Vimy Ridge 1917 (World War One Virtual Tour)
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- Опубліковано 28 січ 2023
- Join historian Jesse Alexander for a special virtual battlefield tour covering the Canadian & British assault on Vimy Ridge in April 1917. This tour is created in partnership with the 'History from Home' project to support charitable work and provide aid to Ukraine.
youkraine.at/donate/
I had the privilege to refurbish the tunnels in 1989. I built the walls at the entrance and exit to catch the rainfall from going in to the tunnels and also the officers and war room quarters walls and structure. We had UK Engineers and go in to the German lines who confirmed then, a loaded German mine, which has since been removed and made safe. Great tour, thank you 🙏
Very cool! And glad you enjoyed it!
I visited Vimy in 1997, a few months after it was designated a national historic site. It’s a hauntingly beautiful monument; when you read the the incredible number of men without graves you get an idea of how truly brutal those months were. Every Canadian should visit if they can.
I have my partner's great grandfather's war diary. It contains an account from his participation at Vimy ridge, which he definitely notes as an important event in history. He was a signalman so, he had access to paper and pen but, he still was taking a risk keeping this record. He speaks most about the horrid weather. He was in the reserve so, he didn't participate in the attacks directly, but reports on the activity, people coming back, prisoners taken, etc. It's a true primary source and very interesting. I am proud to have a copy of it.
Superb virtual tour ! I visited with my school from Wales when studying WW1. We visited all major battlefields over the course of 10 days. I’m sure it’s a Vimy Ridge that we were given orders to go over the top on the whistle without the use of steps and it was exhausting before you even got out… This was nearly 30 years ago…but it gave us a realistic idea of what the Canadians were facing.
This is by far one of the most underrated channels on UA-cam. Top tier content and amazingly intricate info
Thankyou for this. My great Grand uncle’s name is on the Vimy memorial. I hope to visit one day.
My granddad's brother is named on the memorial, Herbert John Garrard, 10th Battalion, killed at Hill 70.
The veteran that Jesse is pictured with looks like Arthur Hallestrap - one of the very last survivors of WW1. Died in 2005 aged 105. Gave many interviews about his experiences which are very much worth watching.
It was Arthur!
@@jessealexander2695 maybe a short video about him would be nice?
Many thanks for this my Great Uncle was part of the British support Pte H.F. Kilby 82191 MGC. Uncle Horrace was badly wounded in the face at the Ridge and became one of the early plastic surgery guinea pigs. He wore a scroll made out of a bit of shell case, with the words Vimy on his Machine gun Corp cap badge. On the first Armistice Day Parade in Britain he carried a flag to the Albert Hall. Thank you so much for acknowledgement of soldiers like my Great Uncle Horrace being there. I have visited the monument twice and would like to think that the stretcher cut out in one of the tunnels you pass is where he was saved.
Your video is outstanding thanks John Warner
Very professionally presented. My thanks to you. My grandfather served with the Ist Infantry Divison of the South African contingent, and fought at Delvile Wood and a lot of the main battles in Belgium. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for leadership and bravery.
Thanks for the absorbing experience!
Thankyou for joining us. Next free tour is in 4 weeks but do check out battleguide.co.uk/ if you would like to join us weekly. :)
I’ve always said, only somewhat humorously, the three events that solidified Canadian identity were the 1. Construction of the transnational railway, 2. Vimy Ridge and 3. The 1972 Canada/Soviet hockey series.
Great presentation. Have to say the Canadian memorials on the western front are incredible. Vimy Ridge & The Brooding Soldier at Saint-Julien, Langemark are beautiful monuments to those Canadians that never returned home.
My grandfather fought with the Canadians at Vimy, Division II. He left my family a book about Vimy with his personal footnotes. An epic battle.
I’m told my grandfather fought at Vimy. Lost to history. God bless them. Thank you, Jesse.
Great account of the events! Thank you for posting this. My great uncle fought at Vimy with BC’s 102nd Bn, 4th Cdn Div., likely around the hard fight at Hill 145. He was killed later in the war but not forgotten
Thanks Doug, glad you enjoyed it!
