Thank you for this. Canada is and has always been a proud, independent spirited and courageous country, dedicated to our values, traditions, justice and freedom for the West. This spirit remains today. From an Air Force brat.
Thank You for the respect you show our country. Canada is not a perfect country, it's not a mighty country and it may not be the greatest country in the world but we Canadians are a proud peoples. We are proud of Canada and we are proud of our fellow Canadians who all helped to make Canada what it is today, we are proud that Canada and Canadians are respected around the world. We don't Shove it down peoples throats but we take great pride in Canada and for what Canada stands for on the world stage. If we can help then we will help, if we have to fight then we will fight. What makes Canada a great nation is it's people past and present. Lest we forget those who sacrificed everything too make Canada what it is today. Cheers to those men and women!
Brilliantly said. America is a great country. But, the problem is, somehow half of us have lost sight of why that is and our ideals. The sad truth is, they think they are the true patriots. They don’t know what enlightenment principles are that founded our nation. So many of us share Canadian progressive values. I know Canada is not perfect, but I do think you have quietly and with dignity formed the best part of what we are as North Americans. millions of us here south of the border share those values.
@@johnf-americanreacts1287 There are things about America that scare us Canadians and that we fear would threaten Canadian society, so that's why we took a different path than America. We fear our children getting slaughtered in mass in their schools and classrooms, we fear that our fellow Canadians can't get access to healthcare, we fear the thought of corporations being able to buy and own our government and we fear that all these things if they were to happen would divide us as a peoples. Canadians for the most part are a peoples united and we fully understand that it is our unity and compassion for our fellow Canadians that makes us a great nation. We also understand that divided we will fall. It is division that has brought down many a great nation throughout history and that scares us as Canadians. Thank You for the kind words, Cheers!
@@johnf-americanreacts1287 "America can never be destroyed from the outside. If we should falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." ~ Abraham Lincoln
I AM CANADIAN, My great great grandfather helped capture vimy ridge easter morning at 5:30 am he climbed over the top and charged with the rest of the 4th CMR and took hill 145! He passed away later that day due to injury. RIP Napoleon Paul, from Chesterville ontario canada. Never forgotten
Thank-you for your sensitive, respectful treatment of this Canadian iconic memory. My grandfather was one of those men who, "Went up Vimy the British Army, then came down the Canadian Army". My late father, my daughter, a grandson and I are also Canadian veterans. The memory lives on.
As a Canadian, I cannot thank you enough for the respect you show my nation and my people. We are not perfect, but I feel like we always give our best to do what is right, and we always help our freinds in need My grandfather recieved his mothers permission to serve in early 1916 ( he was underage)....and was in the 48 highlanders at Vimy, Paaschendale, Somme,,,His name was John Duncan McIntosh
As a Canadian, I only inherited this legacy but Vimy still manages to stop me dead in my tracks. I'm flooded with many emotions, some conflicting. Vimy is important to Canada because of its power to invoke national self reflection and its ability to rally us around values (courage, accomplishment, bravery, selflessness, sacrificing for others) we can get behind.
The thing about Vimy Ridge is that before that battle the four Canadian Divisions were used just as four more British Divisions. Vimy was the first time all four had fought together and they won a seminal victory where the French before them had failed. After Vimy the Canadian Corps was led by a Canadian (Currie). The Candian Corps was used as "shock" troops in Passchendaele and the 100 Days battles.
I think you nailed it. I'm Australian, we had similar stories. young countries in dieing empires. Our Vimy was Gallipoli. The French had failed at Vimy. The Canadians were used and abused by the British,as we were, not to mention Newfoundlanders at the Somme when Newfoundland was not yet part fo Canada. Told to attack Vimy the Canadians basically said, "We have seen how you do war and we don't like it. If you want us to take it we will but WE will plan this attack. WE will do it our way." And they did. The plans were clever, the planning immaculate, the operation brilliant with every advance designed to support the next advance. Costly in terms of lives, yes, all battles then were. Dont know if you have been there but from the top looking east you have a commanding view. It was a significant gain in terms of how that war was fought. A sad yet uplifting experience to visit. Canadian university students usually volunteer to be attendants. I remember one pretty girl looking at me and saying, "Welcome to Canada, eh". welcome indeed to Canada but believe me you paid for it.
@@johnsutton3600 As a Candian I've also heard of Gallipoli, and the sacrifices made there by the Australians. With so much shared history, our countries are very similar, like brothers.
thank you for doing this reaction, I had a great uncle at Vimy, they thought he had perished during the battle , but as they were policing up after the battle, they found him almost completely buried in a shell crater , if it wasn't for an observant person on the task, he would have been among the missing , they dug him out and got him to an aid station, he was stabilized and sent to convalesce and last out the war in England. he eventually passed away in 1981. it was an artillery shell that nearly killed him , he was stone deaf after this for the rest of his life , but lived a full life independently on his farm in waskatenau alberta, Heres to you uncle Wes
My grandfather got three shrapnel wounds at Sheppard's' Bush near Vimy. One on the wrist, one on his thigh and one on the top of his foot. He was shipped to England where he recovered. My grandmother was one of his nurses and later they got married and moved to Canada.
During WW2, many WW1 monuments and memorials were destroyed by the nazis but Hitler personally had the SS guard the Vimy Monument as he thought it was his favourite WW1 monument as it depicted pain and sorrow not victory and conflict. (There’s some interesting pictures of him at the monument after Frances surrender)
Thank you so much for your perspective on Vimy Ridge, but more so thanks for sharing your emotion and not just a dry interest in our military history. (It was so good to hear Peter Mansbridge's voice doing the narration. I've missed him since his retirement as the anchor on CBC'S evening news.)
Catherine, it was in seconds that my mind made the connection, Peter Mansbridge! For us Canadians, it is as recognizable as Walter Cronkite to an American of a certain age! And just as trustworthy! Peace and Love and Happy Holidays!
My grandfather John, was at Vimy Ridge...he survived, but he lost two of his first cousins, George and Alexander at Vimy. They died three days apart. George passed first on April 11 and his older brother Alexander died three days later on April 14th, in a hospital from injuries he sustained in battle on the 10th. John returned home to his wife Anna and had 6 sons and 2 daughters. (my dad was his youngest child)
My mother's uncle, Simon Clarridge, was shot in the knee and a bullet grazed his head. He survived but that was reconnaissance prior to the battle. Getting shot likely saved his life.
I was tracing my great-grandfather's regiment during WW1. He was in the 20th Battalion, CEF. They were involved in Vimy Ridge. But not sure where the battalion fought (there were 3 fronts during the assault) My Great-Grandfather survived the war. According to family members, he survived a few bullet/shrapnel wounds. Had trench foot several times. But still went back and fought until the end of the war. He married a British woman and brought her home to Canada. After returning, he became a police officer with the Kitchener Police Service and ended his career as Chief of Police in Wallaceburg. Grandpa Jesse was born in Kent, UK. Became an orphan at the age of 10 and when he was 12, was sent to Canada as a Home Child. He had siblings in the UK snd I found one of his brothers in Australia. His brother retired from the 8th Hussars and then joined the 2nd Artillery Battery (Australia). I have huge respect for my ancestors. Not just my Great-Grandfather, but his siblings as well. They suffered horribly and then continued to serve afterward.
7 years ago I went on a vacation in Belgium. I saw a few memorials there but I decided to take an entire day to visit the Vimy Ridge memorial. The monument is absolutely huge! It was breathtaking. The statues are beautiful and very poignant. The thousands of names inscribed, the nearby cemeteries, the still-cratered landscape. It hit me like a ton of bricks and it brought tears to my eyes. Despite being a little out of my way, I am so very grateful to have made the journey and it's an experience that I will never forget. Thanks for making this video, keep up the great work!
@counselthyself Yes, I made it out to Ypres on another day during that same trip. The Menin Gate was another one of those humbling monuments. They do a Last Post ceremony every evening which was neat to see. There is a museum down the road called the In Flanders Fields museum which was closed when I was there but it's located in a beautiful gothic building. If I ever make it back there I would like to visit it one day.
Coming into Vimy Park can give you goosebumps, the quiet, the calm and the somber emotion seep out of the ground. You can walk the trenches, visit the cemetary and walk around the statue, the emotion etched into the figures spekaks to visitor even after 100 year. I have visited twice, once alone and once with my father who was told stories of Vimy by his father who fought along his father and 3 brothers. A special place. If my info is correct, even the Nazi's protected Vimy during WW2.
Thank you for the obvious respect you have shown to this subject, and to Canada as a whole throughout all your videos. It is very much appreciated, and I return that respect to you, sir.
As soon as I heard the iconic voice of Peter Mansbridge, I knew you'd chosen the very best and accurate history of Vimy Ridge. Although I was born in the late 60's to parents who could have been my grandparents, I've had first-hand life with grandparents born in the late 1800's, and so as I always say "the living wisdom of three centuries". For this I have always been grateful. I think that in general Canadians view "serving" in war as just that. Serving. A duty that calls from within, and with a sombre air. This was the attitude of my very wealthy young uncle who could have escaped a conscription to WW11 that never came, but he chose to join the RCAF early, and I had him until 2007, always teaching me so very much about war. As far as my good public school education, nothing much was made of Vimy, nor of conscription. We learned about History not just of Canada, but of much of the World, so in that sense, only my real, first-hand knowledge passed onto me through my family has taught me what in fact happened. My grandfather fought in WW1, but passed at a young age in the early 1950's, so not much was told to me about it. My dad tried to join in WW11 at the age of 15 by lying about his age, but that didn't fly. His brother, and most of my cousins and second cousins to this very day are either retired Royal Canadian Air Force, or still serving. There is a humble modesty, even of those highly decorated. It seems only yesterday that I was attending Remembrance Day events with WW1 veterans, but alas it was in the 1990's and we lost our last WW1 Veteran some years ago. I so much appreciate your reverent respect for our history, our people and our ways. Thank you for bringing our history alive for other Canadians too. I hope some of your queries have been answered.
