Canada Mourns Her Dead

Canada Mourns Her Dead

On 9th April 1917, the four Divisions of the Canadian Infantry, attacked together the 'impregnable' German Bastion of 'Vimy Ridge'.

The French Forces had suffered heavy losses in 1915 during a failed attempt to take the Ridge, leaving the Beautiful Town of Arras under threat and bombardment from the Germans. The town was practically destroyed.

The Canadian forces achieved a magnificent victory, losing 3600 men in the process, but the Battle changed the course of the War, and the Canadian Infantry eventually spearheaded the allied Victory in the last 100 days of the war in 1918.

The Canadian Monument to commemorate the Battle and the 60,000 Canadian dead, was started in 1925 and opened in 1936, and funded by the people of Canada. It is a remarkable monument visible for miles around.

The Town of Arras was carefully rebuilt after the war, and is now back to its previous beauty.

The Statue stands alone in front of two huge towers, and represents Canada mourning Her Dead.

It has just had a face lift, I was lucky enough to be there on the second day after it was re opened.