By Richard NormanI thought I should link to this interesting article from the Globe and Mail about Vimy Ridge, a World War One battle that many Canadians consider to be an historical watershed, even the birthplace of Canada as an independent nation (not unlike Australians and Gallipoli, but a victory instead of a defeat). It is nice to see (on this, the 90th anniversary) that Vimy is being both celebrated and debunked. Its significance may be dramatically overblown and the truth of the fight heavily edited for myth, but nevertheless it is an excellent opportunity to celebrate the contribution of veterans. This article is a gentle reminder of how easily historical fact is trumped by public emotion, and how the result can sometimes be affirmative instead of harmful.
Hi Otto…I accept your joke. In fact I endorse it. The over-emphasis on Vimy seems to me a parochial hold-over from the era before Canada repatriated its constitution. During the memorial ceremonies in France this past weekend news came into the Prime Minister that six Canadian soldiers (part of the NATO forces) had been killed in Afghanistan. In a hastily rewritten speech he made explicit comparisons between the sacrifices that Canada is making in Afghanistan and those made in Vimy–no doubt opening himself to attack by those on the left he would claim he is debasing a “sacred” patriotic memory. But in my opinion, the war in Afghanistan is a just and meaningful fight, while the battle at Vimy Ridge (despite its particular ferocity, high death toll, and subsequent mythologizing) was a minor battle in the most meaningless and unnecessary war in history. It will be interesting to see what memorials to Canadian soldiers are built in Afghanistan. Canadians are very romantic about the wars of the past (more than 3600 Canadians died in 3 days at Vimy), but very wary of the wars of the present (52 personnel have died in the last 5 years).
Interesting article indeed. As I always do when trying to find out the truth about something, I checked Wikipedia. I like the way the article starts:
“The Battle of Vimy Ridge was one of the opening battles in a larger British campaign known as the Battle of Arras during the First World War. It is also considered a major event in Canadian history for the primary role the Canadian Corps played in the attack.”
I believe Canada was basically founded as a union of British colonies (that’s correct, right?). Then it cannot come as a surprise that a footnote in British history is a defining moment in Canadian history I guess (just joking).