My grandmother's first husband died at Vimy Ridge and my husband and I have been there twice. It is an experience every Canadian should have. The monument will take your breath away.
I learned about Vimy Ridge in school and especially the tactics that were developed to win the battle. Everyone I've spoken to wants to visit the memorial and Juno Beach when they travel to France. It's just seen as a mark of respect for what our soldiers went through in that war. The Vimy memorial is also on our $20 bill.
Found your video about a year after you made it. My grandfather was in the Canadian 8 th army and he was a corporal and in charge of 6 machine guns and their crews. They were on the south end of Vimy Ridge. He watched the barage take place and when it was going he had his men left their heavy machine guns behind and the took their Lewis light machine guns ,followed the barage up the slope and then when it was finished they rushed the germans and sweep they off the top of the ridge from south to north while trying stop the germans from shooting down on the Newfies and I think those trying assult the pipple. He was lucky to servive this and the second world war.
My grandfather died at Vimy Ridge. On 9 April 1917 Age 37 Member 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles. He Served in the Second Boer previous to WW1 MY grandfather name William Salter His great great grandson Sean Salter he never met
When I went through school(60s/70s), we were taught Canadian history but not 20th century as much as 19th and earlier. Also, we learned a massive amount of American history. My children did learn more about WW1 and WW2 and have a great respect for the men and women who fought for their freedom. I feel that my grandchildren and others their age will not fully comprehend the sacrifices that were made.
A few years ago I did what I called a war tour and saw all the beaches and museums in Normandy. I also visited many cemeteries of Canadian, Americans and Brits. That said the memorial at Vimy hit me hard as it has such majesty and honour to it. A lot of very brave and fierce men died taking that well fortified ridge from the Germans. Love your videos John. Great work and much respect.
Actually none. Just a buddy who like me is really into WW 1 and 2 on our own. that said I kind of wish we had paid for a professional as we did miss out on some stuff but such is life. We also did St. Mere eglise and Belgium so we saw a lot @@robertbroderick18
Another great video John. I salute all Canadians involved in battle for our freedom and am sincerely grateful to those who died defending it. Thank you. God keep our land glorious and free 🇨🇦 and God bless America 🇺🇸
Thank you. Us Canadians get frustrated. We often feel that we do not get acknowledgement for our contributions. The same goes for Australians, New Zealanders, South Africans and Indians. One thing that bothers me is in documentaries. Canadians get a byline here and there. But the focus is always the U.S. or the UK. Canadians generally do not care about "glory". But we do care that our efforts should be acknowledged.
My wife's maternal Grandfather was a Ferrier at Vimy Ridge. He continued his Blacksmiths biz for 60 years after WWI. His parents immigrated to 🇨🇦 from 🇩🇪. His father was very upset that his 3 sons joined the Canadian Army to fight the fatherland. Unfortunately one of the sons did not return. I remember Harry talking about how stressful it was for the horses to make the long journey across the Atlantic. He said not only was it exhausting for the horses plus also for the Ferriers.
Thank you for covering Vimy Ridge. My grandfather and 3 three great uncles were there during the battle. My grandfather and one of my great uncles were wounded during the battle. My great uncle lost his left arm and my grandfather was wounded by a Germain shell. I think why this war means so much to us is because it was the first time in our history a Canadian General was in command of Canada's military. The outcome of the battle prove to all Canadians and to the world that we were truly our own nation. We also paid a very high price for our national identity. Less we forget.
Thank you Sir for this video, I am the son of a Canadian Soldier, My father Made sure his children knew about the wars. He had listened to the BBC throughout the second world war, as a young man and arrived here in Canada 1946 at the age of 16. He was very Proud of Canada, his choosen Home nation !
My wife and I visited France for the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. It was a moving experience to visit with our family to walk the fields where the battle to place with our French friends. It tugs at the heart.
Visit the Vimy Memorial! As a Canadian soldier I had managed during my career to visit the Memorial twice. Each time I felt surrounded by a host of unseen many. On my last visit there were no other visitors about and yet it seemed I walked amongst thousands.
Our trip to Vimy Ridge memorial was life altering for the entire family. I still get chills every time I look at our photos or even see it on tv or online. Thank you for posting
Thank you for this video and your reaction /response to Vimy Ridge. As a Canadian I take pride in what that generation of soldiers accomplished. I have had the privilege of visiting this memorial twice . It is an amazing place to see. Parts of the grounds surrounding the monument are still off limits due to the amount on munitions buried there from the battle (s) that is unexplored yet still deadly. They use sheep to keep the grass in those areas short, unfortunately every once in a while a sheep will be killed. I remember reading that Hitler initially wanted the monument destroyed because he thought it was a monument to a victory. Someone on his staff explained that that was not the case . He allowed the monument to be left alone.
Hitler didn't just leave the memorial alone -- He posted a German honour guard to protect it. The tribute to the human losses of war touched him as someone who had fought in the war as a private and corporal.
Thankyou again ,John, for this video.. I hope some of the younger generations of Canadians and Americans start delving into these videos which show the impact of what going to war means and of those who gave their lives to give us the freedoms we have today.
My great uncle fought at Vimy. I was about 12 years old in the early 1970’s when he told me about his role in the war - too young to fully grasp the magnitude of this and the battle which took place. Thank you to all veterans who served to protect our freedoms
Canada's reward for Victory at Vimy was to lead the fight at Passchendaele, another bloody battle. Fun fact General Arthur Currie received some immortality in a movie many decades later. The boot camp in Starship Troopers is named Camp Currie.
We visited Vimy this past September. I had 2 Uncles who fought there in 1917; both survived and I was privleged to have known them both. One of them served in the same regiment that I served in 45+ years later. That memorial is just brilliantly dazzling in the bright sunlight that we had during our visit. It is indeed a masterpiece and it touches something deep with us. Personally, I was simply awe-struck when first seeing it in the distance.
Thank you John, conscription brought tremendous amount of despair and arguments between French Canadians and English Canadians in both World Wars. As for me my Nov. 11 is dedicated this year to Leo Major who, for me, is the prime example of what ingenuity, cunning and strategy at war is all about. If we had more Leo Major in our ranks our army would be feared around the globe.
Yes, a true French Canadian hero. I knew about him but learned he was French Canadian when I did my reaction to Canadians change when they hear the word war.
I Have a deep connection to the Canadian Military and my Grandfather served in the Royal Newfoundland Regiment the only other Military with the Crowns Title outside of Britain. I was wondering if you could do a reaction to Beaumont-Hamel the battle that earned NFLD (Its Own Nation at the Time) the Title Royal Regiment of the Queen. The battle saw almost 900 NFLD'ers go over the top of the trenches across no mans land and accomplished their mission, however out of almost 900 Newfies only 70 could meet roll call the next morning. Love Your Video's keep up the great work. LEST WE FORGET.
When it comes to canadian history and large events such as things like vimy ridge, CBC is easily one of the best and most accurate places to come to in order to learn about these historical events. They always have such great detail and respect to all these events
Another interesting point of Vimy is that during WW II it was the only WW I memorial Hitler took an interest in. When visiting he was so impressed by the fact it was lamenting suffering rather than heralding a victory that he ordered that a 24 hour guard be posted on it. The reason for this is at that time German troops were destroying war memorials as they encountered them.
True. He had ordered all the others destroyed because they celebrated victory over the Germans. I think secretly he was also scared of Canadian retribution because of their shoot first, ask questions later mentality during WW1.
@@ralphvelthuis2359 That and the fact the memorial is about the suffering and futility of war not about victory. That is said to have really impressed him. I had two great grandfathers who fought there. One received the Military Medal, the second highest award after our Victoria Cross. Ironically both survived the war.
I just found this video and thank you for your reaction. I am a first generation Canadian. My father was in a Labour Camp, being a young man from The Netherlands, and my mom was a teenager in Germany. I think that I have gain a unique perspective on the war and how it affected both side. I am very proud to be a Canadian and watching these videos of our Canadian military. When our children were in school we taught them about both WW1 and WW2, and went the the Remembrance Day ceremony in our community.
Strongly suggest you go to the monument. I've been to every major monument on the Western front and as a Canadian was very proud of the way Walter Allward captured the significance of the site: Regret and sorrow (really a comment on all wars) rather than about chest-thumping patriotism. It is beautiful, as are the views over the Douai Plain and the kindness of local population. My second favourite spot on the front was Ypres and how the Belgians have painstakingly rebuilt it pretty much as it was before the war after it was turned to rubble through successive battles.
Thank you for honoring the Canadian soldiers of Vimy Ridge. My great uncle fought, was wounded there, and was honored with medals. I visited the monument early in the morning when I was in France. Incredible atmosphere, an overwhelming sense of presence.
Dear John, thank you for your video and reactions to The Battle of Vimy Ridge. As I read the reactions and comments of my fellow Canucks, it made my heart swell with pride, and my throat choke up to realize that our contributions and sacrifices in The Great War have not been forgotten over time by future generations. As you stated, this battle was truly a pivotal moment in the life of our country as to its standing and definition within the British Empire. Our Canadian Corps would further distinguish itself in battles including Lens, Hill 70, and Passchendaele going forward. Every time I see the memorial it brings a wave of emotion over me when I think about the conditions, what happened, and the sacrifices made there. Lest We Forget
What's absolutely incredible about Canadians in the first world war, was the fact that we had a population of just under 8 million, and about 7% of the population were in uniform at SOME point during that war. That's an insane amount of people who were not conscripted, but rather volunteered to fight. That's a huge testament to the Canadian spirit we all grew up honouring every year on Remembrance Day.
What a great presentation John. Many thanks for making this video. Side note: My son in law is a Major in the Canadian Military, he’s been deployed twice and thank god came back alive, but did lose one soldier in Afghanistan. He and my daughter named their son VIMY. He’s only 5 but understands the meaning of his name, as dad explained it all to him.
Thank you for reviewing these historic events at WW I and WW II and the heroics of all allied soldiers. Your manner of presenting these stories is very informative, sincere and respectful. It’s important that we are all educated about the horrors of war so that we avoid another war at all costs. Appreciate your efforts towards that. Thank you. 👏❤️🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
"so that we avoid another war at all costs." I don't think that is the conclusion you should come to. There are some things you should be willing to fight for to defend.
