Vimy Ridge, April 9-12 1917
A. Tactics
1. Canadian troops fought under Canadian leadership for the first time.
a. Currie understood that Canadian troops would be more motivated while fighting under a Canadian flag, rather than a British or French one.
2. Gen. Currie employed the “Vimy Glide”. Troops had to advance 92m every 3 minutes.
a. The tactic ensured that troops could advance at a jogging pace under a curtain of fire, matching the artillery barrage.
3. The Vimy Glide was repeatedly rehearsed by the Canadian troops for 5 months in advanced.
a. Practise was key in ensuring the later success of the Creeping Barrage. The Canadians were very well-prepared.
4. Gen. Arthur Currie arranged for a mathematician from McGill to calculate the angles of fire for the barrage.
a. The tactic was carefully planned and extremely precise. These measures contributed to the overwhelming success of Gen. Currie’s offense.
5. The plans were known by all soldiers, not just the generals.
a. Troops were not merely following orders. Gen. Currie understood that by involving all troops in every detail of the plan would make the offense a more collective and effective one.
6. The soldiers were given detailed maps to study.
a. Troops were fully informed of their route and objective. The preparation worked to increase the confidence of the troops in their performance.
7. Platoon system was used during Vimy that were smaller than typical platoons, consisting of around 30 men.
a. This created an unmatched sense of camaraderie, fighting for friends was a better motivation than nationalism, the reason for a quick victory.
8. Gen. Currie ensured that his troops were well slept and fed.
a. This was another measure taken to ensure that the Canadian Crops was well prepared for the day of the attack. Care taken after their well-being helped to boost morale and enhanced trust between the troops and their generals.
9. The underground tunnelling systems left by the British were used to launch surprise tunnel raids by Canadians in the months leading to the main attack.
a. This was used as a means of gaining intelligence about the enemy’s condition while also harassing the enemy and hurting their morale.
10. Observation posts and sniper nests were set up throughout the ridge.
a. This was a means of gaining intelligence about the enemy’s position.
11. Aerial reconnaissance used to spy on the enemy line.
a. Overhead pictures of the enemy lines were used to plan the Canadian route of attack.
b. It was also used to locate the positions of mounted machine guns.
B. Weapons
1. Canadians armed with Lee Enfield Rifles.
2. Machine-gun fire was used in the Creeping Barrage.
a. It protected advancing troops with a umbrella of artillery fire.
3. Land mines were used during underground tunnelling in enemy trenches.
C. Conditions in the trenches
1. Trench warfare created a stalemate over Vimy Ridge for two years, encompassing the British and French campaigns.
2. Canadians led a total of 55 trench raids on German trenches.
D. Events
E. Outcomes
1. All 4 Canadian divisions participated , 170 000 in Canadian corps
2. Used 3x artillery, 1.6 million shells
3. 55 trench raids
4. Casualties: 160 000 British 11 000 Cdn 20 000 Germans
F. Lessons Learned
"Firepower replaced manpower as the instrument of victory. This represented a revolution in the conduct of war" John Bourne in Charles Townshend. The Oxford History of Modern War, 2005
"By 1914, the technology of warfare was almost unrecognizable” The Technology of WWI , Stewart Ross 2003.
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