Your mentioning of the historical/(imho) honorary of meeting the veterans brings me to tears of the lone single WW2 veteran I met: African American tank COMMANDER in the African front
[It really hurts at the realization that soon these events will just be become 'stories' of these great,amazing, and patriotic people who felt the need to answer when their country needed them: God bless our veteran's; past, present AND future]
(20 some years later Phelix I'm still grateful for the memories you gave some 'neighborhood kid' by showing up and excitedly accepting my invitations to my school's 'breakfast with veterans' or "grandparents" day; God rest your sould Phelix; wish I knew more than you being a tank COMMANDER on the African front in WW2)
[also had the honor of meeting both an American AND Vietnam veteran's of the Vietnam war: the Vietnamese veteran gave me some bone chilling perspective of his view on the war: Americans bombs us it was "boom, boom, boom day and night all the time; WE just wanted the American 'invaders' OUT and to be left alone and in peace" and it was the quite polar opposite of my American veteran; he was navy seal spec op: DEMO. And he was told the polar opposite; Vietnamese and communists were the enemy of humanity
Another superb presentation, thank you so much for your work-every little detail of the Great War serves to fill in any gaps in my knowledge.
Thank you for this! So important! From St. John’s, NL
Jesse Alexander.
Thank you for the great video. Very informative. I'm a US Army veteran of two wars (Gulf War, 1990-91 & Iraq 2004). My father was a Vietnam War (1966-68) veteran, his father/my grandfather was a WWII veteran of the US 5th Army that served in North Africa and Italy (1943-45), and his father/my great grandfather, Louis S Miller, was an American who served in the CEF from 1915-1917. I requested and received information and documents from the Canadian National Archives in 1990 concerning PVT Louis S Miller, 186303. I learned that he had served with the 2nd Battalion, CEF, and was KIA on 3 May 1917.
I had the good fortune to represent my US Army Reserve unit (which had previously served in WWII, one of the two divisions that landed on Utah Beach on D-Day) for the 50th Anniversary of D-Day, 1994, in Normandie, France. I worked in France for about four months in preparations for the ceremonies that would follow the route of the 90th (Infantry Division) from Utah Beach through France. I took a day trip to the Vimy Memorial during a break in my busy schedule. Vimy has to be one of the most impressive monuments of either world wars, if not the best. My great grandfather's name L MILLER is one of the thousands of names on the monument, placed as he had no known remains, KIA in the vicinity of Fresnoy-en-Gohelle.
Richard Miller
LTC, USAR, Retired
Albuquerque, NM
Thanks for sharing, Richard - interestingly, my great grandfather Albert served in the 2nd Bttn CEF as well, but only joined after Louis was killed. He lost his arm in 1918.
Awesome! It's great for someone stuck in the US to be able to get this kind of experience.
We agree!
I love when Americans learn about our history. ❤
It’s great for those of us who have visited Northern France and Belgium too.
I’ve visited Ypres twice but not further south so this is a great aid to understanding the battle
Excellent virtual tour - a fascinating exploration of the battle and the countryside through which it was fought. Thank you for all the hard work.
Excellent video ... thank you to Jesse and and all involved for your hard work putting it together.
Fantastic! Glad to have found this channel.
This is an amazing tour. Thank you for all your work.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks
I have been there and let me say the tunnel section if the tour is very cool
Amazing harrowing detail. Really enjoying these virtual tours. The sheer number of losses staggers me every time. Beautiful memorial too..Reminds me of how Australians relate to Gallipoli and how that battle has shaped national psyche here. (Would love to see virtual Battle of Lone Pine, or the landings ) Thanks guys for the awesome work.
Liked the tour. Well done.
Thank-you for creating this. My grandfather was wounded on that ridge. Obviously, he survived (and then volunteered again in '40...and was wounded at Monte Casino). Yep...front lines both times.
Thank you very much for this virtual tour and the information, very well presented, great job!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for sharing this enjoyable and informative virtual battlefield tour on Vimy Ridge. YOUkraine is a wonderful organization making a difference in Ukraine...🇺🇦🇨🇦🇺🇸
Glad you enjoyed it!
Many thanks ,a brilliant tour
Our pleasure!
Quite a remarkable video, excellent explanation of this battle. I visited this place twice and it is always difficult to figure out the details of the battle as one walks there. Now I have a very clear picture.
The Great War has always had a strange effect on me, something I cannot quite explain. I cannot stop watching videos like this. It is truly fascinating! Many thanks. Kind regards from Holland (neutral at the time😊). Alex.