Thank you very much for this. Canada was created on paper in 1867, but was born on the battlefields of Vimy, Ypes, Pachendale. We came into being in WW1. WW1 was actually more impactful on Canada then WW2. Not a single family in Canada didn't send a son to war.
If your interested in more sources, those two experts interviewed, Tim Cook and Jack Granatstien are fantastic authors and researchers. Granatstien is also former director of Canadian National War Museam
Thank you so very much for the respect you show towards our service people. My great uncle died in WW1. I never knew him, but the effect it had on my grandmother, his sister, was always present. I remember reading the letters he would send home to her, and he always seemed lonely: just hoping for any news of home.
Ty for the video John my friend I have family fight at Vimy and both of my grandfathers fight in WW2, 1 in the Army and another in the navy. Love from Canada 🇨🇦
I've been very touched, and actually grateful, for the respect that you've shown to Canadian war and peace initiatives, including Vimy Ridge. Thank you. I come from a military family going way back, and like so many Canadian families am deeply aware of the after effects of war. It is hurtful to see Allied participation so often ignored or undermined in American movies, even most American-made documentaries. I want to tell you about one very small dairy town in Eastern Canada, Sussex, New Brunswick. My grandparents lived on Church Avenue there, a tranquil little street lined with old Victorian houses and magnificent elm trees. My grandparents had two young sons who fought in WWII. The youngest was blown to pieces in the Battle of Ortona, Italy. The week they got the dreaded knock on the door with the news that they would never again see their son, 4 other families on that little street received the same news. FIVE families, on a street of perhaps 50 families. Just one small street, in one small farming town, in Canada, in just one week. Every year the main street of the town is lined with pictures hanging from every lamp post of the war dead, their names, ages and the war that took them......beginning with WWI, then WWII, Korea......and now Afghanistan. Store windows are filled with pictures and memorabilia from those connected to the particular store owner. My great uncle died at Vimy Ridge, both grandfathers served in WWI and WWII, as did my father and his brother. I can't help but feel that American - Global relations would only improve if Allied military service was truly acknowledged by the US.
I hear you. Our cultural imperialism is both in demand but also resented. My dad was in US Army intelligence in the late 1960s in Europe in the Cold War. He is an honorable man and sticks to his oath of secrecy. But, while he respects his British allies, he has always said, the true special relationship is with Canada. I’m not sure what he knows that led him to conclude that. I do know that he was grateful what Canada did to get our citizens to safety after harboring then at the Canadian embassy in the Iran hostage crisis. Just how in my generation I was extremely grateful with what Canada did for our citizens during 9/11. I was in NY at the time. I’ll never forget.
Another quintessential Moment in 'Canadian History' (although under British rule), is The Battle of Queenston Heights, in which Sir Issac Brock fell to a musket ball, during the War of 1812...against the American War of aggression.
Thank you for your thoughtful reaction video and reflection on Vimy Ridge. For me, this battle takes on personal significance leading up to November 11 and April 9 each year as my great-grandfather fell from a sniper's shot to the chest on the first day of the battle. He was a member of the 85th Battalion Nova Scotia Highlanders who were committed to the battle to take Hill 145 after the Germans had withstood the initial waves and still held this fortified high ground. His loss had a ripple effect for my family which I am sure was the same for all 3598 who lost their lives in this battle (with over 10k casualties in total). A bucket list item for me was to visit the memorial and locate my great-grandfather's grave. In 2016, I was on a lecture tour in France and was speaking at the University of Lille. I took the opportunity to take the train to Arras and a taxi to the Vimy Memorial. It was an incredibly moving experience. The decision to leave the surrounding landscape with the shell craters and tortuous undulations presents an alien landscape (now covered in grass but you can picture what the troops had to run through as churned up mud). One of the most profound experiences in my life was to find my great-grandfather's grave in a war cemetery on the edge of a nearby village. I will never forget seeing his tombstone, name, battalion, birth date and April 9, 2017 staring back at me. I took off my poppy and placed it at the grave and pondered the context of the violence and loss of war while the cemetery was enclosed by lush farmland countryside under a warm autumn sun in France. When I am down, I try to think of what my great-grandfather and his Canadian brothers in arms had to face on that cold Easter Monday in 2017. I recommend Tim Cook's books (Canadian War Historian who appears in the video) who has written several excellent books on Vimy and the Canadians in WWI and WWII. Thank you for your reflections on this important battle and very important war memorial.
Thanks so much for this amazing account. I think I can relate. The US has done an amazing job at preserving the Gettysburg battleground. For us Northerners who don’t subscribe to this BS version of the Southern Lost cause, it is such a powerful experience. I visited Normandy too when I was in France and had a similar feeling. I want so bad to visit the Vimy Ridge memorial. It looks like one of a kind. I was moved just seeing it on video. I’m a softy. I’ll weep for my Canadian brothers when I see it for sure. I feel like a patriot North I American who loves his cousin of Canada now. Love you guys and your great nation.
@@johnf-americanreacts1287 Hey John, Keep up the great work. Given current divisions, I think it is important to remember the shared values which pull us together. I definitely want to get to Normandy too and I try to visit historical sites when my professional travel (professor and science researcher) gets me close. Gettysburg is on my list as my kids are US citizens by birth so it will happen. I will have to review my history of the American Civil War which I read about 15 years ago. I actually have relatives stretching down the eastern seaboard on both sides of the border (including cousins who used to live in New York). Stay well and thanks again for your thoughtful videos. All the best on this election night.
@@pwmagi67 thanks and fingers crossed though midterms are usually bad for the incumbent party. I’m almost ready to retake my Canadian citizenship test. 😉
My grandfather’s younger brother died at Vimy. He was wounded on April 7 and died April 8. So he missed the major offensive on April 9. In school I don’t recall ever hearing too much about Vimy. Most of what I have learned was later on in life especially after learning about a relative who died there. Thank you for your reaction. Job well done. 👍 Edit: I am 51 if I ever get a tattoo, it will be of the Vimy monument.
As a youth I was in the Army cadets and had the opportunity to talk too Vimy Veterans. The pride they had in what they accomplished was evident, but so was the sorrow of losing so many friends. The Battle of Vimy Ridge is significant because it was the first time the world recognized us as an independent country and not as a British Colony. As one veteran told me "I'm not afraid of hell, I fought at Vimy Ridge."
John F - If you have not seen it, "They shall not grow old", a film by Kiwi Peter Jackson is stunning. He took long lost and neglected WW1 footage and painstakingly restored it adding dialogue, even using lip readers to interpret the spoken word from the silent film and recreated the specific accents according to the soldiers' shoulder patches. The "making of" at the end of the movie is as stunning as the movie itself.
I saw it about five times. 😃. It was amazing and so well done with the old audio of soldiers talking about their experiences with the amazing new technology to bring the old footage to life. I also saw the making of and how they used police lip readers to tell what they were saying, even down to identifying the accents they were speaking in to add the voiced with actors. It was beautifully haunting
Thank you for showing respect to our men who fell! My grandfather and his best friend were amoung the first to volunteer. Grandfather never talked about it other than when you see the wrong going on, and you believe in what's right you need to serve. The only things was that he was there for almost important battles. They did make it back together and he brought with him a war bride. The sweetest person on earth with a good heart. This is why im so very proud and thankful to be Canadian!
Thank you for covering this, my great grandfather was very likely in France at the time, and eventually made it home. His brother on the other hand was MIA in France in August of 1918 and his name rests on the memorial.
Also, after Vimy, the Canadian Corps was feared (along with the Australians) by the Germans. Just the rumor that the Canadians were near sent the Germans to heavily reinforce that sector. While this was an overall view of the actions of the Canadian Divisions during the whole war, Vimy just cemented it
This battle was the start of a series of impressive Canadian battles. This was also why Canada signed the peace treaty as Canada and not as part of the British Empire.
Thank you John. I'm half Canadian and half American and have spent most of my life in Canada although I now live in the US. Thank you so much for posting these videos. I have seen the abuse and failure of the Parliamentary system but I still believe that the history of both nations have a lot to teach us.
After she mentioned losing all their friends and he paused it, I have to admit I teared up a little, I'm a Canadian combat veteran and I lost some very close friends in Afghanistan. Sgt Sean Eades and Pte Kevin D'Allair. God keep you both safe and happy boys.
My Canadian History Professor in University was really interested and focused a lot on Canadian Military History including Vimy Ridge. He told us that the Conscription debate was more of a French - English problem. English Canada was more loyal to the Crown than the French (Quebecois) were and the French didn't think they should become involved with an English War. Our Prof. also told us that Canadian soldiers were not that well liked by other Commonwealth soldiers, because they got paid more than the Brits and Australians and New Zealanders. The Canadians were considered to be ill-bred apes who were only good for cannon fodder. Basically, they were jealous of the Canadians. During WW I, Canada had a very small population and many Englishmen went to Canada shortly before the war. When war broke out, they signed up and were very proud of their snazzy new uniforms. Some were snubbed by people they had known before immigrating to Canada because they thought too highly of themselves. I do remember our Prof. saying that the powers that be didn't want the Canadians to try to take Vimy, because Canadian soldiers didn't follow orders well. If they were given an order and they didn't like it, they would stand up to their superior officer and say "No, we'll do it this way". They were far more independent thinking than the other Commonwealth Country Soldiers. Jack Granatstein has written many books about Canada's Military if you want to read some Canadian history. Also, if you ever get the chance, come to Ottawa Ontario for Remembrance Day. The Canadian War Museum is amazing. I have been there a handful of times and still haven't seen everything. The windows on the side of the museum, spell out "Lest We Forget" in both English and French in Morse Code. (i.e. the size and spacing of the windows).
