The Vimy Monument - a tribute to Canadians

Both the British and French had occupied the Ridge, but were unable to hold it against heavy attacks by the German forces.

During the late summer and autumn of 1916, engineers constructed a tunnel that led to the German lines. On Easter Sunday at first light, Canadian troops poured out this tunnel and charged toward the German trenches. The attack took place during a snow storm and the surprise was complete.

When the first wave hit the German lines, brutal hand-to-hand combat took place. Both sides suffered heavy casualties. As the second wave confronted the Germans, they fled. It was the decision of the Allied Commanders to prevent the Germans from re-grouping, so the offensive continued. This tactic became known as the pursuit to Mons. It bogged down due to heavy casualties on both sides. Any Canadian who was still alive when the fighting was over received the Mons Star, just for surviving.

The Vimy Memorial is a fitting tribute to about 62,000 young Canadians who lost their lives during four years on the Western Front. The monument erected on Vimy Ridge by the people of Canada is a magnificent tribute to the theme of sacrifice as well as a worthy memorial to the many Canadians who rest in unmarked graves in Flanders.

T. Brenton Smith, Liverpool native and historian, who served during the First World War, attended the monument's unveiling ceremony on July 26, 1936. On that day, he placed a beret on the crypt at the base of the monument on behalf of the Queens County Branch, Royal Canadian Legion. The beret was decked with two dry pine cones and two green sprigs of pine from Queens County forests.

Always the historian, T. Brenton Smith described his visit to the Vimy Memorial in this fashion: “Near the Vimy Monument of the north side, the ground has not been touched. The shell holes, the barbed wire, broken trenches, et cetera, are as they were years ago, except the area had been grassed over and considerably filled in and leveled by the action of the rain. I even found a dud shell, picking it up before I realized that these things should not be handled. Circumstances prevented me from getting to see the preserved trenches and the Grange tunnel. Once on the ground it is not difficult to see what the Ridge meant to both the Allies and the Germans. "Friends, Mrs. Cashman, Mabel Parker, and I surveyed the north side of the monument, took some snaps and then had our dinner on the grounds, from the picnic lunch that had been issued us on em-bussing. "I then left the women and got some pictures from the west side of the monument, when the sky was rather dull. I then proceeded via the south side, to the rest of the monument, where the Canadian assembling ground was located. "I took a numbers of pictures a little too early to get the best results, as the crowds were only assembling, but I feared that I would not get an opportunity later. But a slightly threatening sky changed quickly to one bright and clear for the ceremony. "The assembling grounds for the Canadians was east of the monument, in a bowl-like place sloping down to the Duoai Plain. The khaki berets paraded by parties and companies on the sloping flat, while the blue berets occupied the tilted sides of the bowl. Back of the sloping edges was a fence, defended by French soldiers, behind which the rank and file of spectators gathered. "The Canadians assembled quite quickly, and the colour party marched in. There was also the guard of honour, men selected from each party and company, for their appearance and extra medals. "Dignitaries began to gather by the monument around 1:30 and many were assembled by 1:45. Airplanes were circling the grounds taking pictures, and a battery of moving picture machines were mounted on the south-eastern tip of the bowl, as well as in some other strategic positions. "The ceremony went off according to program. Guns warned us of the approach of both the King and the President of France - a Royal Salute. When the first gun was fired, someone near me imitated the whistle of a shell. At the next a lot more joined in. Soon every report was followed by a very fine imitation of a shell whistling through the air, practically the whole parade taking it up. There is still a lot of the schoolboy in the old brigade yet. "After inspecting the Guard of Honour and meeting some of the important guys, the King carried out an inspection of the ordinary guys. He passed here and there through the ranks, passing about three rows ahead of me. Many of the pilgrims broke ranks and took snaps of him, but the old soldier in me made me stand at attention."

During the unveiling, a religious service was conducted by the Honourary Lieutenant Colonel, The Reverend Cecil C. Owen of Vancouver (Church of England in Canada). Also participating were The Reverend George Oliver Fallis of Toronto (The United Church of Canada), and the Honourary Lieutenant Colonel, The Rt. Reverend A.E. Deschamps, Auxiliary Bishop of Montreal (Roman Catholic Church).

Pipers then played "Flowers of the Forest."

The Right Honourable W.L. MacKenzie King, Prime Minister of Canada, then broadcast a message transmitted from Canada by trans-Atlantic telephone. The message was heard by all Canadians by re-broadcast.

Addresses were delivered by the Hon. Ernest LaPointe, Canadian Minister of Justice and The Hon. Ian MacKenzie, Canadian Minister of National Defence.

The Vimy Memorial was then unveiled by His Majesty the King. The Last Post was played, followed by two minutes silence and The Reveille. The President of the French Republic spoke briefly and the playing of "Land of Hope and Glory" followed. Presentations were then made to His Majesty the King and to the President of the French Republic. At 3:40 p.m., “La Marseillaise" and "God Save the King" were played by the band, and the dignitaries left the proceedings.

Following the placing of wreaths by Pilgrims, all present were invited to inspect the Memorial.

My thanks to the late Grace McMaster for providing the notes of her uncle, Brenton Smith of the unveiling of Canada's tribute to those who fought and died so valiantly during the 1914-1918 war.