THANK YOU Jessie. My Granddad Earl Campbell from Stratford Canada in the Perth regiment fought in WW1 from 1915 to the end. He was at VIMY and PASSCHENDLELE. He was wounded with gunshot in his hip at Vimy and sent to England hospital then return to the front for more fighting. He hated talking about the war. Thanks for sharing. LOVED THIS MUCH.
Thanks for writing!
Stratford…. A beautiful place. Many thanks to your granddad!
Thank you, Jesse Alexandre. I studied military history and I really appreciate your presentation!
Brilliantly explained as usual, Jesse! And touching indeed, thank you very much!
Best ever I really thought hsbung seen most of it but now its topped. Thank you!
So very well done! Have been there and I was moved to tears as I discovered the names of soldiers from my Regiment. Now for the REAL All Canadian battle story - Hill 70.
My Grandfather's brother died at Vimy Ridge. I have all of his medals and the letters he wrote from the warzone. 22 years old when he took a bullet to the neck and died not long after. He wrote about the irony of working the mud on the farm in Miami Manitoba to working the mud in Europe.
Great video breakdown of this event. Would love to find a comprehensive book series that breaks down the war with detail like this. Have a book from my grandfathers library I need to read 'Over There with the canadians at vimy ridge' by Capt. Ralphson.
For this battle I recommend Tim Cook's Vimy: The Battle and the Legend.
Really amazing analysis of the battle...great history!
Mr Alexander, I have never seen such a wonderful and masterful presentation of a World War 1 battlefield in my entire life. I have just subscribed and look forward to more of your outstanding historical presentations! God Bless the people in Ukraine.
Thanks very much for the kind words, Mr. Fraser.
Thank you for an excellent and a very educational video. Impressive work.
Great video, thanks 👍
I would like to say thank you for the way you included all combatants of this truly terrible war there is no nationalism in death
Vimy Ridge will alway be synonymous with Canada just as Anzac is with Australia and New Zealand an event like this becomes part of that country’s psyche 🇧🇲🇫🇷🇲🇦🇫🇯🇩🇪🇬🇧 LEST WE FORGET
Thank you for this interesting and informative piece of Canadian history. To my opinion it is on par with Pierre Berton's book Vimy.
This is very impressive. A great historical analysis. Time to visit Arras.
Outstanding. Thank you.
What program is this? It’s amazing, props to the person who made this. Might’ve missed it in the video
Great detail and I learned so much about this contested piece of ground. Rest in peace for the soldiers that were there.
My grandfather Joseph Hill was at Vimy in 1917 but wounded one week before the battle. He lost his hand and was returned to Canada with gangrene which eventually took most of his arm and eventually his life. He would not be considered one of the wounded from the battle as it was to early.
I cannot ever understand what it must have been like for these men on both sides of the line.
One of my relatives Harold Arbuckle was at Vimy and served with the P.P.C.L.I. He was in the trenches from 1915 to 1918 and survived the war.
Fantastic thank you
Our pleasure!
Impressive. Thank you.
Excellent presentation and incredibly moving in its detail and balance, everybody lost something, even the survivors. I have visited the ridge many decades ago and standing on the battlefield, in the usual quiet and damp, there was an eerie silence broken occasionally by a voice and a certain sweet, slightly clawing smell l have come across before close to Ypres. Probably just damp grass, or the chalk soil. However, the disturbed ground contains not just soil, but the remains of many thousands who will never be found. I do not give over to fancy but these sites hold a certain spirituality even for me, personified by this site, the Somme area, the Ypres salient and especially Tyne Cot cemetery.
It would be amazing if we could access the overlaid map, or if you could help me create my own? I’m doing a art project and would love some help!
Is there a list of those on the memorial? as I had a distant cousin who was killed on Vimy ridge but is buried in one of the smaller cemeteries (bomb crater) near Neuville Saint Vaast.
Thanks for this. Mt grandfather fought at Vimy and describes that morning well, the artillery going off, lighting up the sky, coming out of a tunnel into no mans land, those shell holes, guys getting hit and shot himself.........amazing to see in this light, i was there in 2007 and met the Queen.....so humbling
My paternal grandfather was there- 29th Battalion (Vancouver)- "Tobin's Tigers".
Excellent video. And as a German, I am very impressed by how correctly the German words and names are pronounced in this video. Not that I consider this to be very important, but it’s still pretty impressive. 👍🏼
Great to hear!