Thousands of Canadians made the pilgrimage to Vimy in 2017 for the 100th anniversary. My husband and I went that year but a few weeks later than the actual date. The monument is stunning and probably the most moving of any battlefield monument on the Western Front. My husband and I are also history enthusiasts and have studied our Canadian history. The historian interviewed in this video -- Tim Cook -- has written two volumes on Canada's military in WW I -- " The Sharp End' and "Shock Troops' -- very well written and researched. My husband has researched all the veterans from our small Nova Scotia community from both world wars and this research has been given to our little community museum. A veteran of Vimy who lost his arm during the battle lived a long productive life here and raised a large family. I think that Vimy had a profound effect on many, many Canadians. We also found the names of several residents from our area whose names are on the monument. Remembrance Day -- November 11 -- is a big deal in our country. Thousands turn out for the ceremony in Ottawa and many more at local ceremonies across the country. I think that over the last 30 years or so more people commemorate November 11 than they ever did in the past. Of course, there are few veterans of WW II living now and that adds a poignancy too. I know that November 11 in the US is treated a little differently and is not as solemn a day as here. Many provinces give the day off and stores and schools are closed.
Yeah, Nov 11th used to be Armistice Day here and was tested more like a Remembrance Day, but we also had this day in May called decoration day that came out of the civil war and was an unofficial holiday to decorate graves and war memorials in remembrance. Eventually as the US fought in ww2 and Korea they change Armistice day to Veterans Day and eventually made the last Monday in May Memorial Day. So I think having the two different days that serve similar purposes watered down the meaning of both sadly.
When I (a Canadian) started my nursing career I worked in extended care (nursing home). It was in 1996 and I was honored to meet some of the Canadian soldiers from WWI, WWII, and even the Korean War. There was only a small handful of WWI vets but I can say this about them, they were true gentlemen in all sense of the word. I was proud to have met them. It wasn't long before they were all gone but I don't think our nation will ever forget them or any of the other war vets. The one thing I learned was they didn't want to talk about their war experiences, the memories were just to painful for them. Sadly, I saw more then one break down and cry when war was brought up. I also took care of a German soldier that had spent a good portion of the war in a Russian prisoner of war camp. This poor man had dementia and sadly was reliving his time there. He would scream and scream as though being tortured. It was so hard to hear him but that was nothing to having to relive it all over again. It's so important to remember wars from the past and hopefully we can learn never to repeat the same mistakes. Thank you for your channel.
I thank you for this and I have a small glimpse into what your talking about. My great uncle was in France in WWI. My grandfather fought in France in WW2 and was in Hawaii when Japan surrendered. He had been transferred from the European theater to invade Japan. Thank god that wasn’t necessary. My dad served in NATO in Europe in the 60a. He was a cold warrior. My granddad came back mentally scarred (ptsd) and became an alcoholic and died young. My dad lost comrades too. He vowed to always be an advocate for vets. As a kid, I went to VA hospitals with him to take the vets to church, or play a game of chess or just talk to them and treat them like men. That very much shaped who I am as an adult.
I studied this battle in my military history class in high school. Later, I was to find out that my great uncle fought and died there. He was 19 years old. I am proud to have had a family member who had served in this battle, but also sad of the life he never had a chance to live. At least he is there with his brothers in arms and is not alone.
Thank you. I had forgotten this great Peter Mansbridge doc. I watched this on Remebrance Day. In 1916 census, Canada’s population was only 8 million and in Vimy alone, 11,000 men died. It is very sobering, indeed.
Outstanding video. Thanks for your respectful reaction. The narrator Peter Mansbridge and commentators Jack Granatstien and Brian Stewart are among the most recognized in Canada. My great grand uncle Arthur Harold Pasons 10160 also known as Ben is among the fallen whose names are inscribed on the memorial. He enlisted in Toronto in September 1914 less than 3 years after leaving his home in Somerset England. He was deployed to France in February 1915 with the Canadian 3rd Battalion and killed at the Battle of Festubert 25 May by an artillary shell. He was buried by his mates where he died but the ground was overturned by shells and his remains were never found. A hundred years after the Vimy battle in 2017 Canada issued a commemorative $2 coin.
Great video! My grandfather and my husband’s grandfather both served in WWI. My grandfather was gravely injured and left for dead for three days until soldiers went out to collect the bodies. When he groaned they took him to hospital and he went on to return to Canada, marry my grandmother and have eight children…one of whom is my mother. My husband’s grandfather survived as well but lived his entire life with the side effects of being gassed - his lungs were permanently scarred. He also was shot in the face. He met a lovely woman in London and he brought her home to Canada as his wife. Canada has never lost a war and has usually always been there to step up and join their allies when needed.
My wife, my son and I visited Vimy Ridge in 2019. It elicited some of the deepest emotions in me that I have ever felt and my wife and son felt the same way. Walking the trenches and seeing the remains of the shell holes was impactful but what made the biggest impression was going into the tunnels. The thought of being in those tunnels for hours packed in with all the other soldiers waiting to begin the assault must have been terrifying. It really made you appreciate what the men must have gone through prior to the actual battle. The monument itself is awe inspiring and humbling at the same time. It is poignant and impactful. The names of the 11,285 missing soldiers inscribed on the memorial elicit a sense of great tragedy and loss but it also represents the sacrifice willingly made by a young emerging nation. Every one of those soldiers was a volunteer defending the British empire and fighting for the freedom of France. That their names are forever displayed here is a fitting tribute to these selfless men. The figures carved into the memorial are sorrowful but also peaceful. Even the indigenous peoples of Canada are represented on the memorial. Ever Canadian who has the opportunity would be well advised to pay this site a visit. It is a truly moving experience.
John, I want to thank you for the thoughtful and heartfelt way in which you've chosen to portray Canada in this video and in others I've watched. You are a kind and caring man and I wish you well in your various endeavours moving forward. Thank you, my friend. You are my brother.
My great grandfather was killed at Vimy Ridge. I went to Vimy Ridge and placed a wreath and boots on the memorial in honor of my Great Grandfather. It was a very important moment in my life. Thank you for your reaction. My hat is off to you. I toured the tunnels, trenches and pillboxes at Vimy Ridge in November 2017. It certainly opened my eyes.
My great uncle was in France at end of 1917 and through 1918. One of the earliest American regiments to fight. They were under French control at some point. Peace to you and yours.
My grandfather served RAF in WW1 and RCAF in WW2. My father served our country for 32 years, 9 of them at CFB Borden. The first year I had to attend Remembrance services without him was crushing. He visited Vimy 14 times in his life.
Thank you for having enough respect to react to this video. My Great grandpa fought in both world wars and as kids we used to ask him about it..but he would only respond with Be thankful for your freedom we fought for you to have. He was a very humble man and never bragged about his bravery in the wars. Just that we should be grateful for our freedoms. Thank you Gramps for your service 🙏 ❤
My father was in both world wars, but his deepest memories were those experienced in WW1. He rarely spoke of Vimy but it deeply affected his soul. I was, and will always be, very proud of my Dad.
They don’t go into the details that had British troops wearing Canadian uniform marks to hide the fact that Canadian units moving off the lines to deploy to the Vimy area. Canadians showing up made German commanders very nervous to the point where elite units were moved in to counter this movement. It is even recorded that Canadian units weee moved out of areas that British commanders wanted to start an attack because the German forces would move to meet their new locations. This would be a rouse that helped the British. Canadians were used as shock troops to bust down a door and surge the line
Hey thanks for this! I was there at the 100 year celebration with my school. Travelled all the way from Canada just for it. It really makes me happy to see other nations learn about it and have an appreciation for it. Thank you. As you said it was very very powerful standing there
I am canadian I lost my uncle in ww2 I think I wish I would have love to have known him he died in Italy I did not know him but the pride I have for him and what he did for our country it makes me wish I could have talk to him and here his stories God bless him thank you uncle!!!!!!
T,Y, for the Honour you have given, to Vimy Ridge.. It's History & Those that Served there. They are Not Forgotten, as NO Canadians or Their Allied Friends Are, That have Served in any War/ Conflict Together are.. They ALL MEAN SO MUCH TO US, THAT STILL SERVE.. THEY WILL CONTINUE TOO & GIVE US COURAGE... ~~T.Y. for Your, VALUED Understandings & Kindness.. You are a GOOD NEIGHBOUR !!~ All the Best to You & Yours
Thank you for this. Canada is and has always been a proud, independent spirited and courageous country, dedicated to our values, traditions, justice and freedom for the West. This spirit remains today. From an Air Force brat.
Thank You for the respect you show our country. Canada is not a perfect country, it's not a mighty country and it may not be the greatest country in the world but we Canadians are a proud peoples. We are proud of Canada and we are proud of our fellow Canadians who all helped to make Canada what it is today, we are proud that Canada and Canadians are respected around the world. We don't Shove it down peoples throats but we take great pride in Canada and for what Canada stands for on the world stage. If we can help then we will help, if we have to fight then we will fight. What makes Canada a great nation is it's people past and present. Lest we forget those who sacrificed everything too make Canada what it is today. Cheers to those men and women!
Well said.
Brilliantly said. America is a great country. But, the problem is, somehow half of us have lost sight of why that is and our ideals. The sad truth is, they think they are the true patriots. They don’t know what enlightenment principles are that founded our nation. So many of us share Canadian progressive values. I know Canada is not perfect, but I do think you have quietly and with dignity formed the best part of what we are as North Americans. millions of us here south of the border share those values.
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There are things about America that scare us Canadians and that we fear would threaten Canadian society, so that's why we took a different path than America. We fear our children getting slaughtered in mass in their schools and classrooms, we fear that our fellow Canadians can't get access to healthcare, we fear the thought of corporations being able to buy and own our government and we fear that all these things if they were to happen would divide us as a peoples. Canadians for the most part are a peoples united and we fully understand that it is our unity and compassion for our fellow Canadians that makes us a great nation. We also understand that divided we will fall. It is division that has brought down many a great nation throughout history and that scares us as Canadians.
Thank You for the kind words, Cheers!
@@johnf-americanreacts1287
"America can never be destroyed from the outside. If we should falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
~ Abraham Lincoln
@@kosys5338 “A house divided cannot stand” Abraham Lincoln.
