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Assassination of Fred Ferdinand
Fred Ferdinand was assassinated after he and his wife were shot and killed. This was a key event at the start of the war -
Canada and Enters the First World War
On August 4, 1914, Britain declared war on Germany and because they were dominions of Britain they were required to go to war. -
First Canadian Contingent
The First Canadian Contingent sailed from Québec City for England with around 31,000 troops aboard 31 warships on October 3, 1914 -
Battle of Ypres
From April 22- May 25, 1915, the Germans used chlorine gas against the allied forces where many died due to suffocation. The Canadians counterattacked to stall the German advance, and then slowly gave ground, buying precious time for British troops to be rushed forward. -
Introduction of Chemical Warfare
During the Battle of Ypres the Germans used chlorine gas to force the allied troops out of their trenches. These weapons caused many casualties and started the development of chemical weapons. -
In Flanders Field
On May 3, 1915, John McCrae of Guelph, ON, wrote the famous poem "In Flanders Fields." It was composed in 20 minutes at Ypres and first published in December 1915 -
Battle of Vimy Ridge
On Easter Monday, four Canadian divisions and one British brigade captured Vimy Ridge, near Arras, France, with a loss of 3578 killed and 7000 wounded. It was a brilliant victory for the Canadians, who sensed a new national awareness. -
Battle of Passchendaele
On October 26, 1917, The Canadian helped capture Passchendaele as the British began a new offensive, attempting to break through German lines by capturing a ridge near the village of Passchendaele -
Arthur Currie
Arthur Currie was a Canadian commander who helped lead the Canadian troops with his skillful tactics. Arthur Currie lead the Canadians to may victories throughout the war. One of the most notable was the capture of Hill 70. -
Battle of Amiens
On August 8, 1918, Canadian forces helped push back and advance on the Germans on the western front. This battle was considered one of the most successful days of combat for the allies. -
The Treaty of Versailles
On June 28, 1919, The Treaty of Versailles was signed in France ending the war. It took effect on January 10, 1920.
