The Battle of Vimy Ridge was a military engagement fought as part of the Battle of Arras, in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France, during the First World War. The main combatants were the Canadian Corps against three divisions of the German Sixth Army. The battle was part of the opening phase of the Battle of Arras, part Nivelle Offensive and took place from 9–12 April 1917. The objective of the Canadian Corps was to take control of the German-held high ground, along an escarpment at the northernmost end of the Arras Offensive. This would ensure that the southern flank could advance without suffering German enfilade fire.
This listing covers Allied Powers and Central Powers formations and units involved in the battle. Although the Canadian side is well studied, historians have had trouble determining the exact dispositions of the German forces and even more trouble assessing the casualties it suffered in the battle. The Canadian Corps suffered 10,602 casualties; 3,598 killed and 7,004 wounded.[1] The German Sixth Army suffered an unknown number of casualties with an approximate 4,000 men becoming prisoners of war.[2]
The significance of the Battle of Vimy Ridge is most strongly felt in Canada. Elsewhere the battle is principally noted as part of the much larger British offensive known as the Battles of Arras 1917.[3] The historical reality of the battle has been reworked and reinterpreted, in a conscious attempt to give purpose and meaning to an event which came to symbolize Canada's coming of age as a nation.[4] The idea that Canada achieved nationhood as a direct result of the experiences of the First World War, is an opinion widely held in military histories of Canada and also regularly appears in general histories.[5] A 250-acre (100 ha) portion of the former battleground is preserved memorial park and site of the Canadian National Vimy Memorial.[6]
Allied Powers forces edit
Canadian Corps commander Lieutenant-General Sir Julian Byng had four attacking divisions, one division of reserves and numerous support units under his command. He was supported to the north by the 24th British Division of I Corps which advanced north of the Souchez river and by the advancing XVII Corps to the south.[7] The 4th Canadian Division was responsible for the northern portion of the advance which included the capture of the highest point of the ridge followed by the heavily defended knoll known as "the Pimple" just north of the town of Givenchy-en-Gohelle.[7] The 3rd Canadian Division was responsible for the narrow central section of the ridge, including the capture of La Folie Farm. The 2nd Canadian Division, which later included an additional brigade from the 5th British Division was directly south of 3rd Canadian Division and entrusted with the capture of the town of Thélus.[7] The 1st Canadian Division was responsible for the broad southern sector of the corps advance and was expected to make the greatest advance in terms distance. Byng also planned for a healthy reserve for contingencies in case additional troops were needed to relieve forward troops, help in consolidating positions or aiding the 4th Canadian Division with the capture of "the Pimple". As a result, the 9th Canadian Brigade, 15th British Brigade and 95th British Brigade were kept in a corps-level reserve.[7]
Canadian Corps edit
| Canadian Corps (Lieutenant-General Sir Julian Byng) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Corps level troops | |||
| Commander | Formation | Unit | Notes |
| Lieutenant-Colonel E.I Leonard (Cavalry) |
Canadian Light Horse | ||
| Brigadier-General Edward Morrison (General Officer Commanding Royal Artillery, Canadian Corps) Brigadier-General Roger Henry Massie (General Officer Commanding Corps Heavy Artillery) |
1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group, Canadian Garrison Artillery |
|
Support 4th Canadian Division |
| 2nd Canadian Heavy Artillery Group, Canadian Garrison Artillery |
|
Counter-Battery Group #3 | |
| 18th Heavy Artillery Group |
|
Support 1st Canadian Division | |
| 30th Heavy Artillery Group |
|
Support 4th Canadian Division | |
| 44th Heavy Artillery Group |
|
Support 1st Canadian Division | |
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| Brigadier-General William Bethune Lindsay (Chief Engineer, Canadian Corps) |
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| Colonel Raymond Brutinel (Machine guns) |
1st Canadian Motor Machine-Gun Brigade |
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| British First Army troops attached to Canadian Corps | |||
| Major General H.F. Mercer (Heavy Artillery) | 13th Heavy Artillery Group |
|
Support 3rd Canadian Division |
| 50th Heavy Artillery Group |
|
Counter-Battery Group #1 | |
| 53rd Heavy Artillery Group |
|
Support 3rd Canadian Division | |
| 64th Heavy Artillery Group |
|
Support 2nd Canadian Division | |
| 70th Heavy Artillery Group |
|
Support 2nd Canadian Division | |
| 76th Heavy Artillery Group |
|
Counter-Battery Group 3 | |
| 26th Heavy Artillery Group |
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| Royal Engineers |
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| Royal Flying Corps |
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| 1st Canadian Division (Major-General Arthur Currie) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Commander | Formation | Unit | Notes |
| (Divisional Troops) |
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| Brigadier-General Herbert Cyril Thacker (1st Canadian Divisional Artillery) |