I AM CANADIAN, My great great grandfather helped capture vimy ridge easter morning at 5:30 am he climbed over the top and charged with the rest of the 4th CMR and took hill 145! He passed away later that day due to injury. RIP Napoleon Paul, from Chesterville ontario canada. Never forgotten
I am always honoured when an American takes time to respect our contribution. Thank you.
Thank-you for your sensitive, respectful treatment of this Canadian iconic memory. My grandfather was one of those men who, "Went up Vimy the British Army, then came down the Canadian Army". My late father, my daughter, a grandson and I are also Canadian veterans. The memory lives on.
As a Canadian, I cannot thank you enough for the respect you show my nation and my people. We are not perfect, but I feel like we always give our best to do what is right, and we always help our freinds in need My grandfather recieved his mothers permission to serve in early 1916 ( he was underage)....and was in the 48 highlanders at Vimy, Paaschendale, Somme,,,His name was John Duncan McIntosh
As a Canadian, I only inherited this legacy but Vimy still manages to stop me dead in my tracks. I'm flooded with many emotions, some conflicting. Vimy is important to Canada because of its power to invoke national self reflection and its ability to rally us around values (courage, accomplishment, bravery, selflessness, sacrificing for others) we can get behind.
The thing about Vimy Ridge is that before that battle the four Canadian Divisions were used just as four more British Divisions. Vimy was the first time all four had fought together and they won a seminal victory where the French before them had failed. After Vimy the Canadian Corps was led by a Canadian (Currie). The Candian Corps was used as "shock" troops in Passchendaele and the 100 Days battles.
I think you nailed it. I'm Australian, we had similar stories. young countries in dieing empires. Our Vimy was Gallipoli. The French had failed at Vimy. The Canadians were used and abused by the British,as we were, not to mention Newfoundlanders at the Somme when Newfoundland was not yet part fo Canada. Told to attack Vimy the Canadians basically said, "We have seen how you do war and we don't like it. If you want us to take it we will but WE will plan this attack. WE will do it our way." And they did. The plans were clever, the planning immaculate, the operation brilliant with every advance designed to support the next advance. Costly in terms of lives, yes, all battles then were. Dont know if you have been there but from the top looking east you have a commanding view. It was a significant gain in terms of how that war was fought. A sad yet uplifting experience to visit. Canadian university students usually volunteer to be attendants. I remember one pretty girl looking at me and saying, "Welcome to Canada, eh". welcome indeed to Canada but believe me you paid for it.
@@johnsutton3600 Yes I went there with a group of Army Cadets in 1996. At the time I was a piper and I got to play a lament on the monument itself.
@@Stewart682 👍
@@johnsutton3600 As a Candian I've also heard of Gallipoli, and the sacrifices made there by the Australians. With so much shared history, our countries are very similar, like brothers.
french and British failed at Vimy
thank you for doing this reaction, I had a great uncle at Vimy, they thought he had perished during the battle , but as they were policing up after the battle, they found him almost completely buried in a shell crater , if it wasn't for an observant person on the task, he would have been among the missing , they dug him out and got him to an aid station, he was stabilized and sent to convalesce and last out the war in England. he eventually passed away in 1981. it was an artillery shell that nearly killed him , he was stone deaf after this for the rest of his life , but lived a full life independently on his farm in waskatenau alberta, Heres to you uncle Wes
Great story of one individual that lived the battle.
My grandfather got three shrapnel wounds at Sheppard's' Bush near Vimy. One on the wrist, one on his thigh and one on the top of his foot. He was shipped to England where he recovered. My grandmother was one of his nurses and later they got married and moved to Canada.
For those wondering his farm was near (pronounced)
Wass-set-na.
During WW2, many WW1 monuments and memorials were destroyed by the nazis but Hitler personally had the SS guard the Vimy Monument as he thought it was his favourite WW1 monument as it depicted pain and sorrow not victory and conflict. (There’s some interesting pictures of him at the monument after Frances surrender)
That is true and I had forgotten it. Even Hitler loved this memorial and god knows he mostly hated everything in life.
Thanks, I was going to post it! Peace and Love from Canada
Thanks for posting this. The fact that even Hitler was inspired by this memorial says much about how it conveys its message.
Thank you so much for your perspective on Vimy Ridge, but more so thanks for sharing your emotion and not just a dry interest in our military history.
(It was so good to hear Peter Mansbridge's voice doing the narration. I've missed him since his retirement as the anchor on CBC'S evening news.)
Catherine, it was in seconds that my mind made the connection, Peter Mansbridge! For us Canadians, it is as recognizable as Walter Cronkite to an American of a certain age! And just as trustworthy! Peace and Love and Happy Holidays!
@@pontiuspilot9301 Merry Christmas to you and yours as well!
My grandfather John, was at Vimy Ridge...he survived, but he lost two of his first cousins, George and Alexander at Vimy. They died three days apart. George passed first on April 11 and his older brother Alexander died three days later on April 14th, in a hospital from injuries he sustained in battle on the 10th. John returned home to his wife Anna and had 6 sons and 2 daughters. (my dad was his youngest child)
Thanks for sharing this personal story and highlighting real people that were at the battle.
My mother's uncle, Simon Clarridge, was shot in the knee and a bullet grazed his head. He survived but that was reconnaissance prior to the battle. Getting shot likely saved his life.
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I was tracing my great-grandfather's regiment during WW1. He was in the 20th Battalion, CEF. They were involved in Vimy Ridge. But not sure where the battalion fought (there were 3 fronts during the assault)
My Great-Grandfather survived the war. According to family members, he survived a few bullet/shrapnel wounds. Had trench foot several times. But still went back and fought until the end of the war.
He married a British woman and brought her home to Canada. After returning, he became a police officer with the Kitchener Police Service and ended his career as Chief of Police in Wallaceburg.
Grandpa Jesse was born in Kent, UK. Became an orphan at the age of 10 and when he was 12, was sent to Canada as a Home Child.
He had siblings in the UK snd I found one of his brothers in Australia. His brother retired from the 8th Hussars and then joined the 2nd Artillery Battery (Australia).
I have huge respect for my ancestors. Not just my Great-Grandfather, but his siblings as well. They suffered horribly and then continued to serve afterward.
@@gryph01 - You can get many details from the Canadian military site as a family member. I even saw my great uncle's Xrays on line!
7 years ago I went on a vacation in Belgium. I saw a few memorials there but I decided to take an entire day to visit the Vimy Ridge memorial. The monument is absolutely huge! It was breathtaking. The statues are beautiful and very poignant. The thousands of names inscribed, the nearby cemeteries, the still-cratered landscape. It hit me like a ton of bricks and it brought tears to my eyes. Despite being a little out of my way, I am so very grateful to have made the journey and it's an experience that I will never forget.
Thanks for making this video, keep up the great work!
Miss, Peter Mansbridge from CBC.
@counselthyself Yes, I made it out to Ypres on another day during that same trip. The Menin Gate was another one of those humbling monuments. They do a Last Post ceremony every evening which was neat to see. There is a museum down the road called the In Flanders Fields museum which was closed when I was there but it's located in a beautiful gothic building. If I ever make it back there I would like to visit it one day.
Coming into Vimy Park can give you goosebumps, the quiet, the calm and the somber emotion seep out of the ground. You can walk the trenches, visit the cemetary and walk around the statue, the emotion etched into the figures spekaks to visitor even after 100 year. I have visited twice, once alone and once with my father who was told stories of Vimy by his father who fought along his father and 3 brothers. A special place. If my info is correct, even the Nazi's protected Vimy during WW2.
Thank you for the obvious respect you have shown to this subject, and to Canada as a whole throughout all your videos. It is very much appreciated, and I return that respect to you, sir.
Much appreciated. Peace.
As soon as I heard the iconic voice of Peter Mansbridge, I knew you'd chosen the very best and accurate history of Vimy Ridge. Although I was born in the late 60's to parents who could have been my grandparents, I've had first-hand life with grandparents born in the late 1800's, and so as I always say "the living wisdom of three centuries". For this I have always been grateful. I think that in general Canadians view "serving" in war as just that. Serving. A duty that calls from within, and with a sombre air. This was the attitude of my very wealthy young uncle who could have escaped a conscription to WW11 that never came, but he chose to join the RCAF early, and I had him until 2007, always teaching me so very much about war. As far as my good public school education, nothing much was made of Vimy, nor of conscription. We learned about History not just of Canada, but of much of the World, so in that sense, only my real, first-hand knowledge passed onto me through my family has taught me what in fact happened. My grandfather fought in WW1, but passed at a young age in the early 1950's, so not much was told to me about it. My dad tried to join in WW11 at the age of 15 by lying about his age, but that didn't fly. His brother, and most of my cousins and second cousins to this very day are either retired Royal Canadian Air Force, or still serving. There is a humble modesty, even of those highly decorated. It seems only yesterday that I was attending Remembrance Day events with WW1 veterans, but alas it was in the 1990's and we lost our last WW1 Veteran some years ago. I so much appreciate your reverent respect for our history, our people and our ways. Thank you for bringing our history alive for other Canadians too. I hope some of your queries have been answered.
Heard that voice and my eyes started to tear up.
My grandmother's first husband died at Vimy Ridge and my husband and I have been there twice. It is an experience every Canadian should have. The monument will take your breath away.
I learned about Vimy Ridge in school and especially the tactics that were developed to win the battle. Everyone I've spoken to wants to visit the memorial and Juno Beach when they travel to France. It's just seen as a mark of respect for what our soldiers went through in that war. The Vimy memorial is also on our $20 bill.
The Vimy memorial is also on a page of our Canadian passports.
Found your video about a year after you made it. My grandfather was in the Canadian 8 th army and he was a corporal and in charge of 6 machine guns and their crews. They were on the south end of Vimy Ridge. He watched the barage take place and when it was going he had his men left their heavy machine guns behind and the took their Lewis light machine guns ,followed the barage up the slope and then when it was finished they rushed the germans and sweep they off the top of the ridge from south to north while
trying stop the germans from shooting down on the Newfies and I think those trying assult the pipple. He was lucky to servive this and the second world war.