Decent watch (& threw a few bob into the hat for Youkraine). Thanks.
My Great Uncle was in this battle. He was an American who joined a Liverpool Regiment before the US joined the war. The day before the battle is when the US joined, and my Uncle tied a small American flag to his gun for the assault, and it was the first instance of the American Flag on the WWI battlefield!
The problems of the 4th Canadian division by reaching Hill 145 was of its own making. Indeed, at the request of the commanding officer of the 87th battalion (on the left of the 11th Brigade), a portion of the German trench had been left undestroyed by the heavy artillery, hoping to put those trenches to good use when captured. As a consequence several German machine gunners were still alive when the Canadians were attacking and their deadly fire broke down the entire left wing of the 11th Brigade. As a consequence the right flank of the 12th brigade, consisting of the 72nd battalion and attacking on the left of the 11th brigade came under direct fire of the German MG's from Hill 145. It took one day to eliminate the Germans installed at Hill 145. I have been told that the open lane in the wood leading to the Memorial commemorates the men of the 87th battalion, but I am not sure if that's true or not.
Well done. Best one on vimy iv seen
Thanks very much! Yes Jesse is q class historian!
Very well done, Jesse.
Thanks!
I visited there when I went on a school trip in 1992 (my last holiday)
I saw a gentleman walking into the woods even though there were signs not to because of unexploded bombs. So I can only assume he was a ghost, he never looked around or paused before he went in
Sniper plate… fantastic detail!
15:27 There are a couple things you got wrong or sound a little mudeled. But ovee all Very well done. The first thing you got incorrect, the Cdn Red Ensign. The one show is the Orginal Ensign used by the government and was the ensign used by Vdn ships. The one you show was used from 1871 to 1907. 1907 ensign includes all shields of the current provinces of the time.
If you look up the ensign 1907-1921 is the same battle flag from vimy which is on display at the National War Musiem. The thing that you made sound mudied up is when you first introduce
The Cdn Divs you make its sound as though the 4 divs are sort out from top to bottom. However 1st Cdn Div was in the southern flank of the Cdn Corps with 2nd Cdn Div north of them 3rd Cdn Div north of them and the 4th Cdn Div on the northen most flank of the Cdn Corps. The way you presented it is alittle vag as to whos who in the zoo. These are minor issues and can be forgiven. If i was to grade this i would only be able to give you an 96%. Over all this is one of the best videos iv watch regarding The Battle of VIMY Ridge. Shown on queens and regimental colours of all the infantry regiments that took part in the Battle. Called a battle honour it just says VIMY.
I want thank you for all the research you put into the video. It is up to the standard of the King and Country series.
I came across diary notes of a priest that served. Very eerie read. He noted up to 200 retreating soldiers were shot dead by staff officers to prevent panic.
I visited. Vimy ridge. In the 80s. Very moving. Cenotaph so many men lost their lives there. !!!!!
Princess Pat was dismantled a few years ago. Had the privilege to attend a dinner at the Armoury before that in Calgary.
Bravo 👏
Unfortunately my great grandfather died at vimy ridge, he was a digger/miner he stud shoulder to shoulder with the Canadians 😔
Very interesting and very well made. But, concerning the German losses of the Battle of Arras, you are citing the total number on German side of 11.000 men. We have some exact numbers though, given by the Commanding Officer of Heeresgruppe Crownprince Rupprecht from Bavaria; the Crownprince himself gives for the fighting of the 9th April alone a number of losses of 474 officers and 15.174 other ranks, or 15.648 men in total. For later fighting, ending 23 April there is a supplement of 8.000 losses, which gives a total of 23.600 men approximately. See the War Memoirs of Crownprince Rupprecht, volume III, pages 161 and 162.
The numbers I gave are the estimates for German losses at Vimy alone April 9-12, not for the whole of Rupprecht's forces on the Arras front on any date or range of dates.
Please do one on verdun!
I am always intrigued when the trench line is show from Switzerland to the coast but only hear about the Somme, Ypres, Vimy, Passchendaele or Verdun. In the other 500 kms did the opposing sides just accept each other and agree on reasonable exchanges.
We've visited nearly all the Western Front by motorcycle in the 80s. Vimy is one of the most emotive sites given the beauty of the memorial, but also flabbergasting when you stand in one of those trenches and your wife stands in the enemy's 20M away.
