approximately 20,000men plus 970
prisoners. TheCanadian troops earned fiveVictoriaCrosses during this 4 day period.
