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Touring Vimy escarpment is laidoutbefore you. The twin pylonsofthe memorial are visible on tilted perfectlytoMeccaandtheiruniquenessisworththewalk. are graves Muslim The graves. Muslim and Jewish the find will you gates) main the from left your (to cemetery history.the throughout of conflicts end far the At near thebasilica contains the tombsof unknown soldiersfrommanyFrench its own right. Over 45,000Frenchsoldiers are buried in this cemetery. The crypt cemetery and memorial for the battles of 1914-1915andiswell worth visiting in the hilltocemetery. Itiswellmarked. This isthesiteofFrenchnational the RuedelaBlanc Voie andveerleftattheforkcontinuing on thesameroadup head north on the D937 to and turn left on the D57. Turn right at A B To understand the battles for Vimy Ridge walk tothe observation areas that overlook the battlefield. The gently sloping western side of the Vimy Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, 62153 Ablain-Saint-Nazaire, ). From Begin your studyof Vimy at Notre-Dame-de-Lorette (GPS –Colline de The Muslim section of the cemetery at ofthecemetery The section Muslim Notre-Dame-de-Lorette Touring Vimy . [Matt Symes]. [Matt

115 TOUR 116 TOUR battle thatwasfoughthere. clear days 4kilometres away and you can gain some idea of the scale of the Corps It isnotpossible topurchaselunchinthepark soremember to bring sandwiches phone number in France is 33 321585834.FromCanada, dial 011 before the 33. website andclick onthelinksoremail [email protected]. The reservation to visitthetunnels. To bookatourgotothe Veterans Affairs Canada sign uponthe day butif you arewith a large group(more than 6) youwill need a Canadiens where the interpretation center is. Ifyouarewithasmall groupyoucan Carlin and anotherleft on theD55.Cross A26 andit turns into Route des south onthe D937 and turn left on Rue du 11 Novembers. Veer left on Rue du des Canadiens62580 Thélus, France).FromCabaret Rouge Cemetery continue died onthefirstdayofBattle Vimy Ridgearealsoburiedhere. Ottawa. Oliverand Wilfred Chenier, brothersfromBuckingham, Quebec, who Warthe of in front Memorial in Soldier TombUnknown the the within of rest to 2000 that the remains of an unidentified Canadian soldier were exhumed and laid The cemetery is ontheedgeoftownyourright.Itfromthiscemetery in Souchez, France). Return to theD937and retrace your stepsthroughSouchez. day tovisitthememorial,tunnelsandinterpretationcentre. be exploredifyouhavetimebutmostvisitorsto Vimy needthebetterpartofa can below.sectors valley these the of in Each and Ridge Lorette the on positions the highlights p.54 sectors throughwhichthefourCanadian divisions attacked as welltheartillery on map The south. the to Eloi St. Mont at towers jagged have succeeded. German defensive positions onto the ridge it is unlikely that any attack would be apparent. Without Allied control of the Lorette Spur and the withdrawal of the quickly will Vimyhold Ridge not could Tenththe but when reached 1915 Army D C ret oref y dniyn te iy eoil t on 15 n the and 145 Point at Memorial Vimy the identifying by yourself Orient of fall and spring the in operations Army’s French the of significance The You shouldstartyourtourof Vimy at the visitation centre taking time to explore the replica trenches and the underground tunnels (GPS –Route impressive Cabaret Rouge War Cemetery (GPS –1Rue Carnot 62153 On yourwayto Vimy, Canadians maywishtotakeaslightdetourthe lot at the Moroccan Division Memorial. It commemorates the members of the of members the commemorates It Memorial. Division Moroccan the at lot picnic tables. which you will only be allowed to eat in the parking lot where there are a few columns represent on the right and left represent partners in arms. As youapproach the monument the male and female sculptures important aroleindecidingthelocationfor Allward’s design. nation at war.” That Point 145 is such a striking physical landscape played just as parts of the country, Vimy may be considered as the first appearance of our young all from drawn were components its as and, unit a as fought first Corps Canadian greater Canadian achievements even ifheconceded that “there itwasthat the At thetime Arthur Currieworriedthatthemonument would overshadowother War Vance, who wrote the award-winning study ofthe Canadian memory of the Great French MoroccanDivisionwhofoughttheirwaytothispointin1915. E F h Ti clms f h Vm Mmra rpeet rne n Canada, and France represent Memorial Vimy the of columns Twin The Death So Noble As you walk toward the Vimy Memorial, designed by Walterby Allward, designed Memorial, Vimythe toward walk you As you cannot help but be impressed by its sheer size and beauty.and size sheer its Jonathan by impressed be but help cannot you monument take a moment to lookacrosstheroadfromupperparking Next drive to theparkinglot by the memorial. Before you visit the Truth andKnowledge , called Vimy “Canada’s primary altar to the fallen of war.”of fallen the to altar Vimy“Canada’scalled primary , The twin columnsThe ofthe twin Vimy Lachance] Memorial.[Nick Mourning Parents . As youwrapabout the monument you . The Statues at the top of the

