Gravenstafel

Location

The memorial is easily be reached by taking the main road from Ieper to Brugge (N 313). Just after passing through Sint Juliaan you will come to a large crossroads with the Canadian Memorial at Vancouver Corner in front of you.

The Highlanders' monument sits on the road which leads from behind the Canadian Memorial to the New Zealand Memorial at 's Graventafel.

Vancouver Corner
New Zealand Memorial

Its position offers a splendid view over this sector of the Canadian battlefield.

At Vancouver Corner turn right and pass the Canadian Memorial's parking area. At the next junction turn left into OL Vrouwstraat. This will take you up past the windmill (Site of the infamous Totenmühle of the war). Continue along the main road bearing right at the fork.

The monument is on your left just past the house at the top of the ridge it marks the approximate position of what was known during the 2nd Battle of Ypres as Locality C.

History

The plaque clearly explains the events of the first uses by the Germans of chlorine gas and the map helps orientate the visitor.

Looking out across the field towards the north the original front line is towards Poelkapelle (in German hands) whose church can be seen in the distance.

Looking around you the importance of these bumps in the terrain are easily appreciated as well as the fact that as the Canadians were forced back and the Germans took possession of the ridges how impossible it became to hold St Juliaan against the overwhelming artillery superiority of the Germans.

Two things should perhaps be pointed out in connection with the two gas attacks of the 22nd and 24th April 1915.

The first against the French was a complete surprise as nothing like it had ever been envisaged let alone seen in warfare. It was directed against a very wide front which meant that once part of the line had given way it was impossible to support the breach from the flanks.

On the left of the Canadians the 45e Division d'Infanterie suffered 60% casualties amongst their front line troops. One of the supporting regiments left half its men on the battlefield.

Gas Warfare
24th April 1915

Two days later it was the turn of the Highlanders to take the brunt of a gas attack.

Some countermeasures had been invoked to help alleviate the gas but the water soaked face masks were far from efficient protective equipment (Gas masks hadn't even been designed let alone issued to soldiers - they would come later in the year).

The gas attack was over a narrow front which would help the Canadian and British forces to limit the damage which, even so, would prove to be considerable.

In visiting the monument at Vancouver Corner to the Canadians in general and this memorial plaque it is possible to get the impression that casualties amongst the Canadian forces were not as high as those of the French.

This is far from the truth.

The stand made by the Highlanders did not come without cost: 647 of them would become casualties during the attack more than any other battalion of the Canadian 1st Division which suffered 6,000 killed and wounded.

It would take a further two years for the British to regain this ridge. By continuing on along the road to the New Zealand Memorial, which commemorates their capturing the heights during 3rd Ypres in 1917, you can travel the distance in a matter of minutes.

The cemeteries in the area pay eloquent testimony to the tens of thousands of men from across the globe who gave their lives in accomplishing that deed.

24th April 2010

This monument to the 48th Highlanders of Canada (15th Battalion CEF) was dedicated on the 24th April 2010 in the presence of Brigadier General Greg Young and a party of serving members and veterans of the Regiment, local officials and villagers.

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This memorial plaque is complimented by a similar one on the wall of De Hazebrug (next to the church) in Sint Juliaan which marks the 15th Battalion's participation in the defence of the village in the days that followed the gas attack.

Following a second short ceremony in which Mr Douglas Henderson speaking for the Scottish Government spoke of the close ties that bound the regiments of both countries. Following the many amalgamations within the British Army some of the famous old regimental names are now only found represented in the militia of the Canadian Defence Forces

During the reception that followed the Highlanders made a number of presentations to those who had assisted in arranging the emplacement of the plaques and the organisation of the ceremonies.

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Hendecourt, France

The 48th Highlanders of Canada also have a memorial plaque at Hendecourt, a short drive to the east of Arras and the Bullecourt battlefield.

It commemorates one of their actions in the drive to liberate Cambrai in 1918.

Hendecourt