It's been ninety- five years since the battle of Vimy Ridge but Vimy was a key battle in the birth of our nationhood of Canada. Instead of just feeling like British subjects, our troops coming together to achieve a great victory and not only help the world but save our country from the enemies tyranny made the people of Canada proud to be Canadian. These young men had families like us and lives but they gave their blood and many their lives so we could have peace.So ninety five years alter we thank them. My poem of thanks for them below.
Vimy’s Valour
On Vimy’s ridge they made their stand
To take back the ridge and all the land
By nightfall after three battling long days
As around them as they did gaze
Three thousand five hundred and ninety eight
Died for country and kin their fate,
While lying wounded seven thousand and four
Did rally wounded evermore,
John George Pattison, Lance-Sergeant Ellis
Wellwood Sifton
And William Johnstone Milne
Crawled over hill and dale
To save their men
Dogging bullets and to hell they did send
Killing the enemies one by one
And stopping the gun
From killing their troops
They gave their lives to try it all again
Thain Wendell MacDowell did the same surviving a
wounded hand
Thwarting seventy seven German forces taking
back the land
As they surrendered and held despite his gash
All four received Victoria’s Cross.
One retained their life
And continued obtaining a wife
But we remember their valour still
And celebrate their lives
Though ninety five years have passed
We forget you not
Canadians all brave, and true.
You made Canadians proud
And we thank you.
© Sheilagh Lee April 9, 2012
Quoted From Wikipedia: The Battle of Vimy Ridge was a military engagement fought primarily as part of the Battle of Arras, in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France, during the First World War. The main combatants were the Canadian Corps, of four divisions, against three divisions of the German Sixth Army. The battle, which took place from 9 to 12 April 1917, was part of the opening phase of the British-led Battle of Arras, a diversionary attack for the French Nivelle Offensive.
The objective of the Canadian Corps was to take control of the German-held high ground along an escarpment at the northernmost end of the Arras Offensive. This would ensure that the southern flank could advance without suffering German enfilade fire. Supported by a creeping barrage, the Canadian Corps captured most of the ridge during the first day of the attack. The town of Thélus fell during the second day of the attack, as did the crest of the ridge once the Canadian Corps overcame a salient of considerable German resistance. The final objective, a fortified knoll located outside the town of Givenchy-en-Gohelle, fell to the Canadian Corps on 12 April. The German forces then retreated to the Oppy–Méricourt line.