117 TOUR 118 TOUR the Sword” sculpture which originally included a German helmet crushed under crushed helmet German a included originally which sculpture Sword” the and thereforeaplace of pilgrimage. Allward alsoagreed to modifyhis“Breaking monument. This change transformed Vimy into hallowed ground, anempty tomb the names ofthemissingwasoneseveralalterations to theoriginaldesignof of addition The design. original the of part not were Vimythe Memorial of base was meanttogivetheeffect ofacathedral. wall andpillarsrepresented the topofacrossandsunlightonmonument a deeply religious feel to the Vimy Memorial, the direct references are subtle. The sits the the northern edge the Wall ofDefence look backatthemonumentfromgrassyouseewhatrepresentsanimpenetrable Spirit of Sacrifice see their families present for the Vimy pilgrimage. The pilgrimage like the memorial the footofonefigures. Thiswasdonetoavoid“militaristicimagery.” Mother Canada The 11,285 namesofmissingCanadians with noknowngravearoundthe The memorial was unveiledin1936withthousands ofCanadian Veterans and Stone Sarcophagus . Onthesouthernsideyouhave

and thePassingofTorch mourning her dead.Inthe middle of the two pillars sits the Sympathy of the Canadians forthe Helpless The namesofthemissingon Vimy Lachance] Memorial.[Nick representing Canada’s killed soldiers. Though there is . As youdescendthestaircaseand Breaking oftheSwords . Inthe middle andon 119 TOUR 120 TOUR of the D49 and the N17 (GPS–32Rue des Artilleurs Canadiens, Thélus, France). monument to theSecondDivisionon thewesternedgeof Thélus atthejunction the is find to easiest VimyThe holding Ridge. and taking in Corps Canadian the divisional memorials, placed shortly after the battle to honour the part played by Canadian Infantry, (AlbertaRegiment). soldiers buried here is Victoria Cross recipient Private John George Pattison, 50th 1, isshapedlikeanartillery Cemetery No.shell. Among the638Canadian Vimy, France). The burialground,whichwasoriginally called Vimy Canadian your way to La Chaudière Military Cemetery (GPS - 3-5 Route Nationale, 62580 be virtually impossible tovisit every Canadian grave, butifyouhave time make would It Memorial. Vimy the of radius kilometre 20 a within cemeteries 30 in aggression? Itwasallthesethingsandmore. Canada would again play its part in defending Britain and France against German as a remonstrance against war ora warning to the enemies of democracy that statement about an independent Canadian nation? Was the monument to be seen VIII suggest an imperial event solidifying Canada’s relationship with Britain or a Edward King of presence the Did missing? the mourning ceremony a or Corps was fullofambiguities. Was it a celebration of the achievement ofthe Canadian monument, 26July1936.[PA 148873] A large crowd ofFrench civiliansandCanadian pilgrims gather for thededication ofthe On yourwaybackto Arras youmight consider visiting one ofthe three Of themorethan65,000Canadians killed in theGreat War, 7,000areburied other activities inthe Arras region. lives ofsoldiers andcivilians. The websiteoffers linkstohotels, restaurants,and 6:00pm. (http://www.carriere-wellington.com). It provides real insight into the museum underground the Carrière Wellington which is openevery day from 10:00am-12:30pm and 1:30- for time Make cemetery. the in buried Canadians died who in NorthernFranceincluding the 207fatalities in April 1917. airmen There are153 the commemorates Memorial Services Flying The graves. and South African troops whodied in the Arras sector and whohave no known Commonwealth Faubourg-d’Amiens the Zealand New British, in 34,718 the Cemetery.commemorates Memorial The Arras Citadelle, La for signs Follow located two kilometres west oftherailwaystationonBlvd.CharlesdeGaulle. information. tourist other and links hotel has site official The Tourism-Battlefields.” “Arras War guidebook Christie’s Norm consult Lens and 70 Hill see to determined are you If day. difficult a for make points viewing or memorials of absence the and traffic urbanization, as recommended oftheirfallencomrades theBattle during of memory Vimy Ridge, February 1918.[PA 2507] Currie,in unveilingSir Arthur erected by theSecondDivisionMemorial Canadian Artillery n i “o Kn ad mie sre. o cret nomto sac for search information current For series. Empire” and King “For his in You might wish to visit the Arras Memorial and Flying Services Memorial Services Flying and Memorial Arras the visit to wish Youmight A tourofthe area immediately east and north of Arras isnot really Other Canadian Battlefields of the Great the of Battlefields Canadian Other Arras