1st Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery |
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| 2nd Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery |
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| 3rd Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery |
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| 1st Division Trench Mortar Group |
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| Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Macphail | 1st Canadian Divisional Engineers |
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| Colonel F.S.C Ford | Assistant Medical Director, 1st Division |
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| Brigadier-General William Antrobus Griesbach | 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade |
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| Brigadier-General Frederick Oscar Warren Loomis | 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade |
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| Brigadier-General George Stuart Tuxford | 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade |
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| Troops attached to 1st Canadian Division | |||
| N/A (31st Divisional Artillery) |
165th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery |
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| 170th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery |
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| 72nd (Army) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery |
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| 26th (Army) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery |
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| 5th (Army) Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery |
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| 2nd Canadian Division (Major-General Henry Edward Burstall) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Commander | Formation | Unit | Notes |
| (Divisional Troops) |
|
includes 8 x Mk II Tanks | |
| Brigadier-General Henri Alexandre Panet (2nd Canadian Divisional Artillery) |
4th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery | ||
| 5th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery |
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| 6th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery |
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| 2nd Division Trench Mortar Group |
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| Lieutenant-Colonel S.H. Osler | 2nd Canadian Divisional Engineers |
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| Colonel H.M Jacques | Assistant Medical Director, 2nd Division |
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| Brigadier-General Robert Rennie | 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade |
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| Brigadier-General Archibald Hayes Macdonell | 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade |
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| Brigadier-General Huntly Ketchen | 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade |
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| Troops attached to 2nd Canadian Division | |||
| 28th (Army) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery |
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| 93rd (Army) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery |
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| 3rd Canadian Division (Major-General Louis Lipsett) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Commander | Formation | Unit | Notes |
| (Divisional Troops) |
|
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| Brigadier-General J.H. Mitchell (3rd Canadian Divisional Artillery) |
8th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery |
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| 9th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery |
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| 10th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery |
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| 3rd Division Trench Mortar Group |
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| Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Victor Anderson | 3rd Canadian Divisional Engineers |
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| Colonel A.E Snell | Assistant Director Medical Services, 3rd Division |
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| Brigadier-General Archibald Cameron Macdonell | 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade |
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| Brigadier-General James H. Elmsley | 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade |
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| Brigadier-General Frederick William Hill | 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade |
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| Troops attached to 3rd Canadian Division | |||
| Brigadier-General Cecil Henry De Rougemont (63rd (Royal Naval) Division Artillery) |
223rd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery |
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| 317th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery |
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| 4th Canadian Division (Major-General David Watson) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Commander | Formation | Unit | Notes |
| (Divisional Troops) |
|
