A shell explodes in the blasted muddy landscape near a destroyed tank.

A shell explodes in the blasted muddy landscape near a destroyed tank.
Photo Credit: Library and Archives Canada

Remembrance week: 100 years, the blood soaked fields of Flanders

November 6, Canadians take Passchendaele

This year marks the 100th anniversary of many momentous battle of the First World War.

After incredible but costly victories at Vimy and Hill 70, the Canadians were called upon to take the village of Passchendaele, or what was left of it, on November 6.

A Canadian delegation of officials is in Belgium to mark the 100th anniversary of this remarkable but again horrifically bloody Canadian victory.

Troops of the Canadian 16th Machine Gun Company hold the line in atrocious conditions on the Passchendaele front in late October or early November, 1917 The machine-gunner closest to the camera is Private Reginald Le Brun, the only one in the photo to survive.
Troops of the Canadian 16th Machine Gun Company hold the line in atrocious conditions on the Passchendaele front in late October or early November, 1917 The machine-gunner closest to the camera is Private Reginald Le Brun, the only one in the photo to survive. © Library and Archives Canada PA-002162

The fighting in the region, known as the Third Battle of Ypres, had been dragging on since July in a grinding war of attrition which had already cost hundreds of thousands of British, ANZAC and German lives. The massive battle had ground to a stalemate in the thick gumbo of rain soaked mud and water-filled shell craters and fields littered with bodies.

Passchendaele before, trees, farmland, homes, stores, churches. and life.
Passchendaele before: trees, farmland, homes, stores, churches. and life.

The British and Commonwealth forces were bled white and so the Canadians were called in. Canadian General Sir Arthur Curries was appalled at the conditions. Always mindful of the lives of his troopos, he sought to have the battle called off estimating it would result in up to 16,000 Canadian lives and for little strategic gain.

After the battle, virtually all traces of stores, homes, chrches, forests, farms, and life...obliterated
After the battle, virtually all traces of stores, homes, chrches, forests, farms, and life…obliterated leaving a wasteland of muddy water filled shell craters

Unlike at Vimy and Hill 70, where Currie had been listened to by the British General Staff, this time overall commander Sir Douglas Haig was desperate for victory and insisted the attack go ahead.

As he had done so successfully before, Currie began meticulous planning, preparation and practice.

The first of four planned Canadian attacks began in October with the final attack launched on November 6 which saw the Canadians achieve the objective. The Canadians had succeeded in taking the Passchendaele ridge, the slight higher ground overlooking Ypres and by November 16th had pushed the last of German resistance off the slopes and across the flat ground into trenches further back, eliminating their “Ypres salient”.

Carrying wounded to an aid post. Just walking through the field was dangerous as a mistep near the slippery mud in the deep water-filled  craters could lead to drowning.
Carrying wounded to an aid post. Just walking through the field was dangerous as a mistep near the slippery mud in the deep water-filled craters could lead to drowning. © Library and Archives Canada MIKAN 3194341

Overall commander, Field Marshal Haig finally called the Third Battle of Ypres, a success, although this was a further reason why he had already earned the nickname “Butcher Haig” by many.

Although the Canadians had again succeeded, and were awarded an incredible nine Victoria Crosses, the cost was high.  General Currie’s prediction proved tragically accurate, with over 4,000 Canadian dead, and a total of some 15,624 killed or wounded.

In the end, the Third Battle of Ypres launched by Haig resulted in over 300,000 Commonwealth casualties, and almost that many Germans.

YouTube: Royal Canadian Legion- Passchendaele (brief video promo)


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