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Touring Passendale The village (nowspelledPassendale)hasbeencompletely rebuilt, notrestored, 1917. in like looked area the what of sense any obtain to impossible quite is It that greet visitorsasthey leave give an eerie claustrophobic feel that allows you contribution is lumpedinwiththeBritishforces. The trenchesinthebasement artifacts and audio/visualpresentationsonthe1917 battle though the Canadian numerous has Chateau, rebuilt a of grounds the on located Museum, Memorial right onBertenPilstraatwhere themuseumiswellmarked. The Passchendaele turn and Zonnebeke to north N37 the take Ieper From Zonnebeke). B-8980 5, hamlet ofGravenstafel. the Canadiansentered the battle, the British-Australian frontline included the war, thedrainage has been restored and the landscape appears unscarred. When and though the farm land still yields shells and other ordnance fragments from the A the “Passchendaele Memorial Museum” in Zonnebeke (GPS – Ieperstraat For thoselookingforageneral overview ofthebattle begin yourdayat Passchendaele, before thebattle. andafter Touring Passchendaele

123 TOUR 124 TOUR the websiteforhoursandevents(http://www.passchendaele.be). to experience a bitofwhatit must have been like during the Great War. Consult Mercer Papineau who had publicly debated the meaning of the war and Canada’s memorial, asharpreminderofjusthowlimitedtheadvancewas. of Ypresspires the the from to back look to possible is It Ridge.” Passchendaele 1917 advanced across thisvalley, thenatreacherous morass –captured and held Passchendaele arelocatedinthesquarebesidechurch. the variousbattles in thesalient and providing information on thebattle for dedicated to the British 66th Division. Two impressive bronze plaques describing Church in the centre of Passendale that has striking stained glass windows N303 north toward the centre of Passendale. Take a moment and stop at the Passendale, Belgium).ReturntotheN37/N332headingnorthandturnlefton B C mn toe h de i te ate o ez te ig ws ao Talbot Major was ridge the seize to battle the in died who those Among The Canadian Memorial for the battle is located west of the village on village the of west located is battle the for Memorial Canadian The bloc Memorial. The inscription reads “The Canadian Corps in Oct-Nov in Corps Canadian “The reads inscription The Memorial. bloc Continue alongCanadalaanwhichwilltakeyoudirectly to theCanadian the Canadalaan (GPS –Route66bvbaCanadalaan 39, near8980 The at Canadian Passchendaele. Memorial Symes] [Matt further Canadian participation in to Bourassa,whowasopposed letter open an In Bourassa. Henri the French Canadian nationalist national identity withhiscousin, the battalion’s headquarters during the battle. It commemorates the 85th Battalion’s raised in1919 by theregiment before returninghome.Itwaserected on thesiteof hand side,isnotwellmarked andeasilymissed. originally The monument was (GPS –Passendalestraat 80, 8980Passendale, Belgium). The location, on the left wartime makeshiftgravethatwaslosttothecarnageofPasschendaele. Papineau’sby pass will you Memorial Battalion Highlanders) Scotia (Nova 85th Major Hugh Wilderspin: “You know, Hughie, this is suicide.” As you move to the moments before going over the top, Papineau’s uttered his final recorded words to battalion, the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light rejoin his Infantry, in to 1917. On October 30, obligated felt Papineau Major Office, Records War Canadian for speaking Canadians. Despite having secured a position behind the lines working English- to addressed be to needed also that Wordsseparation.” and friction of thanpoints interest ofcommon and of contact points find to seek rather must we continent,… English-speaking great a in minority [French] a “As that argued he letter the in Later France?” and England of Motherlands two the to purposes for highinternational and humane organization – butinspiritunited independent even initspolitical in thought,independent in action, nation,…independent Canadian true will itnotcement afoundationfor or for nothing go to sacrifice their side…Is by side dying and fighting are Canadians English and “French the war, Papineaudeclared that D The 85th (Nova Scotia) Battalion Monument is located down a grass a down located is Monument Battalion Scotia) (Nova 85th The track onthesouthedgeof village off theN303/N37toward Tyne-Cot Captain Talbot Papineau, 1916.[CWMEO-0476]