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| N/A 3rd (Lahore) Division Artillery) |
5th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery |
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| 11th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery |
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| Reserve Divisional Trench Mortar Group |
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| Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Irving | 4th Canadian Divisional Engineers |
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| Major J.S. Jenkins | Assistant Director Medical Services, 4th Division |
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| Brigadier-General Edward Hilliam | 10th Canadian Infantry Brigade |
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| Brigadier-General Victor Odlum | 11th Canadian Infantry Brigade |
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| Brigadier-General James Howden MacBrien | 12th Canadian Infantry Brigade |
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| Troops attached to 4th Canadian Division | |||
| Brigadier-General GH Sanders (2nd Divisional Artillery) |
41st Brigade, Royal Field Artillery |
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| 36th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery |
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| 18th (Army) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery |
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| 76th (Army) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery |
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| 242nd (III South Midland) (Army) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery |
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| British 5th Division (attached from I Corps) (Major-General R.B. Stephen) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Commander | Formation | Unit | Notes |
| (Divisional Troops) |
|
Attached to 4th Canadian Division | |
| N/A (5th Divisional Artillery) |
15th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery |
|
Attached to 2nd Canadian Division |
| 27th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery |
|
Attached to 2nd Canadian Division | |
|
Attached to 2nd Canadian Division | ||
| 5th Division Trench Mortar |
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| N/A | 5th Divisional Engineers |
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| Brigadier-General L.O.W. Jones | 13th Infantry Brigade |
|
Attached to 2nd Canadian Division |
| Brigadier-General Lord Esme Charles Gordon-Lennox | 95th Infantry Brigade |
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| Brigadier-General M.N. Turner | 15th Infantry Brigade |
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Central Powers forces edit
German Sixth Army commander General Ludwig von Falkenhausen had 20 divisions (plus reserves) responsible for the Cambrai–Lille sector.[8] Vimy Ridge itself was principally defended by the ad hoc Gruppe Vimy formation under the I Bavarian Reserve Corps commander General der Infanterie Karl von Fasbender.[9] A division of Gruppe Souchez, under the VIII Reserve Corps commander General Georg Karl Wichura, was also involved in the front-line defence along the northernmost portion of the ridge.[10]
Three divisions were ultimately responsible for manning the front-line defences opposite the Canadian Corps. The 16th Bavarian Infantry Division was located opposite the town of Souchez and responsible for the defence of the northernmost section of the ridge. The division had been created in January 1917 from existing Bavarian formations and had so far only opposed the Canadian Corps.[8] The 79th Reserve Division was responsible for the defence of the central section, including the highest point of the ridge, Hill 145.[11] The 79th Reserve Division had fought for two years on the Eastern Front and was transferred to the Vimy sector at the end of February 1917. The 1st Bavarian Reserve Division had been in the Arras area since October 1914 and was holding the villages of Thélus, Bailleul and the southern slope of the ridge.[8]
I Bavarian Reserve Corps edit
| Gruppe Vimy – I Bavarian Reserve Corps (General der Infanterie Karl Ritter von Fasbender) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Corps level troops | |||
| Commander | Formation | Unit | Notes |
| 9th Field Artillery Regiment | |||
| 69th Field Artillery Regiment | |||
| 25th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment |
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| 66th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment | |||
| 79th Reserve Division (Lieutenant-General Ernst August Marx von Bacmeister) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Commander | Formation | Unit | Notes |
| Colonel Bleidorn (79th Reserve Field Artillery Brigade) |
63rd Reserve Field Artillery Regiment[15] | ||
| N/A (Cavalry Squadron) |
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| N/A (Engineers) |
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| N/A (Medical) |
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| Lieutenant-General Alfred Dieterich (79th Reserve Brigade) |
261st Reserve Infantry Regiment |
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| 262nd Reserve Infantry Regiment |
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| 263rd Reserve Infantry Regiment |
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| Troops attached to 79th Reserve Division | |||
| (56th Infantry Division) | 118th Reserve Infantry Regiment[16] |
