Vimy Ridge Memorial

April 9th, 1917 was the deadliest day in Canadian armed forces history. Over 3500 soldiers were killed and a further 7000+ injured. All four Canadian divisions fought together and succeeded in capturing Vimy Ridge from German control. The four divisions were made up of soldiers from all across the country and this assault saw them fight cohesively as a single formation for the first time.

This significant battle is an important part of Canadian history and the Vimy Ridge Memorial serves to commemorate the losses not only from that day, but also for all the soldiers killed in France during the First World War with no known final resting place.

Vimy Ridge Memorial

Located near the town of Vimy, just a few kilometres north from the town of Arras, France is a large memorial site dedicated to the battle of Vimy Ridge. Most notably, this site is home to the Vimy Ridge Monument. This Canadian National Vimy Memorial was built over 11 years and was finally completed in 1936. The base of the monument is comprised of 11,000+ tonnes of concrete and reinforcing steel. The two pillars are made of more than 6000 tonnes of limestone that was mined in Croatia.

The monument has 16 figures – all carved in place – representing the sacrifices that were made during this battle. Figures for Faith, Hope, Honour, Charity, Peace, Knowledge, Justice, and Truth are standing at the top of the monument. The Torch Bearer, and the Spirit of Sacrifice rest at the base of the pillars. On the steps of the monument are the Breaking of the Sword, The Sympathy of Canadians for the Helpless, and the Male and Female Mourners. A Tomb lies draped in laurel branches at the base with the Figure of Canada looking across the plains below.

The walls of the monument are covered in the carvings of 11,285 names of Canadians who died in France with no known grave. The nearby Givinchy Road Canadian Cemetery and Canadian Cemetery No. 2, as well as in more than 30 war cemeteries nearby are over 7000 Canadian soldiers who fought and died in war. It truly is a remarkable monument; one that left us touched by the sacrifices that were made at this location 101 years ago.

Visitors Centre & Tunnel Tour

Maintained by Veterans Affairs, the visitors centre – officially opened in 1997 – is situated beside preserved trench lines and tunnels. Inside the centre is an exhibition containing personal messages from those affected by the war. This exhibition really helps to shine a light on the war efforts, both in France as well as back home in Canada.

There are regular tours of the tunnels that surround the centre. What is shown in the tour is a mere fraction of the tunnel network in this area. More than 10km of known tunnels still exist with many more yet to be uncovered. Though the trenches are where the majority of the fighting occurred, the tunnels were used mainly for communication. Runners would traverse the tunnels relaying important information to the trenches.

The tunnels have been restored (and brought up to code for health & safety purposes), but you are still able to grasp what it would have been like down there. The conditions were often wet, humid, and muddy. Pumps existed to create a flow of oxygen in the tunnels, as well as to create a source of water.

Above ground are restored trenches with many mine craters nearby. One such crater separates two trenches by no more than 50m. This was called No Man’s Land and was a mess of mud, barbed wire, and shell craters during the War. The close proximity really gives a perspective of how close the enemy and Allied soldiers were fighting.

The Vimy Ridge Memorial is well worth visiting. I learned about this battle in Grade 10 history class, but visiting the location where these events took place was more emotional than I had anticipated. As a Canadian I was truly humbled by the sacrifices that occurred here 101 years ago.

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