Northumbrian Gunner: Ypres 2016 - Brooding Soldier Canadian Memorial

Wednesday, 23 March 2016

Ypres 2016 - Brooding Soldier Canadian Memorial

Canadian Flag 1914

The Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) was raised following the British Governments acceptance of an offer by the Canadian Government to recruit 20,000 men. Men from all over Canada answered the call to arms, and by September 1914 a Division had been raised, together with a reserve formation.

Canadian Expedition Force 1914

The CEF left Canada on the night of 23/24 September 1914 in 33 liners protected by the Royal Navy en route to Plymouth and Devonport, arriving the evening of 14th October . In England, the Division occupied camps on Salisbury Plain, Bustard, West Down South, West Down North, Pond Farm, Lark Hill, and Sling Plantation. They trained and prepared for deployment to the Western Front.

The Canadians movement to France commenced 4th February 1914, the last transport reaching the port of St Nazzaire on 16th February. The Canadians first action was in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle 10-12 March 1914. After being relieved and a period of rest, they took over an area to the NE of Ypres from the French Army 15th - 17th April.

At around 17:00 on April 22, 1915, the German Army released one hundred and sixty eight tons of chlorine gas over a 5 mile front on the part of the line held by French.

The effect was devastating. Around 6,000 French and Colonial died within 10 minutes. The remainder abandoned their positions creating an 8,000 yard gap. As the Germans sought to to exploit the gap, the Canadians fought fiercely to block German penetration. Reinforcements and ad hoc formations, including elements of the newly arrived Northumbrian Division, established defensive positions, though a great deal of ground was ceded to the Germans. Despite another gas attack on the 24th April, the Germans were unable to break though.

Gas Attack Ypres - 22nd April 1944

To commemorate the action of the 1st Canadian Division and the loss of 2,000 lives, the 'Brooding Soldier' memorial at Vancouver Corner was built as a memorial to the Canadian Troops.