My grandfather died at Vimy Ridge.
On 9 April 1917 Age 37
Member 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles.
He Served in the Second Boer previous to WW1
MY grandfather name
William Salter
His great great grandson Sean Salter he never met
When I went through school(60s/70s), we were taught Canadian history but not 20th century as much as 19th and earlier. Also, we learned a massive amount of American history. My children did learn more about WW1 and WW2 and have a great respect for the men and women who fought for their freedom. I feel that my grandchildren and others their age will not fully comprehend the sacrifices that were made.
A few years ago I did what I called a war tour and saw all the beaches and museums in Normandy. I also visited many cemeteries of Canadian, Americans and Brits. That said the memorial at Vimy hit me hard as it has such majesty and honour to it. A lot of very brave and fierce men died taking that well fortified ridge from the Germans. Love your videos John. Great work and much respect.
I’m really sorry I missed it while I was there in France. I don’t know when I’ll get back. Someday
Bruce. What tour company did you use
Actually none. Just a buddy who like me is really into WW 1 and 2 on our own. that said I kind of wish we had paid for a professional as we did miss out on some stuff but such is life. We also did St. Mere eglise and Belgium so we saw a lot @@robertbroderick18
Another great video John. I salute all Canadians involved in battle for our freedom and am sincerely grateful to those who died defending it. Thank you. God keep our land glorious and free 🇨🇦 and God bless America 🇺🇸
Thank you.
Us Canadians get frustrated. We often feel that we do not get acknowledgement for our contributions. The same goes for Australians, New Zealanders, South Africans and Indians.
One thing that bothers me is in documentaries. Canadians get a byline here and there. But the focus is always the U.S. or the UK.
Canadians generally do not care about "glory". But we do care that our efforts should be acknowledged.
Thank you Jeff. God keep our land glorious and free . 🇨🇦 🍻
@@gryph01 Thank YOU Jeff. God keep our land glorious and free. 🇨🇦 🍻
My wife's maternal Grandfather was a Ferrier at Vimy Ridge. He continued his Blacksmiths biz for 60 years after WWI. His parents immigrated to 🇨🇦 from 🇩🇪. His father was very upset that his 3 sons joined the Canadian Army to fight the fatherland. Unfortunately one of the sons did not return. I remember Harry talking about how stressful it was for the horses to make the long journey across the Atlantic. He said not only was it exhausting for the horses plus also for the Ferriers.
As a Canadian, thanks for this.
Thank you for covering Vimy Ridge. My grandfather and 3 three great uncles were there during the battle. My grandfather and one of my great uncles were wounded during the battle. My great uncle lost his left arm and my grandfather was wounded by a Germain shell. I think why this war means so much to us is because it was the first time in our history a Canadian General was in command of Canada's military. The outcome of the battle prove to all Canadians and to the world that we were truly our own nation. We also paid a very high price for our national identity. Less we forget.
You seem like a very nice caring person 🇨🇦😘. I live in the best country in the world. I am a very proud Canadian 👍🇨🇦🥰
Thank you Sir for this video, I am the son of a Canadian Soldier, My father Made sure his children knew about the wars. He had listened to the BBC throughout the second world war, as a young man and arrived here in Canada 1946 at the age of 16. He was very Proud of Canada, his choosen Home nation !
My wife and I visited France for the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. It was a moving experience to visit with our family to walk the fields where the battle to place with our French friends. It tugs at the heart.
Visit the Vimy Memorial! As a Canadian soldier I had managed during my career to visit the Memorial twice. Each time I felt surrounded by a host of unseen many. On my last visit there were no other visitors about and yet it seemed I walked amongst thousands.
Our trip to Vimy Ridge memorial was life altering for the entire family. I still get chills every time I look at our photos or even see it on tv or online. Thank you for posting
Thank you for this video and your reaction /response to Vimy Ridge. As a Canadian I take pride in what that generation of soldiers accomplished. I have had the privilege of visiting this memorial twice . It is an amazing place to see. Parts of the grounds surrounding the monument are still off limits due to the amount on munitions buried there from the battle (s) that is unexplored yet still deadly. They use sheep to keep the grass in those areas short, unfortunately every once in a while a sheep will be killed. I remember reading that Hitler initially wanted the monument destroyed because he thought it was a monument to a victory. Someone on his staff explained that that was not the case . He allowed the monument to be left alone.
Hitler didn't just leave the memorial alone -- He posted a German honour guard to protect it. The tribute to the human losses of war touched him as someone who had fought in the war as a private and corporal.
Thankyou again ,John, for this video.. I hope some of the younger generations of Canadians and Americans start delving into these videos which show the impact of what going to war means and of those who gave their lives to give us the freedoms we have today.
I hope so too. Very much so.
My great uncle fought at Vimy. I was about 12 years old in the early 1970’s when he told me about his role in the war - too young to fully grasp the magnitude of this and the battle which took place. Thank you to all veterans who served to protect our freedoms
Canada's reward for Victory at Vimy was to lead the fight at Passchendaele, another bloody battle.
Fun fact General Arthur Currie received some immortality in a movie many decades later. The boot camp in Starship Troopers is named Camp Currie.
We visited Vimy this past September. I had 2 Uncles who fought there in 1917; both survived and I was privleged to have known them both. One of them served in the same regiment that I served in 45+ years later. That memorial is just brilliantly dazzling in the bright sunlight that we had during our visit. It is indeed a masterpiece and it touches something deep with us. Personally, I was simply awe-struck when first seeing it in the distance.
Thank you John, conscription brought tremendous amount of despair and arguments between French Canadians and English Canadians in both World Wars. As for me my Nov. 11 is dedicated this year to Leo Major who, for me, is the prime example of what ingenuity, cunning and strategy at war is all about. If we had more Leo Major in our ranks our army would be feared around the globe.
Yes, a true French Canadian hero. I knew about him but learned he was French Canadian when I did my reaction to Canadians change when they hear the word war.
I Have a deep connection to the Canadian Military and my Grandfather served in the Royal Newfoundland Regiment the only other Military with the Crowns Title outside of Britain. I was wondering if you could do a reaction to Beaumont-Hamel the battle that earned NFLD (Its Own Nation at the Time) the Title Royal Regiment of the Queen. The battle saw almost 900 NFLD'ers go over the top of the trenches across no mans land and accomplished their mission, however out of almost 900 Newfies only 70 could meet roll call the next morning. Love Your Video's keep up the great work.
LEST WE FORGET.
Thanks for the info and I’ll look into that.
Pierre Burton's book about Vimy Ridge was awesome.
When it comes to canadian history and large events such as things like vimy ridge, CBC is easily one of the best and most accurate places to come to in order to learn about these historical events. They always have such great detail and respect to all these events
Another interesting point of Vimy is that during WW II it was the only WW I memorial Hitler took an interest in. When visiting he was so impressed by the fact it was lamenting suffering rather than heralding a victory that he ordered that a 24 hour guard be posted on it. The reason for this is at that time German troops were destroying war memorials as they encountered them.
True. He had ordered all the others destroyed because they celebrated victory over the Germans. I think secretly he was also scared of Canadian retribution because of their shoot first, ask questions later mentality during WW1.
@@ralphvelthuis2359 That and the fact the memorial is about the suffering and futility of war not about victory. That is said to have really impressed him.
I had two great grandfathers who fought there. One received the Military Medal, the second highest award after our Victoria Cross. Ironically both survived the war.
You're one of the brighter Americans. Thanks for being so!
I just found this video and thank you for your reaction. I am a first generation Canadian. My father was in a Labour Camp, being a young man from The Netherlands, and my mom was a teenager in Germany. I think that I have gain a unique perspective on the war and how it affected both side. I am very proud to be a Canadian and watching these videos of our Canadian military. When our children were in school we taught them about both WW1 and WW2, and went the the Remembrance Day ceremony in our community.
Strongly suggest you go to the monument. I've been to every major monument on the Western front and as a Canadian was very proud of the way Walter Allward captured the significance of the site: Regret and sorrow (really a comment on all wars) rather than about chest-thumping patriotism. It is beautiful, as are the views over the Douai Plain and the kindness of local population. My second favourite spot on the front was Ypres and how the Belgians have painstakingly rebuilt it pretty much as it was before the war after it was turned to rubble through successive battles.
Thank you for honoring the Canadian soldiers of Vimy Ridge. My great uncle fought, was wounded there, and was honored with medals.
I visited the monument early in the morning when I was in France. Incredible atmosphere, an overwhelming sense of presence.
Dear John, thank you for your video and reactions to The Battle of Vimy Ridge. As I read the reactions and comments of my fellow Canucks, it made my heart swell with pride, and my throat choke up to realize that our contributions and sacrifices in The Great War have not been forgotten over time by future generations. As you stated, this battle was truly a pivotal moment in the life of our country as to its standing and definition within the British Empire. Our Canadian Corps would further distinguish itself in battles including Lens, Hill 70, and Passchendaele going forward. Every time I see the memorial it brings a wave of emotion over me when I think about the conditions, what happened, and the sacrifices made there.
Lest We Forget
What's absolutely incredible about Canadians in the first world war, was the fact that we had a population of just under 8 million, and about 7% of the population were in uniform at SOME point during that war. That's an insane amount of people who were not conscripted, but rather volunteered to fight.
That's a huge testament to the Canadian spirit we all grew up honouring every year on Remembrance Day.
What a great presentation John. Many thanks for making this video. Side note: My son in law is a Major in the Canadian Military, he’s been deployed twice and thank god came back alive, but did lose one soldier in Afghanistan. He and my daughter named their son VIMY. He’s only 5 but understands the meaning of his name, as dad explained it all to him.
Wow, thanks for sharing this personal information with me. I love hearing these stories.
I'm wearing my poppy as I watch this 4 days before Remembrance Day. Thank you.
Thank you for reviewing these historic events at WW I and WW II and the heroics of all allied soldiers. Your manner of presenting these stories is very informative, sincere and respectful. It’s important that we are all educated about the horrors of war so that we avoid another war at all costs. Appreciate your efforts towards that. Thank you. 👏❤️🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
"so that we avoid another war at all costs."
