VIMY RIDGE MEMORIAL - VIMY, FRANCE

IN THE SPRING OF 1917 CANADIAN TROOPS WERE SENT TO CAPTURE VIMY RIDGE WHICH WAS OCCUPIED BY THE GERMANS.  THE CANADIANS WERE WAITING AT THE BASE OF THE 4 MILE LONG HILL.  THERE WERE ALSO BRITISH TROOPS IN ANOTHER AREA.  AT DAWN OF APRIL 9,  CANADIAN TROOPS NUMBERING 35,000 THE ATTACK BEGAN.  THREE DAYS OF HEAVY FIGHTING FINALLY PROVED SUCCESSFUL.  IT WAS THE BIGGEST VICTORY FOR CANADIANS DURING THE WAR.  

THE MEMORIAL WAS STARTED IN 1924.  IT WAS COMPLETED AND UNVEILED IN 1936.  A MAJOR RESTORATION WAS MADE IN 2001.  IN ADDITION TO THIS IMPRESSIVE MONUMENT, THERE IS A GREAT GUIDED TOUR OF SOME RESTORED TRENCHES AND TUNNELS.   THE TUNNEL & TRENCH SYSTEM IS ABSOLUTELY MASSIVE, CREATED BY BOTH THE GERMANS AND CANADIANS.

VISITOR'S CENTER

RECONSTRUCTED TRENCHES

WATCHING THE GERMANS

SEE THE LITTLE TINY WHITE FLAG IN THE DISTANCE?   THAT'S WHERE THE GERMANS WERE DUG IN - IT WAS ONLY ABOUT 100 METERS AWAY!

OLD TRENCHES

TOUR ENTRANCE TO THE TUNNELS

THE TUNNELS ACTUALLY WENT AS FAR AS 6KM FROM THE TOUR AREA.   ONLY A VERY SMALL SECTION WAS RECONSTRUCTED AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

THE RESTORED TUNNELS HAVE BEEN REINFORCED WITH CONCRETE;  IMAGINE THE MUDDY MESS THESE TUNNELS WERE BACK DURING WW1