Tag: Vimy

New Book: Prologue Part 4

 

SANYO DIGITAL CAMERA

I never thought I would ever see this place again.

***

Walking along a pathway on the top of the ridge that ran parallel to the memorial grounds, an acute sense of Canadian pride welled up through every bone and cell of my body.

“Charlotte, hold my arm please…tightly. I feel faint. I may fall.”

As we walked along the main pathway toward the back end of the memorial, my emotions began to flood over me. The feeling was overwhelming. I began to hyperventilate. Not out of fear but out of immense pride and sense of patriotism that a young country like Canada could construct such a beautiful tribute to all our countrymen who fought here and died here and have no known graves. It is hard for me to describe but the memorial that is in front of me is unbelievably beautiful.

Ahead of us, two marble pylons rise out of the ashes of this death ridge to grace the heavens. They represent Canada and France, they tell me, reflecting a bond between our two nations of the sacrifices and the hardships experienced during the war. From my vantage point I could already see the plinths that grace the monument: individual carvings of white marble, stone, and steel. From the pamphlet we received they represent shared values of justice, peace, honour, truth, knowledge, and hope. I could almost visualize in my mind an inverted cross that was conceived by the architect in the construction and the situation of the two pylons on a flat extensive and massive base of the memorial itself. I am not sure if that was the intent of the design by the architect but that is what it said to me.

The scene before me took me aback. I did not expect this reaction. The beauty of the monument, the fine lines chiseled forms of the statues caused me to break down and cry with a mixture of tears of joy for the magnificence set before me, but of sorrow and pride for what this represents. Each teardrop symbolizes a friend, or a comrade, a winger perhaps but all soldiers who are not coming home. Friends and colleagues of mine. From all parts of our beautiful country.

And we have only touched upon the entranceway of the monument. I somehow fear how I will react when I see the entire scene.

“Dad, are you okay? You look faint. Do you want to sit down.?”

“No, I am fine sweetie. I will be all right. It is just…it is just…just so emotional for me. I should not have come here.”

Silence between us. I am sure she saw the tear tracks on my flushed face. She held my arm tight.

“I am so proud of you dad. And this place is so powerful in its symbolism. It is so beautiful here yet intensely sacred ground.”

“France gave this land to Canada Charlotte.” I said my voice shaking with emotion that I could barely get out the words. “For us, our nation Charlotte…Canada in perpetuity…forever. I can’t believe it.” I can barely hold back my tears. Looking around I could see veterans of the war fighting back their emotions on seeing this magnificent testimonial to all our comrades who died here and in France and in Belgium.

We climbed the limestone steps and found ourselves on the massive stone and marble base of the monument. Here there were hundreds of people with us, mingling and stopping at various points of observation.

“Look, look over there. At the top Henry.” I heard someone say.

And another: This is unbelievable. Fantastic. The folks back home should see this.”

“The ceremony is being broadcast” I heard another exclaim.

Walking slowly amongst the crowd toward the front of the monument, I could see the broad Douai Plain ahead of us beginning at the bottom of the sloped terrain. At the front side, the Eastern side of the monument, the stone carvings really come to life. They are situated and enmeshed within the marble grain at the top of the twin spires. They represent the values that we fought for: honour, sacrifice, faith, hope. Personally, for me, I never thought of it in those terms. Nor did the lads that signed up with me to go to war. We felt that it was going to be the great adventure of our lives; excitement that we wanted to be part of. Nothing more, nothing less. A great adventure in a country that we never gave much thought to.

 

My books are available through Amazon.ca or Amazon.com. They would make great gifts, while supporting a Canadian author. Merry Christmas.
www.johnmorrisonauthor.com

New Book Prologue: Part 3

 

Vimy Ridge – Bing Wallpaper Download

“I put on my tunic. White shirt and green tie. Grey flannel pants. Black Oxfords. I have my medals fastened to my tunic. Slightly askew but on purpose I may add because I have always wanted to stick it to the strict regimentation and uniformity of the Army. But they cannot hurt me now.

My medals. Ah, these medal gongs. The British War Medal and the Victory Medal, and a few other odds and sods from a grateful nation—be it Canada, Britain, and even France. I was a member in good standing, I might add, of the proud and true Canadian Expeditionary Force. Distinctly Canadian in structure, but not in command. We came under the authority and control of Great Britain, as our Canadian constitution held us under British rule for matters of foreign affairs. So, when Britain declared war on the Hun in 1914, we in Canada were automatically at war with Germany. Same for Australia, New Zealand, India, and other nations that fall under the British Commonwealth of Nations. That was a sore point for me. Yes, Canada was a young and sovereign nation, Alberta even younger and prouder, patriotic to the core—but the British bulldog still had control of our foreign affairs back in the day. To King and Country. God Save the King—and all of that of which I had mixed feelings. For me, it will always be The Maple Leaf Forever. The rallying cry of our boys. The Red Ensign, or Green for us land pounders.

“Da dah dah dah, da dada dah…” whistling now in a low tone:

The Maple Leaf
Our Emblem Dear,
The Maple Leaf Forever.
God save our King and heaven bless,
The Maple Leaf Forever.

A great martial tune. It provided the perfect cadence for a march past. I could never understand the significance of the Maple Leaf though, as this was not native to the Canadian West. Certainly not Alberta. It was more emblematic of the old Upper, Lower, and Eastern Canadian provinces—the original provinces of Canada of 1867. It was a great tune, nonetheless. It held us together in a litany of pride and patriotism for our country. It brought a tear to the eye whenever it was played.

“C’mon, Dad. We must go. There is a bus for us to take us out to the site.”

“Coming, sweetie.”

“Hey, did ya know that Robespierre was born and raised in Arras Charlotte?

“No, I did not.” She responded, quizzically.