|
Battle reinforcement, sent on 9 April |
| (80th Infantry Division) | 34th Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment[17] |
|
Battle reinforcement, sent on 9 April |
| 1st Bavarian Reserve Division (Major-General Friedrich Freiherr von Pechmann) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Commander | Formation | Unit | Notes |
| Colonel Graf von Zech auf Neuhofen (13th Bavarian Artillery Command) |
1st Bavarian Reserve Field Artillery Regiment | ||
| N/A (Cavalry Squadron) |
3rd Chevauxleger Regiment |
|
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| N/A (Engineers) |
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| N/A (Medical) |
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| Major-General Lamprecht (1st Bavarian Reserve Infantry Brigade) |
1st Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment |
|
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| 3rd Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment |
|
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| Troops attached to 1st Bavarian Reserve Division | |||
| (17th Division) | 225th Infantry Regiment |
|
Battle reinforcement, sent on 9 April |
VIII Reserve Corps edit
| Gruppe Souchez – VIII Reserve Corps (General der Infanterie Georg Karl Wichura) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Corps level troops | |||
| Commander | Formation | Unit | Notes |
| 16th Bavarian Infantry Division (Major-General Arnold Ritter von Mohl) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Commander | Formation | Unit | Notes |
| Major-General Treutlein-Mordes (16th Bavarian Artillery Command) |
8th Bavarian Field Artillery Regiment |
|
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| N/A (Cavalry Squadron) |
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| N/A (Engineers) |
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| N/A (Medical) |
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| Major-General Lamprecht (9th Bavarian Infantry Brigade) |
11th Bavarian Regiment |
|
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| 14th Bavarian Regiment | 1st Battalion used as battle reinforcements, 2nd Battalion kept in reserve[18] | ||
| 21st Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment |
|
Battle reinforcements, remainder of regiment not committed | |
| Troops attached to 16th Bavarian Infantry Division | |||
| (4th Guards Division) | 5th Grenadier Guard Regiment[18] |
|
Battle reinforcements |
| 93rd Reserve Infantry Regiment[18] |
|
Battle reinforcements | |
Notes edit
- ^ Moran p. 139
- ^ Gibbs, Philip. All of Vimy Ridge Cleared of Germans New York Times 11 April 1917
- ^ Inglis p. 1
- ^ Pierce p. 5
- ^ Inglis p. 2
- ^ Treaty E102661
- ^ a b c d Turner p. 39
- ^ a b c Nicholson, 1962, p. 246
- ^ Williams p. 149
- ^ Godefroy pp. 228–229
- ^ Hopkins p. 157
- ^ a b Sheldon p. 301
- ^ a b Sheldon p. 310
- ^ a b c Sheldon p. 300
- ^ a b c Sheldon p. 299
- ^ a b Sheldon p. 308
- ^ a b Sheldon pp. 291
- ^ a b c d e Sheldon p. 316
- ^ Sheldon p. 317
References edit
- Farndale, M. (1986). Western Front 1914–18. History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery. London: Royal Artillery Institution. ISBN 1-870114-00-0.
- Godefroy, Andrew (2007b). "The German Army at Vimy Ridge". In Hayes, Geoffrey; Iarocci, Andrew; Bechthold, Mike (eds.). Vimy Ridge: A Canadian Reassessment. Waterloo: Wilfrid Laurier University Press. pp. 225–238. ISBN 978-0-88920-508-6.
- Hopkins, J. Castell (1919). Canada at War, 1914–1918: A Record of Heroism and Achievement. Toronto: Canadian Annual Review. OCLC 869410882. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
- Inglis, Dave (1995). Vimy Ridge: 1917–1992, A Canadian Myth over Seventy Five Years (PDF). Burnaby: Simon Fraser University. ISBN 0-61206-688-6. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 March 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-02.
- Moran, Heather (2007). "The Canadian Army Medical Corps at Vimy Ridge". In Hayes, Geoffrey; Iarocci, Andrew; Bechthold, Mike (eds.). Vimy Ridge: A Canadian Reassessment. Waterloo: Wilfrid Laurier University Press. pp. 139–154. ISBN 978-0-88920-508-6.
- Nicholson, G. W. L. (1962). Canadian Expeditionary Force 1914–1919 (PDF). Official History of the Canadian Army in the First World War. Ottawa: Queen's Printer and Controller of Stationery. OCLC 59609928. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 August 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- Nicholson, Colonel G. W. L. (1967). The Gunners of Canada – The History of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery, 1534–1919. Vol. I. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart. OCLC 423353915.
- Pierce, John (Spring 1992). "Constructing Memory: The Vimy Memorial" (PDF). Canadian Military History. 1 (1–2). Laurier Centre for Military Strategic and Disarmament Studies: 4–14. ISSN 1195-8472. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 March 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-02.
- Sheldon, Jack (2008). The German Army on Vimy Ridge 1914–1917. Barnsley (UK): Pen & Sword Military. ISBN 978-1-84415-680-1.
- Turner, Alexander (2005). Vimy Ridge 1917: Byng's Canadians Triumph at Arras. London: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-84176-871-5.
- Williams, Jeffery (1983). Byng of Vimy, General and Governor General. London: Secker & Warburg. ISBN 0-436-57110-2.
- "Canada Treaty Information". Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada. 3 March 2011. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2013.