The Battle of Vimy Ridge began 104 years ago in the early morning of April 9, 1917, where 15,000 Canadian soldiers took over the French territory from the Germans.
Jim Thompson, a Royal Canadian Air Force veteran who served five years in the 1960s, says he knew some Vimy Ridge veterans who seldom talked about the battle.
“They just had to live with the horrors of that,” Thompson said. “The actual specifics were so horrendous, a lot of them just couldn’t deal with it. Of course in those days, we didn’t understand the mental issues that took place over something like that and there was no help for them.”
Vimy Ridge is regarded as a moment where Canada established itself from Britain 50 years after Confederation. Allied forces were dwindling toward the end of WWI when 15,000 Canadian soldiers used a new set of tactics to reclaim the French territory, which remains in Canada’s possession to this day.
3,598 Canadians were killed and another 7,000 were wounded in the battle.
“I can’t imagine jumping out of a trench and running into that,” Thompson explained. “It was always something in the military that was revered. Any commemorations and services that took place were always done with a great deal of respect.”
On the 104th anniversary, Thompson hopes Canadians not only reflect upon the sacrifices made in past wars, but also the ones that are still being made.
“Think about the serving members today who are dedicated and give up lots of things that regular, run-of-the-mill Canadians have,” Thompson said.“Thank you to our serving members today that would be leading a different type of battle.”