“And the entire Arras plain is chalky. A grey/white chalky texture. Like the white cliffs of Dover. Everywhere, including the ridge. Did ya know that, Charlotte?”

“No, I did not Dad.” Now come on. We must meet the bus outside of the lobby.”

‘The Sappers loved it.’ I thought to myself.

The memorial was only about six kilometers from Arras. You could almost see its two large pilons sitting on a flat, symmetrical base and standing like guards over the surrounding landscape. Even from our distance just outside of Arras, it looked majestic. Blindingly white, its mass of stone and marble stood high on a ridge above the Douai plains to the east and the countryside of the area to the west, known as the Pays d’Artois. On our short journey to the site, I could see rolling hills, woods, and picturesque villages—most of which are being restored after the carnage and destruction of the so-called “War to End All Wars.” As I sat there on our bus, looking out over the farmer’s fields, I could not discern the potential or the beauty of the countryside as it looks today, but only the death and destruction, horror, and hell of yesterday. That was—or is—my reality. My subconscious mind could only interpret this picturesque landscape, as it is viewed in the here and now, to the grey hues and chromatic tones of death, dismemberment, horror, and hell. Whenever we passed a farmer’s ditch, I could only see craters. A farmer’s drainage ditch fell to me as an endless trench. No color, just the dark tones of eternal rest in…DEATH.

“Are you okay, Dad?” My daughter Charlotte touched my arm as she asked me in a hushed voice.

“I smiled at her reassuringly.” I am fine sweetie. Just lost in thought of the years gone by.”

Our bus was full of men just like me, lost in their own thoughts—veterans of these fields of blood. I wonder what memories are racing through their minds.

Looking out across these fields and rolling hills to the bright white memorial that was now ahead of us, I had to ask: ‘How on earth did I survive when so many of my countrymen, fellow soldiers like me, did not?’

 Survivor’s guilt, perhaps?

To me, this was a mystery of my life—one that only God has the answer to.

It was deathly quiet on our bus. We disembarked on a grassy plain that was a short walking distance to the memorial. Finally, after such a long journey, here I am again at VIMY RIDGE!”

My books are available through Amazon.ca or Amazon.com
www.johnmorrisonauthor.com

Lest We Forget: Vimy Ridge, 100 Days

Image result for pics of poppiesLest We Forget………………………………..Never

Vimy Ridge and the 100 Days

Vimy Ridge:

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, led by Canadian General Arthur Currie, 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 village of Thélus fell during the second day of the attack, as did the crest of the ridge, once the Canadian Corps overcame a salient against considerable German resistance. The final objective, a fortified knoll located outside the village of Givenchy-en-Gohelle, fell to the Canadian Corps on 12 April. The German forces then retreated to the Oppy–Méricourt line.

Historians attribute the success of the Canadian Corps in capturing the ridge to a mixture of technical and tactical innovation, meticulous planning, powerful artillery support and extensive training, as well as the failure of the German Sixth Army to properly apply the new German defensive doctrine. The battle was the first occasion when all four divisions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force participated in a battle together and it was made a symbol of Canadian national achievement and sacrifice. A 100-hectare (250-acre) portion of the former battleground serves as a memorial park and site of the Canadian National Vimy Memorial.[5]

100 Days

The code word used by the Canadians for security at this battle was “Llandovery Castle” a Canadian hospital ship carrying both Canadian wounded and Canadian Nursing Sisters. The ship had been torpedoed and sunk in June of 1918.

Again led by General Currie and without using preliminary artillery but using tanks (effective early but out of commission later), the Canadians moved forward at 4:20 am on August 8, 1918. By 1:15 pm the Canadians had more than achieved their objectives. The German lines had been breached and the Canadians had pressed 13 kilometres into German held territory. The cost was high, with almost 4000 Canadians killed or wounded but the results were impressive; roughly 27,000 German casualties and approximately 5,000 taken prisoner. The “Flanders deception” had worked flawlessly. A German POW had expressed amazement that the Canadians had been his foe, as he was told by the high command that all the Canadians had been moved to Belgium. During the next 2 days, the Germans had been pushed back an additional 24 kilometres, 4 German divisions were “on the run” and 10,000 more prisoners taken by the Canadian forces. This victory had liberated 25 French towns and villages and put a stop to the German efforts to split the British and French armies. The German Spring Offensive had been stopped and the tide of the war reversed.

Image result for pics of the canal de nordImage result for pics of the canal de nord

The result of this Canadian action is best verbalized by Germany’s Erich von Ludendorff, the general quartermaster of the German army, referred to this battle as the “black day of the German army”.

The Kaiser ordered an initiation of Peace negotiations. Over the next few months and by the 09th November 1918, the Canadian Corp with the help of the Australian Corp advanced all the way to Mons. On the 11th November it was all over. By my reckoning the Canadian Corp and the Australian / New Zealand Corp won the First World War. Unfortunately they were all part of the British Army so they never received the recognition they deserved. The Brits took all the glory………………..never again.

Canadians entering Mons. Where it all began and ended.

Canada’s real national anthem!Image result for pics of canadian flag

 

 

Australian’s Waltzing Matilda. Not their Anthem but it should be.

And of course New Zealand

Check out my books by clicking on the links at the top of the page. Kurofune in particular is a historical work of fiction that centers on the Pacific War.

One of many reviews of Monk’s Orchard:

“I have just finished reading this novel by John Morrison. Like his other books, this was an impressive and enjoyable read.In this book, the author chooses a theme so different from his first novel. This alone is impressive ;that he can range to themes so vastly different. His character development is again strong and the great amount of historical research that he has done is evident. Using a narrator to span the generations is an interesting and effective literary device. Let us hope that Mr.Morrison has more equally interesting novels in store for us.”

 

SJ…………………………………………………..Out