The Day Canada Became a Nation

1958 Words4 Pages

In World War I, the victory of the Allies was caused by the turning point of a stalemate on the Western Front of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. It was “the Canadians willingness to forgo nationalism in the interests of efficiency and effectiveness that marked a new” (Dickson 40) transition of the ending of war. Through the second battle of Ypres, the Battle of Aras, and observing the previous bloodbath at the Battle of The Somme, the Canadian Expeditionary Force (C.E.F) perfected their defense tactics and techniques to fight in the evolutionary battle that made Canada a nation.

When Great Britain declared war on Germany in 1914, the Dominion of Canada was automatically motivated to mobilize. Nationalism and determination got Prime Minister Robert Borden to send the first Canadian contingent overseas, which held 33, 000 men.1 As Byng’s biographer states, “Byng admired the Canadian’s for their ‘fighting qualities and their high morale’ but believed that they were undisciplined and inadequately trained” (Dickson 41), showing how the C.E.F was considered to be inefficient and unproductive. The C.E.F was not mentioned or dignified until the Battle of Ypres. This was because the contingent’s that were sent over were considered part of the British Expeditionary Force (B.E.F). Canadian’s tried to strengthen their nationalism through technology and military artillery, for instance the Ross Rifle was manufactured in Canada, but this shotgun was a better target shot and overheated in the middle of battle. Another example is the Macadam shield shovel was used as both a shield and a shovel. Conceived by Ena Macadam, it was a complete failure in every aspect. The handle was to short, the shovel was to dull to dig with, the hole in th...

... middle of paper ...

...unners of Canada; the History of the Royal Regiment of

Canadian Artillery. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1967.

"MacAdam Shovel - Sir Sam Hughes - We were there - Canada and the First World War - Library and Archives Canada." (Online). http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/firstworldwar/025005-2600.009-e.html

Duffy, Michael. "First World War.com - Battles - The Second Battle of Ypres, 1915." First World War.com - A Multimedia History of World War One. http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/ypres2.htm.

Duffy, Michael. "First World War.com - Weapons of War: Machine Guns." First World War.com - A Multimedia History of World War One. http://www.firstworldwar.com/weaponry/machineguns.htm.

Graves, Gary. "CBC News In Depth: Vimy Ridge Remembered." CBC.ca - Canadian News Sports Entertainment Kids Docs Radio TV. http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/vimy/.

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