The years 1916 to 1918 marked a period of intense and transformative action for the Canadian Corps on the Western Front. These were the years in which the Canadian forces evolved from relatively untested colonial troops to one of the most formidable and respected fighting forces in the Allied arsenal. Under the command of officers like Lieutenant-General Sir Julian Byng and Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Currie, the Canadians demonstrated their ability to execute complex tactics, achieve strategic objectives, and contribute decisively to the Allied cause. Historian G.W.L. Nicholson wrote, “In these years, the Canadians carved out a legacy of courage, resilience, and tactical innovation, their actions marking a coming of age for both the Corps and the nation” (Canadian Expeditionary Force: 1914–1919).
1916: The Somme – Canada’s First Major Offensive
The Battle of the Somme in 1916 was one of the bloodiest conflicts of the war and marked the Canadian Corps’ initiation into large-scale offensive operations. Following months of grinding attrition, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Canadian Divisions were thrown into action in September, with orders to capture the village of Courcelette. This was the first major offensive where Canadian forces fought as a coordinated unit, and it would be the beginning of Canada’s reputation as elite shock troops.
Commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir Julian Byng, the Canadians were tasked with capturing Courcelette, a fortified German position, as part of a broader British offensive. The Canadians advanced behind a creeping artillery barrage, a tactic that would become their hallmark, allowing them to move forward with protection from German machine-gun fire. Historian Tim Cook wrote, “At Courcelette, the Canadians learned the deadly rhythm of the Western Front: advance, fortify, and endure the inevitable counterattack” (Shock Troops).
The fighting at Courcelette was intense, with Canadian forces facing relentless machine-gun fire, artillery barrages, and counterattacks. Despite these challenges, the Canadians captured the village and held it against repeated German attempts to retake it. The cost was high; the Canadians suffered over 24,000 casualties on the Somme, yet their success marked a significant step in their development as a fighting force. Historian Desmond Morton observed, “The Somme was a crucible of fire for the Canadians, a test of both their courage and their capacity for endurance” (When Your Number’s Up).
1917: Vimy Ridge – The Birth of a National Identity
The Battle of Vimy Ridge in April 1917 is often seen as Canada’s defining moment in the First World War. Tasked with capturing the heavily fortified ridge, the Canadian Corps, now commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Currie, conducted meticulous planning and preparation. Currie insisted on a detailed approach, with soldiers rehearsing the attack on mock-ups of German positions. Historian Pierre Berton noted, “The preparation for Vimy was exhaustive, a methodical approach that would ensure every man knew his role in the coming assault” (Vimy).
On the morning of April 9, 1917, the Canadians launched their attack behind a well-coordinated creeping barrage, advancing methodically across no-man’s land and overrunning German positions. Within hours, they had captured most of the ridge, achieving what British and French forces had failed to accomplish over years of attempts. The victory at Vimy was not only a military success but also a symbolic one, marking Canada’s emergence as a united, capable force on the global stage. Historian G.W.L. Nicholson described Vimy as “a triumph of Canadian arms, a battle that would forever be remembered as a symbol of the nation’s courage and unity” (Canadian Expeditionary Force: 1914–1919).
The cost of victory was high, with over 10,000 Canadian casualties. However, the success at Vimy cemented Currie’s reputation as a skilled commander and laid the foundation for future Canadian successes. The Canadian Corps had proven its ability to plan and execute complex operations, a skill that would be essential in the brutal battles yet to come.
The Battle of Passchendaele: October – November 1917
Following Vimy, the Canadian Corps was ordered to assist in the Third Battle of Ypres, also known as Passchendaele, a campaign that had already claimed thousands of Allied lives. By the time the Canadians arrived in October 1917, the battlefield had turned into a quagmire, with mud so thick that it swallowed men and horses whole. Currie, now fully in command, protested the decision to involve his troops, predicting heavy casualties, but his objections were overruled.
The Canadian Corps advanced under appalling conditions, slogging through knee-deep mud and under constant artillery fire. Currie employed a tactic of “bite and hold,” advancing in small, controlled phases to capture and secure objectives before moving forward. Despite these precautions, the conditions and strong German resistance made progress agonizingly slow. The Canadians eventually captured Passchendaele Ridge, but at a terrible cost—over 15,000 casualties. Historian C.P. Stacey noted, “Passchendaele was a nightmare of mud and blood, a battle where Canadian courage was tested to its absolute limits” (Canada and the Age of Conflict).
Though strategically questionable, the capture of Passchendaele was another testament to the resilience and determination of the Canadian Corps. It was a victory achieved in some of the most horrific conditions of the war, and it further solidified the Canadians’ reputation as tenacious fighters.
