The Battle of Vimy Ridge was one of the most significant Canadian battles of WWI. Taking place from April 9-12 1917 in France, over 10,500 Canadian and British soldiers were killed or wounded.
The battle was significant to Canada for many reasons. For the first time, all four Canadian divisions fought together under the leadership of Canadian general Sir Arthur Currie. Also, Canadian forces succeeded in taking a strategically important ridge where previously both French and British forces had failed. Perhaps most importantly, following WWI Canada gained a reputation as ‘stormtroopers’ for their keen preparations, execution and bravery throughout this battle. Canada was even given a seat at the Versailles peace conference as a country separate from Britain, largely due to their success at Vimy Ridge.
“In those few minutes,” said Canadian Brigadier-General A.E. Ross of the victory, “I witnessed the birth of a nation.”
On June 9, 2016 the CFB Borden Legacy Monument, designed by local artist Marlene Hilton Moore, was unveiled. The monument is an evocative monument of great strength and meaning. The magnificent main wall of polished black and white granite is twenty-eight feet in length and seven feet in height. A second wall of polished black granite seven feet by twelve feet with wing of white granite is set back six feet to allow passage between. This wall is carved with the eloquent words of General Sir Arthur Currie to his men entering battle. A niche in this granite wall encases and enshrines a bronze urn which contains patriated soil of Vimy that holds the blood of our wounded and dead soldiers.The passage between the two walls leads to a life-size bronze statue of an historical World War I Bugler standing on a five-foot high granite base. The Bugler calls to the path that leads to the reconstructed World War I Trench as well as leads in a call to the monument itself. (If you choose to follow the path to the trench, there may be another cache waiting for you!)
I am honoured to place this cache at such an important site honouring our Canadian military. A special unactivated geocoin (pictured below) awaits one lucky FTF. Congratulations to vickinic on the FTF 6:59AM 04/20/19!
