The Canadian Memorial

There are only two major Canadian Memorials on the Western Front that at Vimy Ridge in France and this one in Sint Juliaan (St Julien) to the north of Ieper.

In general when referring to the Battles use Ypres but when referring to the town itself use the Flemish version Ieper.

Vimy

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.

Turn right and immediately in front of you is the memorial car park.

It was designed by the Canadian sculptor Frederick Clemesha and was unveiled by the Duke of Connaught (Canada's Governor General) on 8th July 1923. The surrounding cedar trees are trimmed to the shape of shells.

The Allied Supreme Commander Maréchal Ferdinand Foch was present and spoke highly of the Canadian soldiers first major action in the war.

Gas Attack

Ypres had been desperately fought over in October and November 1914 during the race for the sea. Once trench warfare became the way of life on the western front each side endeavoured to find some way to break through.

On 22nd April 1915 the Germans bombarded the French lines to the north of Ieper in the first phase of the 2nd Battle of Ypres.

This bombardment was followed by a massive discharge of chlorine gas. A green mist that gently floated on a light breeze into the French Lines.

The gas attacked the lungs of the soldiers and soon they were choking - literally drowning as their lungs filled with fluid. The French Line collapsed leaving the Canadians to their right badly exposed.

The breach in the Allied line was far greater than the Germans had been expecting and they were not able to fully exploit it.

Canadian and British troops were flung into the gap to prevent a total collapse and the loss of Ypres.

24 April 1915

The German pressure started to mount again and on 24th April they launched another gas attack this time against the Canadian troops defending St Julien (Sint Juliaan). Gas masks had yet to be invented and the soldiers had to fight with soaked handkerchiefs as their only protection.

The Canadians managed to hold on until they were relieved, but ultimately they and the British were forced back closer to Ypres.

In their first major engagement of the war the Canadians suffered 6,035 casualties. As the memorial points out 2,000 of them lie in the cemeteries nearby.

Gas masks were introduced, but the men still only had moments to fit them properly before they would be overcome.

Wilfred Owen describes an attack in one of his poems.

Dulce et decorum est

Despite the protestations of barbarity - German observers were quite correct when they replied that it would not be long before the British and French replied in kind. In the case of the British at Loos in September 1915.

With the prevailing winds generally in their favour on the Western Front the British would make full use of a weapon now deemed: normal.

The Gas Attacks of April 1915

Memorial plaque to Lieutenant Edward Bellew VC

On the wall of the café immediately opposite the car park is a small plaque commemorating the exploits of Lieutenant Edward Bellew.

During the course of the gas attack against the Canadians it became necessary to retire back towards Sint Juliaan.

Near Keerselare (this crossroads) Lieutenant Edward Bellew the machine gun officer of the 7th Canadians stayed with his gun, firing until he ran out of ammunition. Cut off from his battalion and wounded, he fought on with fixed bayonet until overpowered. In 1919 on being released from his POW Camp he discovered that he had become the first Canadian Officer of the CEF to be awarded the Victoria Cross.

48th Highlanders of Canada

If you take the road alongside the car park and then turn left towards the windmill (OL Vrouwstraat) you will drive over much of the ground fought over by the Canadians. At the top of the hill in an area known as Locality C is a memorial plaque to the 48th Highlanders of Canada who - as the 15th Bn Canadian Infantry - took the brunt of the gas cloud.

From there you have a fine view of the battlefield.

The Regiment also has a plaque on the wall of the community centre in St Juliaan commemorating their defence of the village with the 14th Bn CEF (Royal Montreal Regiment).

48th Highlanders of Canada