125 TOUR 126 TOUR advocates of peace upon earth throughtheyears tocome,thanthismassed speech, “Ihave manytimesaskedmyself whethertherecanbemore potent cemetery, near the endofhispilgrimage, that King George V saidina were killed after 16 August 1917withnoknowngrave. Itwasat Tyne Cot memorial to the missing with 34,887 names of British and New Zealand men who suffered atPasschendaele. The northeastboundaryofthecemetery featuresthe in 2007servestoindividualize the morethan200,000Commonwealth casualties northeast, you can survey the approaches to the ridge. The Visitor Centre opened visitation center and theparkinglotiswell-marked on yourright. Lookingtothe Belgium). Continue south onthe N303/N37 andturnright on Tynecotstraat. The Zonnebeke, 8980 Tynecotstraat29, – (GPS pill-box German a of top on located was rededicatedin2001. men. A newmonument, a replica of the original but made of Nova Scotia granite, costliest action of the war where the “Neverfails” as they became known, lost 148 high ground ofthe southofthevillageandfinalobjective Passchendaele offensive. painting features to theMonument the85th(Nova Scotia)Battalion whichstandsatop the Hamilton, Riter Mary E cemetery in the world and the only one in which the Cross of Sacrifice is war Commonwealth largest the Cemetery, Cot Tyne at visit your End Canadian Monument Near Passchendaele . [LAC 1988-180-114]. This while carryingthesecondwounded soldiertosafety. shell exploding an by hit fatally was but soldier, first the rescued and returned they realizedtwowoundedcomrades hadbeenleftbehind.Robertsonimmediately gun heledacharge intoPasschendaele.Oncetheyhadreturnedtotheirownlines, machine the carrying While soldiers. fleeing the of remainder the on around gun charged thepost,killedfourGermanswithhisbayonetandturnedmachine a German machine gun that was wreaking havoc on the 27th Battalion. Robertson during thebattle ofPasschendaele. Robertsonvolunteered for thetaskofsilencing recipients VC Canadian nine of last the Robertson, Peter James Private of grave the find to want will war.” Canadians end can war that fallacy the to “Sacrificed with theRoyalIrishFusiliers,carriessimplebutpotentanti-warmessage that two visitors will want to locate. The grave of are Arthur Conway Young, there Second Lieutenant percent, 30 remaining the Of God.” unto “Known epitaph haunting the with inscribed and unidentified are – total the of percent 70 – 8,367 burials, 11,954 the Of war.” of desolation the to witnesses silent of multitude An aerial view of An aerial Tyne Cot Cemetery. McGeer] [Eric

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