I don't think that is the conclusion you should come to.
There are some things you should be willing to fight for to defend.
Thank you very much for this. Canada was created on paper in 1867, but was born on the battlefields of Vimy, Ypes, Pachendale. We came into being in WW1. WW1 was actually more impactful on Canada then WW2. Not a single family in Canada didn't send a son to war.
If your interested in more sources, those two experts interviewed, Tim Cook and Jack Granatstien are fantastic authors and researchers. Granatstien is also former director of Canadian National War Museam
Thank you so very much for the respect you show towards our service people. My great uncle died in WW1. I never knew him, but the effect it had on my grandmother, his sister, was always present. I remember reading the letters he would send home to her, and he always seemed lonely: just hoping for any news of home.
Ty for the video John my friend
I have family fight at Vimy and both of my grandfathers fight in WW2, 1 in the Army and another in the navy. Love from Canada 🇨🇦
Thank you very much for such a respectful treatment of this very important battle. It is beyond moving.
I've been very touched, and actually grateful, for the respect that you've shown to Canadian war and peace initiatives, including Vimy Ridge. Thank you. I come from a military family going way back, and like so many Canadian families am deeply aware of the after effects of war. It is hurtful to see Allied participation so often ignored or undermined in American movies, even most American-made documentaries. I want to tell you about one very small dairy town in Eastern Canada, Sussex, New Brunswick. My grandparents lived on Church Avenue there, a tranquil little street lined with old Victorian houses and magnificent elm trees. My grandparents had two young sons who fought in WWII. The youngest was blown to pieces in the Battle of Ortona, Italy. The week they got the dreaded knock on the door with the news that they would never again see their son, 4 other families on that little street received the same news. FIVE families, on a street of perhaps 50 families. Just one small street, in one small farming town, in Canada, in just one week. Every year the main street of the town is lined with pictures hanging from every lamp post of the war dead, their names, ages and the war that took them......beginning with WWI, then WWII, Korea......and now Afghanistan. Store windows are filled with pictures and memorabilia from those connected to the particular store owner. My great uncle died at Vimy Ridge, both grandfathers served in WWI and WWII, as did my father and his brother. I can't help but feel that American - Global relations would only improve if Allied military service was truly acknowledged by the US.
I hear you. Our cultural imperialism is both in demand but also resented. My dad was in US Army intelligence in the late 1960s in Europe in the Cold War. He is an honorable man and sticks to his oath of secrecy. But, while he respects his British allies, he has always said, the true special relationship is with Canada. I’m not sure what he knows that led him to conclude that. I do know that he was grateful what Canada did to get our citizens to safety after harboring then at the Canadian embassy in the Iran hostage crisis. Just how in my generation I was extremely grateful with what Canada did for our citizens during 9/11. I was in NY at the time. I’ll never forget.
My favorite channel on RUclips! Creators like J.F.A. need way more pub. So refreshing to watch an "American" that gets us. 🤘🤘
Another quintessential Moment in 'Canadian History' (although under British rule), is The Battle of Queenston Heights, in which Sir Issac Brock fell to a musket ball, during the War of 1812...against the American War of aggression.
Thank you for your thoughtful reaction video and reflection on Vimy Ridge. For me, this battle takes on personal significance leading up to November 11 and April 9 each year as my great-grandfather fell from a sniper's shot to the chest on the first day of the battle. He was a member of the 85th Battalion Nova Scotia Highlanders who were committed to the battle to take Hill 145 after the Germans had withstood the initial waves and still held this fortified high ground. His loss had a ripple effect for my family which I am sure was the same for all 3598 who lost their lives in this battle (with over 10k casualties in total). A bucket list item for me was to visit the memorial and locate my great-grandfather's grave. In 2016, I was on a lecture tour in France and was speaking at the University of Lille. I took the opportunity to take the train to Arras and a taxi to the Vimy Memorial. It was an incredibly moving experience. The decision to leave the surrounding landscape with the shell craters and tortuous undulations presents an alien landscape (now covered in grass but you can picture what the troops had to run through as churned up mud). One of the most profound experiences in my life was to find my great-grandfather's grave in a war cemetery on the edge of a nearby village. I will never forget seeing his tombstone, name, battalion, birth date and April 9, 2017 staring back at me. I took off my poppy and placed it at the grave and pondered the context of the violence and loss of war while the cemetery was enclosed by lush farmland countryside under a warm autumn sun in France. When I am down, I try to think of what my great-grandfather and his Canadian brothers in arms had to face on that cold Easter Monday in 2017. I recommend Tim Cook's books (Canadian War Historian who appears in the video) who has written several excellent books on Vimy and the Canadians in WWI and WWII. Thank you for your reflections on this important battle and very important war memorial.
Thanks so much for this amazing account. I think I can relate. The US has done an amazing job at preserving the Gettysburg battleground. For us Northerners who don’t subscribe to this BS version of the Southern Lost cause, it is such a powerful experience. I visited Normandy too when I was in France and had a similar feeling. I want so bad to visit the Vimy Ridge memorial. It looks like one of a kind. I was moved just seeing it on video. I’m a softy. I’ll weep for my Canadian brothers when I see it for sure. I feel like a patriot North I American who loves his cousin of Canada now. Love you guys and your great nation.
@@johnf-americanreacts1287 Hey John, Keep up the great work. Given current divisions, I think it is important to remember the shared values which pull us together. I definitely want to get to Normandy too and I try to visit historical sites when my professional travel (professor and science researcher) gets me close. Gettysburg is on my list as my kids are US citizens by birth so it will happen. I will have to review my history of the American Civil War which I read about 15 years ago. I actually have relatives stretching down the eastern seaboard on both sides of the border (including cousins who used to live in New York). Stay well and thanks again for your thoughtful videos. All the best on this election night.
@@pwmagi67 thanks and fingers crossed though midterms are usually bad for the incumbent party. I’m almost ready to retake my Canadian citizenship test. 😉
My grandfather’s younger brother died at Vimy. He was wounded on April 7 and died April 8. So he missed the major offensive on April 9.
In school I don’t recall ever hearing too much about Vimy. Most of what I have learned was later on in life especially after learning about a relative who died there.
Thank you for your reaction. Job well done. 👍
Edit: I am 51 if I ever get a tattoo, it will be of the Vimy monument.
We are the same age my friend. Well, I’ll be 51 later this month.
As a Canadian - I appreciate you for sharing the subject matter. Please do something on Beaumont Hamel!
As a youth I was in the Army cadets and had the opportunity to talk too Vimy Veterans. The pride they had in what they accomplished was evident, but so was the sorrow of losing so many friends. The Battle of Vimy Ridge is significant because it was the first time the world recognized us as an independent country and not as a British Colony. As one veteran told me "I'm not afraid of hell, I fought at Vimy Ridge."
Thanks for that thoughtful review, John - you do both our countries proud.
Thank you brother. We love our US cousins too. We are always cheering for you folks in your struggles. Especially the internal ones.
John F - If you have not seen it, "They shall not grow old", a film by Kiwi Peter Jackson is stunning. He took long lost and neglected WW1 footage and painstakingly restored it adding dialogue, even using lip readers to interpret the spoken word from the silent film and recreated the specific accents according to the soldiers' shoulder patches. The "making of" at the end of the movie is as stunning as the movie itself.
I saw it about five times. 😃. It was amazing and so well done with the old audio of soldiers talking about their experiences with the amazing new technology to bring the old footage to life. I also saw the making of and how they used police lip readers to tell what they were saying, even down to identifying the accents they were speaking in to add the voiced with actors. It was beautifully haunting
Thanks John. Well chosen! Peace and Love from Canada!
Thank you for showing respect to our men who fell! My grandfather and his best friend were amoung the first to volunteer. Grandfather never talked about it other than when you see the wrong going on, and you believe in what's right you need to serve. The only things was that he was there for almost important battles. They did make it back together and he brought with him a war bride. The sweetest person on earth with a good heart. This is why im so very proud and thankful to be Canadian!
Thank you for covering this, my great grandfather was very likely in France at the time, and eventually made it home. His brother on the other hand was MIA in France in August of 1918 and his name rests on the memorial.
Lest we forget. Thank you for your respect.
Also, after Vimy, the Canadian Corps was feared (along with the Australians) by the Germans. Just the rumor that the Canadians were near sent the Germans to heavily reinforce that sector. While this was an overall view of the actions of the Canadian Divisions during the whole war, Vimy just cemented it
Thank you for posting this! As a Canadian it means allot bro!!! Much respect!!! 🇨🇦🇺🇸
I visited Vimy as a teenager in 1988. The thing that struck me the most was the rough terrain around as if the battle ended not long ago.
That’s so crazy after all these years.
Spent the last few hours watching all the content I can watch that you make. Thank you Brother.
This battle was the start of a series of impressive Canadian battles. This was also why Canada signed the peace treaty as Canada and not as part of the British Empire.
Thank you John. I'm half Canadian and half American and have spent most of my life in Canada although I now live in the US. Thank you so much for posting these videos. I have seen the abuse and failure of the Parliamentary system but I still believe that the history of both nations have a lot to teach us.
I'm so happy you get our canadian history out there, I'm so very proud of our country born and raised 61 yrs ago Thank-you
After she mentioned losing all their friends and he paused it, I have to admit I teared up a little, I'm a Canadian combat veteran and I lost some very close friends in Afghanistan. Sgt Sean Eades and Pte Kevin D'Allair. God keep you both safe and happy boys.
