‘Never ever forget their sacrifice’: Transcona soldiers remembered on Vimy Ridge Day
April 9 is Vimy Ridge Day, a nationally recognized commemoration of those who fought and gave their lives at one of the major battles of the First World War, and one Winnipeg veteran says there are still lessons to be learned from this battle more than a century later.
The Battle of Vimy Ridge started on Easter Monday, April 9, 1917. Four divisions of the Canadian Corps fought against three divisions of the German army at the ridge located in northern France.
“It really was a chance for the Canadians to show the world how organized and coordinated and innovative we were in battle, without relying on just being a part of England or Great Britain,” said Peter Martin, a veteran with the Transcona Legion.
He said the Battle of Vimy Ridge is particularly important for that part of the city. “We lost 13 young men from Transcona - ages 18 to 33 - in that battle,” said Martin. “So we must remember that we played an important role in this battle.”
Martin said the battle allowed Canadian soldiers to show how innovative they could be with a tactic called a “creeping barrage,” which allowed them to advance on the Germans under covering fire. “Our guys were shooting weapons over our soldiers as we were advancing and the Germans couldn't shoot back because the bombs were going off in front of them, they couldn't see it.”
He added the battle marked a turning point for Canada as a global power, as other countries got a look at our capabilities. “They would say ‘Oh, Canada is forced to be reckoned with, they're organized and coordinated.’ They weren’t just somebody else’s tag along.”
Martin is the Manitoba coordinator for No Stone Left Alone, which educates students about Canada’s past wars and the veterans who served their country. He brings high school students to war memorials like the Transcona cenotaph to teach them the lessons of war.
“I try to put it in a way that they can understand,” he said. “These young people - age 18 - going off to something that they weren't sure what they're going to experience and doing something special for our country. And the family is saying goodbye, not sure if they're going to return home.”
Martin said the Battle of Vimy Ridge helps students learn the cost of battle. “In this case, 13 didn't return home. I kind of relate it in that personal way.”
He said its important to remember the soldiers as real people. “They were collectively a group of Canadian soldiers in the battle, but each one had a home that they'd left, family members who would never ever forget their sacrifice, and their lives would never be the same again,” Martin said.
Vimy Ridge Day has been recognized by the Canadian government since 2003. Martin said there’s a simple way to show appreciation, “When you see a veteran, somebody in the uniform, I tell the kids you don't have to talk to them. Just offer them a little salute,” he said.
“I teach every student how to do that, it's called the silent salute of appreciation. Just saying thank you for your service. And they might just return it and say ‘you're welcome.’”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air Canada walks back new seat selection policy change after backlash
Air Canada has paused a new seat selection fee for travellers booked on the lowest fares just days after implementing it.
Province boots mayor and council in small northern Ont. town out of office
An ongoing municipal strike, court battles and revolt by half of council has prompted the province to oust the mayor and council in Black River-Matheson.
3 law officers serving warrant are killed, 5 wounded in shootout at North Carolina home, police say
Three officers on a U.S. Marshals Task Force serving a warrant for a felon wanted for possessing a firearm were killed and five other officers were wounded in a shootout Monday at a North Carolina home, police said.
'Shocked and concerned': Calgary principal charged with possession of child pornography
A Calgary elementary school principal has been charged with possession of child pornography, authorities announced Monday.
Health authority confirms cockroaches at B.C. hospital, insists they 'do not bite'
The Vancouver Island Health Authority is downplaying what staff describe as a cockroach infestation in a medical unit of Saanich Peninsula Hospital.
Toronto police arrest 12 people, lay 102 charges in major credit card fraud scheme
Toronto police say 12 people are facing a combined 102 charges in connection with an investigation into a major credit fraud scheme.
Winner of US$1.3 billion Powerball jackpot is an immigrant from Laos who has cancer
One of the winners of a historic US$1.3 billion Powerball jackpot last month is an immigrant from Laos who has had cancer for eight years and had his latest chemotherapy treatment last week.
Britney and Jamie Spears settlement avoids long, potentially ugly and revealing trial
Britney Spears and her father Jamie Spears will avoid what could have been a long, ugly and revealing trial with a settlement of the lingering issues in the court conservatorship that controlled her life and financial decisions for nearly 14 years.
WATCH 'Double whammy': What happens if you don't file your taxes by the deadline
The clock is ticking ahead of the deadline to file a 2023 income tax return. A personal finance expert explains why you should get them done -- even if you owe more than you can pay.