Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules
100% correct no one knows about itI have heard Vimy Ridge called the place where Canada found an identity. For the US, it's probably Valley Forge. The Australians, Galliopoli. The sad thing about it is (and I'm going out on a limb here), I would guess that the average Canadian knows nothing about it. Never seem to see it mentioned.
Pb well done Canada. Your Vimy Ridge. Our Mein Gate and Mein Road Ypres and Albert. I have a lot of respect for our Canadian Allies. Well done in restoring those monuments at Vimy Ridge. I have 3 words for you Pb
LEST WE FORGET
It is not an insult to the average soldier but it is a barb directed at your High Command who for the most part were rigid in there thinkingI find that comment sad, ill-informed and quite frankly insulting to the massive sacrifice of the UK, 'other Empire', and French troops in WW1
World War I casualties - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia may help you get a true perspective of the sacrifices by the Allies.
Not to decry the efforts sacrifices of the Empire troops but you might spare a thought for the 1,000,000 UK and 1,700,000 French dead. More Indians died in WW1 than either Canadians or Australians!
It's not 'Your Vimy Ridge' or 'Our Menin Gate' anymore than it's 'Your Gallipoli' - it's THEIRS' - ie the Empire dead.
More books and less films perhaps?
Lest we forget (them all!)
Easter 2007 is the 90th anniversary of the First World War Canadian military attack on Vimy Ridge in France. CBC is commemorating the events with special broadcast coverage, online photo galleries: Four Days in April about the battle and Building the towers about Canada's war monument, and thoughts from a young Canadian student visiting war memorial sites in Europe.
The towering 10-storey white limestone Vimy Memorial Monument near Arras, France, fell into disrepair as rain eroded the soft stone and winters cracked some of the building blocks. After three years of restoration work, which included dismantling and rebuilding much of the structure, the dedication of the restored monument takes place Monday, April 9.
would be nice to be there, it's on CBc over the weekend hope to catch some of it
It is not an insult to the average soldier but it is a barb directed at your High Command who for the most part were rigid in there thinking
It is not an insult to the average soldier but it is a barb directed at your High Command who for the most part were rigid in there thinking
@ Emac44
Read what I wrote again.
I call them Empire troops because that's what they were at the time. The term colonials is also historically accurate. No-one would use such terms in a modern context as they're not accurate but in this context they're correct appropriate. I never said 'colonials' but it seems to have irked you anyway.
I think you have some issues to get over.
As for Gallipoli I never said it was ideally-planned or good generalship but was commenting on your use of 'our' whereas (as you no doubt know) the majority of troop losses were among the Brits and French. Again a point you failed to make and sought to ignore.
'Disparaging remarks'? Where? I'd love for you to point them out to me!
As for British / Indian realations that's irrelevant - my point was to contrast their losses with yours - I took out the bit 'that they don't keep banging on about it' but, maybe, should have left it in!
As for Haig's tactical abilities again you're no-doubt aware of the sophistication of tactics and the all-arms-battle application of armour, air, artillery and infantry employed by the allies in '18. To develop such tactics from the BEF doctrine just 4 years before shows (in my opinion) remarakable flexibility and tactical awareness.
I'm sure you have examples of many, many Australians who could have done a better job - again I'd love to hear them.
what was it the Germans said, "Lions led by Donkeys"