Skip to content

Hundreds of cadets to mark Vimy anniversary

Historic WWI battle to be remembered at the Cloverdale Cenotaph Sunday
36870cloverdalewover-the-top
Over the top. On April 9

The public is invited to a ceremony at the Cloverdale Cenotaph Sunday marking the First World War battle of Vimy Ridge on its 99th anniversary.

More than 500 cadets and Royal Canadian Legion members are expected to attend, remembering Canadian soldiers who fought and died in the battle.

Cadets and officers from the 2277 Seaforth Highlanders Royal Canadian Army Cadets from Surrey, the Fraser Valley and Vancouver will be participating in a short service that starts at 10 a.m. April 10 at the plaza, at 17710 56A Avenue.

Spectators are asked to arrive 15 minutes earlier.

“Now, nearly 100 years since the anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, there are no combat veterans left from the First World War,” said Capt. Mark Iredale, commanding officer of the 2277 Seaforth Highlanders in Langley. “An important part of the cadet program is to educate youth about Canadian military history.”

Canadian soldiers accomplished what was thought impossible by the British and French forces – capturing a heavily fortified ridge in France located 175 km north of Paris held by German soldiers.

Machine gun nests, heavy artillery, and three rows of trenches lay in their path. Between April 9-12, 1917, the Canadians braved shell bombardment and machine gun fire to take the ridge.

Their victory came at a brutal cost; of the 100,000 who fought, 3,598 soldiers were killed, and another 7,104 injured. Thousands more were missing and presumed dead.

For more about the event, visit www.2277rcacc.com.

– Cloverdale Reporter

 

Follow the Cloverdale Reporter on Twitter and Facebook. View our print edition online.