Canadian Military History Volume 20 Issue 3 Article 5 2011 Side-Steppers and Original-Firsts: The Overseas Chevron Controversy and Canadian Identity in the Great War Andrew Iarocci Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh Part of the Military History Commons Recommended Citation Iarocci, Andrew "Side-Steppers and Original-Firsts: The Overseas Chevron Controversy and Canadian Identity in the Great War." Canadian Military History 20, 3 (2011) This Canadian War Museum is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Canadian Military History by an authorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. Iarocci: Side-Steppers and Original-Firsts Side-Steppers and Original-Firsts The Overseas Chevron Controversy and Canadian Identity in the Great War Andrew Iarocci he Great War was more than Canadians were killed or wounded auxiliaries who had served overseas Tthree years old by the end of at Vimy between 9 and 14 April.1 for extended periods. 1917 and there was no end in sight. The Dominion of Canada, with fewer In the context of a global conflict From the Allied perspective 1917 than 8 million people, would need to that claimed millions of lives and had been an especially difficult year impose conscription if its forces were changed the geo-political landscape with few hopeful moments. On the to be maintained at fighting strength. of the modern world, it may seem Western Front, French General Robert In the meantime, heavy fighting trifling to devote an article to a Nivelle’s grand plans for victory had continued in Artois throughout simple military badge that did not failed with heavy losses, precipitating the summer of 1917.