The
battle of Vimy Ridge began on Easter Monday 9 April 1917 when
the Canadian Corps under Lt Gen J H G Byng attacked what was
probably the strongest of German defensive positions in northern
France. It followed the three French actions around
Notre
Dame de Lorette which had failed to take the Ridge. The
Canadians rehearsed their assault and used miles of tunnels
to approach the enemy lines. By midday only the highest point
of the Ridge, Hill 145, remained in German hands and that
fell 24 hours later. Today the Canadian National Memorial
stands on that height. German casualties were about 20,000,
the Canadian losses were half that. Four VCs were won.
Vimy Ridge today has a Canadian Memorial Park where Canadian and German trenches and craters face each other at barely 100 yards distance. The ground is pockmarked with craters.
Vimy Ridge is visited on one of our recommended approaches to the Somme and more details about the battle and the memorial are in our guide book. To have a look at some details about the book please click on the picture below.
