Sarnia Remembrance Day ceremony at the cenotaph on Wellington St. November 11, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)Sarnia Remembrance Day ceremony at the cenotaph on Wellington St. November 11, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)
Sarnia

Remembering Vimy Ridge

Plans are underway locally to recognize the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

Attacking together for the first time in World War One, all four Canadian divisions stormed the ridge on April 9, 1917 and after four days of battle the Canadian infantry overran the Germans.

The Sarnia Historical Society's Phil Egan says nearly 3,600 Canadians were killed and another 7,000 wounded.

"Vimy Ridge was a 7 km ridge in northern France that had been captured in the war, fairly early, by the Germans," says Egan. "They turned it into what they thought was an impenetrable fortress. There had been 150,000 casualties among the British and French, trying to retake Vimy Ridge, but nothing worked, until they sent in the Canadians."

He says the victory gave the Canadian Forces the reputation of being the "elite shock troops of the allied forces."

"It had an enormous effect across Canada, because in those days we were still not responsible for our own foreign affairs. So, when Britain declared war, Canada was automatically at war," says Egan. "This was a demonstration to the world and it did put Canada on the world stage."

He says they've been speaking to churches and civic groups across the city leading up to the anniversary.

The historical society has also sold over 3,000 Vimy Pins, created by the Vimy Foundation, since last May to commemorate the centennial and fundraise activities and projects.

"The Vimy Pin is still available at The Book Keeper and Poppies gift shop at Bluewater Health," says Egan.

A ceremony will be held at Veteran's Park in Sarnia on April 2 at 4pm to commemorate the four local men killed in the battle; Frederick Johnson, David Kerr, Roy Lumley and David Montgomery.

A sold out dinner will follow at the Legion hall on Front St.

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