My Canadian History Professor in University was really interested and focused a lot on Canadian Military History including Vimy Ridge. He told us that the Conscription debate was more of a French - English problem. English Canada was more loyal to the Crown than the French (Quebecois) were and the French didn't think they should become involved with an English War. Our Prof. also told us that Canadian soldiers were not that well liked by other Commonwealth soldiers, because they got paid more than the Brits and Australians and New Zealanders. The Canadians were considered to be ill-bred apes who were only good for cannon fodder. Basically, they were jealous of the Canadians. During WW I, Canada had a very small population and many Englishmen went to Canada shortly before the war. When war broke out, they signed up and were very proud of their snazzy new uniforms. Some were snubbed by people they had known before immigrating to Canada because they thought too highly of themselves. I do remember our Prof. saying that the powers that be didn't want the Canadians to try to take Vimy, because Canadian soldiers didn't follow orders well. If they were given an order and they didn't like it, they would stand up to their superior officer and say "No, we'll do it this way". They were far more independent thinking than the other Commonwealth Country Soldiers. Jack Granatstein has written many books about Canada's Military if you want to read some Canadian history. Also, if you ever get the chance, come to Ottawa Ontario for Remembrance Day. The Canadian War Museum is amazing. I have been there a handful of times and still haven't seen everything. The windows on the side of the museum, spell out "Lest We Forget" in both English and French in Morse Code. (i.e. the size and spacing of the windows).
Thousands of Canadians made the pilgrimage to Vimy in 2017 for the 100th anniversary. My husband and I went that year but a few weeks later than the actual date. The monument is stunning and probably the most moving of any battlefield monument on the Western Front. My husband and I are also history enthusiasts and have studied our Canadian history. The historian interviewed in this video -- Tim Cook -- has written two volumes on Canada's military in WW I -- " The Sharp End' and "Shock Troops' -- very well written and researched. My husband has researched all the veterans from our small Nova Scotia community from both world wars and this research has been given to our little community museum. A veteran of Vimy who lost his arm during the battle lived a long productive life here and raised a large family. I think that Vimy had a profound effect on many, many Canadians. We also found the names of several residents from our area whose names are on the monument. Remembrance Day -- November 11 -- is a big deal in our country. Thousands turn out for the ceremony in Ottawa and many more at local ceremonies across the country. I think that over the last 30 years or so more people commemorate November 11 than they ever did in the past. Of course, there are few veterans of WW II living now and that adds a poignancy too. I know that November 11 in the US is treated a little differently and is not as solemn a day as here. Many provinces give the day off and stores and schools are closed.
Yeah, Nov 11th used to be Armistice Day here and was tested more like a Remembrance Day, but we also had this day in May called decoration day that came out of the civil war and was an unofficial holiday to decorate graves and war memorials in remembrance. Eventually as the US fought in ww2 and Korea they change Armistice day to Veterans Day and eventually made the last Monday in May Memorial Day. So I think having the two different days that serve similar purposes watered down the meaning of both sadly.
Thank you for all you do for us.. Canada 🇨🇦
When I (a Canadian) started my nursing career I worked in extended care (nursing home). It was in 1996 and I was honored to meet some of the Canadian soldiers from WWI, WWII, and even the Korean War. There was only a small handful of WWI vets but I can say this about them, they were true gentlemen in all sense of the word. I was proud to have met them. It wasn't long before they were all gone but I don't think our nation will ever forget them or any of the other war vets. The one thing I learned was they didn't want to talk about their war experiences, the memories were just to painful for them. Sadly, I saw more then one break down and cry when war was brought up. I also took care of a German soldier that had spent a good portion of the war in a Russian prisoner of war camp. This poor man had dementia and sadly was reliving his time there. He would scream and scream as though being tortured. It was so hard to hear him but that was nothing to having to relive it all over again. It's so important to remember wars from the past and hopefully we can learn never to repeat the same mistakes. Thank you for your channel.
I thank you for this and I have a small glimpse into what your talking about. My great uncle was in France in WWI. My grandfather fought in France in WW2 and was in Hawaii when Japan surrendered. He had been transferred from the European theater to invade Japan. Thank god that wasn’t necessary. My dad served in NATO in Europe in the 60a. He was a cold warrior. My granddad came back mentally scarred (ptsd) and became an alcoholic and died young. My dad lost comrades too. He vowed to always be an advocate for vets. As a kid, I went to VA hospitals with him to take the vets to church, or play a game of chess or just talk to them and treat them like men. That very much shaped who I am as an adult.
I studied this battle in my military history class in high school. Later, I was to find out that my great uncle fought and died there. He was 19 years old. I am proud to have had a family member who had served in this battle, but also sad of the life he never had a chance to live. At least he is there with his brothers in arms and is not alone.
So young. My great uncle fought in WWI too but survive e
Thank you for being so informed! it making this so much better to watch
As a Canadian, I have to tell you that you are very very respectful.
Thank you. I had forgotten this great Peter Mansbridge doc. I watched this on Remebrance Day. In 1916 census, Canada’s population was only 8 million and in Vimy alone, 11,000 men died. It is very sobering, indeed.
Outstanding video. Thanks for your respectful reaction. The narrator Peter Mansbridge and commentators Jack Granatstien and Brian Stewart are among the most recognized in Canada. My great grand uncle Arthur Harold Pasons 10160 also known as Ben is among the fallen whose names are inscribed on the memorial. He enlisted in Toronto in September 1914 less than 3 years after leaving his home in Somerset England. He was deployed to France in February 1915 with the Canadian 3rd Battalion and killed at the Battle of Festubert 25 May by an artillary shell. He was buried by his mates where he died but the ground was overturned by shells and his remains were never found. A hundred years after the Vimy battle in 2017 Canada issued a commemorative $2 coin.
Tim Cook is no slouch either! I met him the first time I visited Vimy in 2011.
Great video! My grandfather and my husband’s grandfather both served in WWI. My grandfather was gravely injured and left for dead for three days until soldiers went out to collect the bodies. When he groaned they took him to hospital and he went on to return to Canada, marry my grandmother and have eight children…one of whom is my mother.
My husband’s grandfather survived as well but lived his entire life with the side effects of being gassed - his lungs were permanently scarred. He also was shot in the face. He met a lovely woman in London and he brought her home to Canada as his wife.
Canada has never lost a war and has usually always been there to step up and join their allies when needed.
Very well done...thankyou .. a Canadian friend...Lest We Forget.
Thank you for your respect to our Canadian heroes. Want to know more, watch For King and Country, great WW1 doc series.
My wife, my son and I visited Vimy Ridge in 2019. It elicited some of the deepest emotions in me that I have ever felt and my wife and son felt the same way. Walking the trenches and seeing the remains of the shell holes was impactful but what made the biggest impression was going into the tunnels. The thought of being in those tunnels for hours packed in with all the other soldiers waiting to begin the assault must have been terrifying. It really made you appreciate what the men must have gone through prior to the actual battle.
The monument itself is awe inspiring and humbling at the same time. It is poignant and impactful. The names of the 11,285 missing soldiers inscribed on the memorial elicit a sense of great tragedy and loss but it also represents the sacrifice willingly made by a young emerging nation. Every one of those soldiers was a volunteer defending the British empire and fighting for the freedom of France. That their names are forever displayed here is a fitting tribute to these selfless men. The figures carved into the memorial are sorrowful but also peaceful. Even the indigenous peoples of Canada are represented on the memorial.
Ever Canadian who has the opportunity would be well advised to pay this site a visit. It is a truly moving experience.
John, I want to thank you for the thoughtful and heartfelt way in which you've chosen to portray Canada in this video and in others I've watched. You are a kind and caring man and I wish you well in your various endeavours moving forward. Thank you, my friend. You are my brother.
Thank you so much. I am touched but this wonderful community of people. Peace my brother. 🇨🇦🇺🇸
My great grandfather was killed at Vimy Ridge. I went to Vimy Ridge and placed a wreath and boots on the memorial in honor of my Great Grandfather. It was a very important moment in my life. Thank you for your reaction. My hat is off to you. I toured the tunnels, trenches and pillboxes at Vimy Ridge in November 2017. It certainly opened my eyes.
My great uncle was in France at end of 1917 and through 1918. One of the earliest American regiments to fight. They were under French control at some point. Peace to you and yours.
My grandfather served RAF in WW1 and RCAF in WW2. My father served our country for 32 years, 9 of them at CFB Borden. The first year I had to attend Remembrance services without him was crushing. He visited Vimy 14 times in his life.
Thank you young man, for the Respect you show to Canada and her Peoples...Semper Paratus
Thank you for having enough respect to react to this video. My Great grandpa fought in both world wars and as kids we used to ask him about it..but he would only respond with Be thankful for your freedom we fought for you to have. He was a very humble man and never bragged about his bravery in the wars. Just that we should be grateful for our freedoms. Thank you Gramps for your service 🙏 ❤
Yes, thanks to your gramps and mine for their service in the war. Thank god for them.
@@johnf-americanreacts1287 Amen to that sir🙏☮️
My father was in both world wars, but his deepest memories were those experienced in WW1. He rarely spoke of Vimy but it deeply affected his soul. I was, and will always be, very proud of my Dad.
They don’t go into the details that had British troops wearing Canadian uniform marks to hide the fact that Canadian units moving off the lines to deploy to the Vimy area. Canadians showing up made German commanders very nervous to the point where elite units were moved in to counter this movement. It is even recorded that Canadian units weee moved out of areas that British commanders wanted to start an attack because the German forces would move to meet their new locations. This would be a rouse that helped the British. Canadians were used as shock troops to bust down a door and surge the line
Thank you for covering Vimy Ridge.
Hey thanks for this! I was there at the 100 year celebration with my school. Travelled all the way from Canada just for it. It really makes me happy to see other nations learn about it and have an appreciation for it. Thank you. As you said it was very very powerful standing there
I am canadian I lost my uncle in ww2 I think I wish I would have love to have known him he died in Italy I did not know him but the pride I have for him and what he did for our country it makes me wish I could have talk to him and here his stories God bless him thank you uncle!!!!!!
T,Y, for the Honour you have given, to Vimy Ridge.. It's History & Those that Served there. They are Not Forgotten, as NO Canadians or Their Allied Friends Are, That have Served in any War/ Conflict Together are.. They ALL MEAN SO MUCH TO US, THAT STILL SERVE.. THEY WILL CONTINUE TOO & GIVE US COURAGE... ~~T.Y. for Your, VALUED Understandings & Kindness.. You are a GOOD NEIGHBOUR !!~ All the Best to You & Yours