1918: Canada’s Hundred Days and the Final Push
By 1918, the strategic situation on the Western Front had shifted. The German Army, weakened from its failed Spring Offensive, was now on the defensive. The Hundred Days Offensive, beginning in August 1918, was a coordinated Allied push aimed at breaking through German lines and ending the war. The Canadian Corps played a pivotal role in this offensive, achieving a series of rapid and decisive victories that culminated in the capture of Mons just hours before the Armistice.
The Battle of Amiens on August 8, 1918, marked the beginning of Canada’s Hundred Days. The Canadians, alongside Australian and British forces, launched a surprise attack that broke through German defenses and advanced over 11 kilometers on the first day alone. Historian Tim Cook described Amiens as “a stunning display of coordinated warfare, a demonstration of the Canadian Corps’ evolution into a lethal fighting machine” (Shock Troops).
Following Amiens, the Canadian Corps continued to press the German lines, capturing key objectives like the Drocourt-Quéant Line and the Canal du Nord. Currie’s meticulous planning and the Corps’ coordination allowed them to overcome heavily fortified German positions with minimal casualties compared to earlier battles. The Canadians’ ability to maintain momentum and achieve successive breakthroughs was instrumental in hastening the German collapse.
In October 1918, the Canadian Corps advanced toward the town of Cambrai, a key logistical hub for the German army. The battle for Cambrai was fierce, with the Canadians facing entrenched German defenses and determined counterattacks. However, the Canadian Corps captured the town after days of hard fighting, further weakening the German position on the Western Front.
The Capture of Mons and the End of the War
The final act of Canada’s Hundred Days came with the capture of Mons on November 10, 1918. For the Canadians, Mons held symbolic significance, as it had been one of the first towns occupied by German forces in 1914. The Canadian Corps entered the town after a series of skirmishes, liberating it just hours before the Armistice went into effect on November 11, 1918. Historian C.P. Stacey wrote, “The liberation of Mons was Canada’s closing act in the Great War, a fitting end to a journey marked by sacrifice and valor” (A Very Double Life).
The Hundred Days Offensive had been costly for the Canadian Corps, with over 45,000 casualties sustained in the final months of the war. However, the Canadian contribution to the Allied victory was undeniable. Historian G.W.L. Nicholson remarked, “In the final push to victory, the Canadians fought with a determination that hastened the end of the war and cemented their legacy as elite troops” (Canadian Expeditionary Force: 1914–1919).
The Legacy of the Canadian Actions from 1916 to 1918
The years 1916 to 1918 were transformative for the Canadian Corps. From the bloody fields of the Somme to the heights of Vimy Ridge, the mud of Passchendaele, and the final push through Mons, the Canadians had proven themselves on some of the most difficult battlefields of the Western Front. Under Currie’s leadership, the Corps had evolved into a highly effective, autonomous fighting force that could operate independently and achieve complex objectives.
The achievements of the Canadian Corps during these years left an indelible mark on Canada’s national identity. The battles of 1916 to 1918 fostered a sense of unity and pride, as Canadians at home celebrated the bravery and sacrifices of their soldiers abroad. Historian Desmond Morton observed, “The First World War was Canada’s baptism of fire, a crucible that shaped its identity and affirmed its place on the world stage” (When Your Number’s Up).
Conclusion: A Legacy of Courage and Independence
Canada’s actions from 1916 to 1918 were marked by a commitment to duty, a willingness to endure unimaginable hardships, and a determination to achieve victory. From the brutal offensive at the Somme to the strategic brilliance of Vimy, the harrowing conditions of Passchendaele, and the relentless drive of the Hundred Days, the Canadian Corps forged a legacy of courage and resilience.
As historian Pierre Berton concluded, “The soldiers who fought and died on the Western Front gave Canada a story of courage, one that would define a young nation’s place in the world” (Vimy). The Canadians’ journey from 1916 to 1918 was one of sacrifice, transformation, and ultimate triumph—a story that continues to inspire and shape Canada’s national memory.
References
- Nicholson, G.W.L. Canadian Expeditionary Force: 1914–1919. Queen’s Printer, 1962.
- Morton, Desmond. When Your Number’s Up: The Canadian Soldier in the First World War. Random House Canada, 1993.
- Berton, Pierre. Vimy. McClelland & Stewart, 1986.
- Cook, Tim. Shock Troops: Canadians Fighting the Great War, 1917–1918. Viking Canada, 2008.
- Stacey, C.P. Canada and the Age of Conflict: A History of Canadian External Policies. University of Toronto Press, 1984.