They had to use overhead wire netting so that hand grenades thrown at them would bounce of before exploding if you were lucky..😢
Vimy is Canada's "Gallipoli".
The 75th and 54th were also devasted in the February 28 - March 1st multi-battalion raid that cost the lives of many men from the 75th, 72nd, 73rd and 72nd battalions. This raid may have affected the combat performance of this brigade in the Vimy Attack.
Probably the greatest Canadian victory was Hill 70. Sir Arthur Currie said that in his opinion, HIll 70 was where the Memorial should have been placed. That was the first real all-Canadian battle on teh First World War.
Not bad for a failed Real Estate investor and embezzler. Sir Arthur Currie wtf. The PPCLI was the first Canadian unit to reach the Western Front (Dec. 1914) and was under British command for much of the war. Vimy Ridge is special for Canadians because it marks the first time all Canadian troops fought together (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th divisions and PPCLI) onn the same battle field. This also marks the first time that all Canadian Troops were nominally under Canadian command. Some new innovations were created or perfected during this battle. The creeping barrage, using machine gun fire as light artillery, flash and sound spotting, and extensively planning, mapping and battle rehearsal. Every section leader had a small task, everyone done to the private knew their assignments, everyone had seen mockups and maps, every corporal and sergeant had a map. Access to maps was thought to be a luxury only for the officers. Vimy was attempted by the French and British but it was the Canadians who took the ridge thanks to their extensive planning and ingenuity. Of course, we couldn't of done it without our French and British allies.
Glad you enjoyed the virtual tour! Just a slight note on command: at Vimy the Canadian Corps was still under the commander of Julian Byng, a Brit. Currie took command a few months later.
@@jessealexander2695 Yes, Byng's Boys were still under the command of Byng during the battle of Vimy Ridge. Arthur Currie was only a division commander but was being groomed by Byng to be his replacement. Currie was ordered by Byng to study the Somme offensive and to provide a list of lessons learned. Currie was also ordered to attend a number of lectures provided by the French army explaining the French's experiences during the Battle of Verdun. With this knowledge, Currie helped to form strategy for the Vimy offensive. Byng had 100% faith in Currie's ability. This showed as Currie was then promoted to Corps commander on the 9th of June 1917 after the Canadians success at Vimy.
Yes, lessons learned were very much the order of the day in 1916, which helped a lot at Vimy, Messines, and Cambrai in 1917. The rolling barrage, for example, was partly the result of a delegation of British and Canadian gunners to the French artillery to observe, since the French used an early rolling barrage in late 1916 at Verdun. Ironically, the brainchild of Nivelle. @@cardboardempire
@@jessealexander2695 Fascinating how the development of tactics take place.
Sorry about commenting…. Barrage map… thanks for explaining…..
Grieving for all those lost.
Ok….thanks for expainin a ridge!
The amount of human slaughter in WW1 is just truly mind boggling. Waves and waves of soldiers ordered to literally just walk into machine guns. Wave. After wave. After wave
Surely peace, love, toralance and mutual cooperation is easier than war. I was at the Menen gate Ypres for the 70th armistice 'celebration'. As then and as of now, I ask, Soldier, Who? Exactly? Are you killing for?
Ultimately - For your buddy beside you in the trench!
❤
There was a flight by the day the monument opened
When you see how close. The. Trenches were to each other. Within grenade. Throwing. Distance. It's very scary. Canucks. Do a good job. With upkeep of it all. !!!!!
Canadians facing a snowstorm. Big wow!
The pockmarked landscape… can’t say how I feel
Moroccan troops? Wow…. I didn’t know!
The trenches map….my goodness….
🇨🇦
The Officer After Vimy who described it 'the memories of the days or heroic glory...', had to be a German because he said 'homeland'. Or perhaps if it were a Canadian/Brit, it should be about more than just *the victours being the heroes of the actions/events*.
It's like a love-song, quite saying she & girl or sometimes guy & man - that's why most 'new'? country music is rubbish for example.
NB and Montreal battalions ….. didn’t do well. No wait! They did very well!
Gotta give it to You, dude! EXCELLENT JOB!
No, it's 1st to 4th, bottom to top.
Yes, I misspoke but the map shows them correctly.
Farbus….oMG!
On connaît bien. On habite à 15 minutes.