In Our Grandfathers' Footsteps

Day 4 - August 31:  Ypres and Area Hill 70 Monument We started the day by traveling to Loos to check out the new Hill 70 Monument. It was Officially opened on August 22, 2017. The top of the spire reaches a height of 70 meters above sea level - the same height as Hill 70 itself. The pathway has 1877 maple leaves set into it to signify one for each Canadian that died in the battle of Hill 70. From the monument you can see the Hill 70 itself that our boys battled for from 15 - 25 August 1917. Bayernwald Trenches These were trenches used by the Germans near Ypres. They possessed an ability for the Germans to track the Allies' activities and from two kilometres away they could effectively bomb the city of Ypres. Adolph Hitter was stationed in Bayernwald trenches during the Great War. The concrete bunkers allowed the men protection when the area was being shelled by the Allies. They were allowed to be built only 1.4 meters high so the men wouldn't use them for ...

Day 3 - August 30, 2017:  Vimy and Are Canadian Artillery Memorial,  Zivy Crater Lichfield Crater Vimy Ridge Interpretive Center Grange Trench Tour Vimy Memorial Words cannot describe the feeling of standing beneath this incredible monument. The sheer size alone is overwhelming. 16 statues depict forlorn and heartbroken figures. This is not a monument of celebration but one that reflects the loss, the sacrifice and the suffering of the Canadian soldiers and their families. Inscribed on the walls are the names of 11,285 men that died in action in France that have no known graves...very sombre, very humbling. The monument is approached from the back - the stairs are flanked by The Female Mourner to the left and The Male Mourner on the right, At the front of the monument a cloaked woman representing Canada overlooks the Douai Plain. Below her is a tomb bearing the sword and helmet.  Unfortunately our visit during driving rain.It ...

Day 2 - August 29, 2017:  On the Somme Editors Note: I am still working out how to attach photos. Reading text is boring as all get-go so please bear with me as I have some incredible photos to share! In addition I will be hitting the highlights of the day and touching on one or two events. Completing the post for the entire day is labourous and I do want to balance updating the blog with soaking up the experience here. If the first two days are any indication, I may need a rest when I get home. Thank you for your patience! Beaumont-Hamel Memorial Park Visit What an incredible site! The Newfoundland government purchased the land from France in order to preserve it not only in honour of those that fought and died their but for future generations as well.  Government of Canada youth are employed as tour guides and are extremely knowledgeable. On July 1 Canadians celebrate Canada Day. July 1 also commemorates a terrible anniversary for Newfoundlanders. Newfound...

Day 1 - Aug 28: On the Somme Today we arrived at the Charles de Gaulle airport, grabbed a rental car and drove to Compiegne, France. France is beautiful with its picturesque rolling hills and villages with narrow roads lined with brick buildings...it's like something you see in a book or in a movie. It is so surreal to be on the freeway reading destination sign posts indicating towns where great battles took place that I had read about: Arras, Cambrai, Amiens, ... Armistice Clearing - Compiegne It was in Compiegne that we saw the Armistice Clearing. On 8 November 1918 the Allied Supreme Commander French Marshall Koch along with additional French and Allied representatives met with a German delegation to sign the Armistice ending the Great War in this very location in a railcard similar to the one on display. In Bill's words: "Ironically on 21 June 1940 Adolf Hitler “gleefully” accepted the capitulation of France from Marshal Petain in the same car, then had...

The Calgary Highlanders in WWII The Calgary Highlanders were perpetuated from the 10th Battalion of the Canadian  Expeditionary Force (CEF) of the Great War.  In September 1939, the battalion commander Lieutenant Colonel H Riley and his family were enjoying the long weekend at their family cabin at Gull Lake, Alberta when the telegram arrived containing the message “Mobilize”.  By the Monday of the Labour Day long weekend volunteers were pouring into Mewata Armouries in Calgary to enlist. (Point of interest: Gull Lake is a five minute drive from Bentley where Grandpa Hunt lived from 1965 until his passing in 1993). Training in the winter of 1939 was harsh with lack of proper uniforms, weapons and equipment. As the size of the Calgary Highlanders rapidly grew, the barracks behind Mewata Armouries quickly became too small to house the men and they were forced to relocate to the tented Sarcee Camp. On 25 May 1940 the Highlanders left for Camp Shilo in southern Ma...

World War II - Synopsis Author’s Disclaimer: World War II has had its history and all pre- and post-war events researched, documented and a multitude of books and movies developed as a result. The various elements of all the affected countries’ military, their political and civilian involvement and impact have been explored as well. In an attempt to lessen the reading involved and retain your interest, many battles and details are intentionally left out. This is in no means an attempt to downplay the importance of the event or those involved. My synopsis of World War II is solely reflective on the events that involved or impacted our Grandpa’s experience. The story of the Calgary Highlanders after Grandpa transferred to the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps in June 1943 is the only exception. World War II The German Army invaded Poland on 1 September 1939 smashing Polish troops enroute to Warsaw in an effort to annex Poland into Germany. On 10 September 1939 Canada declared w...

The Great War Subject matter to come - please stay tuned...