The Battle of Vimy Ridge

4 days to go, this poem is about the Canadian army, But it is written for every man and woman who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country in any conflict throughout the world. This World War I skirmish in 1917 marked the first time that the Allies’ four Canadian divisions attacked together as the Canadian Corps. The corps launched their offensive at Vimy on Easter Sunday, Part of the larger Battle of Arras, the capture of Vimy Ridge helped establish the Canadian Corps as a premier fighting force. If you want my book World War One in Verse please inbox me.

The History

One hundred years ago today
On Easter Monday far away
Twenty thousand soldiers brave
Prepared themselves for early grave
Canadians each and every one
Someone’s husband, someone’s son
Got ready for a sustained attack
So many of them would not come back.

Vimy ridge in Northern France
Prevented any new advance
Allied attempts in earlier years
Left many mothers wiping their tears
Then late in Autumn-nineteen sixteen
Four divisions of Corps were seen
First time together as a nation
Canadians all, in one formation.

Those fearless men so full of courage
Were sent to attack Vimy ridge
Preparations – so extensive
Left them feeling oh so pensive
Those Germans dug in, deep on high
Behind their guns would defy
Anyone to climb that hill
And any who tried they would surely kill.

Canadian preparation

Winter was spent strengthening lines
Digging tunnels and underground mines
A lighted system and railway track
Carried explosives for the attack
Well beneath the German trench
Were water lines ready to quench
The dry throats of those thirsty men
Some would not see daylight again.

Allies shelled them with a barrage
Rained shells on them before the charge
For one whole week one million shells
Would fall on Germans in that hell
Military aircraft of the day
Swept observation balloons away
Germans who’d seen many rougher things
Named it their ‘Week of suffering’

The Battle

An allied barrage timed to the minute
Allowed protection of those behind it
As it moved on the Hun were surprised
Leaving their bunkers – uncompromised
To see Canadians with their guns
Shouting hands up to the frightened Hun
So they advanced and by noon next day
Hill one four five was taken away.

Two days later the battle was won
Germans withdrew, or lay down their gun
But victory came at a cost
Three thousand six hundred were lost
Ten thousand wounded, such a great loss
Four men earned the Victoria cross
Those brave Canadians would lose many more
Before the end of that Bloody war.

The Legacy

Today they have their monument
Where many a quiet moment is spent
Looking over green countryside
Where so many young – fought and died
A legacy from a grateful France
To all those lads that took their chance
Canadians each and every one
Someone’s husband, Someone’s son.

Eric Harvey 04/11/2020