World War I: The Canadian Experience

WWI CANADA AND THE CALL TO WAR

  • Overview of the experiences of Canadian soldiers in World War I, highlighting the journeys of individuals like Harry and Winnie from Winnipeg to White River and then to Valcartier, QC.

The Soldier’s Experience

  • Harry’s Trip

    • Departure from Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    • Journey to White River, Ontario, a significant transit point.

  • Winnie’s Trip

    • Accompanied Harry on the journey from White River to Valcartier, Quebec.

Geographic Context of Canada

  • Map Overview

    • Major Canadian locations involved in the war:

    • Winnipeg (Manitoba)

    • White River (Ontario)

    • Valcartier (QC)

    • Overview of proximity to American states, such as:

    • South: North Dakota and South Dakota

    • West: Manitoba

    • Neighboring states: Minnesota and Ontario.

    • The journey from Valcartier to Salisbury Plains.

The European Front

  • Key locations and terms related to the European theatre of World War I:

    • Schlieffen Plan

    • German strategy to quickly defeat France before turning east to fight Russia.

    • Major battle locations:

    • Brussels, Belgium

    • Reims, France

    • Paris, France

  • Overview of combatants during WWI:

    • Allied Powers

    • Including Britain, France, and Russia.

    • Central Powers

    • Including Germany and Austria-Hungary.

The Schlieffen Plan

  • Germany's planned attack on France anticipating Russia's slow mobilization.

  • Created years prior to the onset of WWI.

  • The plan failed due to:

    • Underestimating the strength and response of Allied forces.

    • Ignoring the complexity of existing alliances.

  • Consequences of the plan's failure:

    • Both sides entrenched, leading to a stalemate.

    • High levels of casualties during attempts to break the impasse.

Economic Context in 1914

  • Reference to pre-war economic conditions:

    • Mention of the approaching depression.

    • Personal recollection of working on railroads and observing joblessness:

    • Workers lined up looking for jobs at $1 a day.

    • The absence of employment insurance, welfare, or relief programs.

  • Impact of the war on unemployment:

    • Recruitment into the army and factories alleviated unemployment rates.

    • The war's role in suppressing potential opposition to its initiation.

Mobilizing the Troops

  • Valcartier, QC

    • Training camp established by Sam Hughes, Minister of Militia and Defence.

    • Attendance of approximately 30,000 men at the training camp.

    • Valcartier served as the launching point for the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF).

    • By October 1914, the first Canadian contingent crossed the Atlantic for further training in Britain.

The Trench System

  • Front Line Trenches

    • Construction: 7 feet deep and 6 feet wide.

    • Location: Typically in lower ground, leading to waterlogged conditions.

    • Design: Zigzag patterns to minimize enemy fire reaching straight down the line.

    • Sandbag fortifications on the top to absorb enemy bullets.

    • Barbed wire arrangements to protect against assaults.

  • Fire Step

    • A feature that allowed soldiers to peer over the trench's edge.

    • Sentries or units on 'standing-to' duty used this area for vigilance against enemy attacks.

  • No-Man's Land

    • The deserted area between opposing trench systems:

    • Characterized by craters, destroyed vegetation, and remnants of buildings.

    • Typical width varied from 250 yards to extremes of 7 yards at Zonnebeke and 500 yards at Cambrai.

Problems Facing Attacking Troops

  • Obstacles:

    • Barbed wire: Deeply entrenched obstacles between opposing forces.

    • Conditions in No-Man's Land: Often flooded with mud, increasing difficulty in troop movement.

  • Communication Trenches

    • Connectivity between front lines, support, and reserve trenches was crucial for:

    • Moving troops, equipment, and supplies.

    • Evacuating the wounded to Casualty Clearing Stations.

Trench Conditions

  • Issues faced in trench life:

    • Constant flooding, coldness, and mud contributed to pervasive unhygienic conditions.

  • Diseases in the Trenches

    • Common afflictions:

    • Trench foot: Condition where flesh rots around the toes due to prolonged exposure to wet conditions.

    • Trench mouth: Severe gum infection experienced by soldiers.

    • Lice infestations: Infested uniforms leading to discomfort and potential illness.

    • Rats: Carried diseases, scavenged on waste and corpses, creating health hazards.

    • Shell shock: Psychological trauma resulting from the continuous bombardment and threat of death during battle.