Canada was part of the British Commonwealth in 1914. This meant Canada could control its Domestic Policy (inside of Canada) but Britain controlled its.

Canada Prepares for War

Canada was part of the British Commonwealth in 1914.

This meant Canada could control its Domestic Policy (inside of Canada) but Britain controlled its Foreign Policy (relations with other countries)

Therefore, when Britain declared war, Canada was automatically involved.

We had no choice

War is Declared

Canada had no professional Army

Canadian Prime Minister Sir Robert Border realizes that Canada must build an army quickly in order to live up to their colonial obligations

Sir Sam Hughes (the Minister of Militia) is selected to build the Canadian Expeditionary Force

The Canadian Expeditionary Force

Hughes was an excellent recruiter – thousands of men volunteered in the first months of the war

Most Canadian’s were British and many felt compelled to defend England

Also, most recruits expected an adventure and that the war would be short

Hughes also built a large training camp at Valcartier, Quebec in record time.

Thanks to Hughes, large amounts of Canadian men would be ready to fight by early 1915

Sir Sam’s Achievements

Canada had few men with modern military experience. Therefore, the training soldiers received at Valcartier

was often useless and outdatedThe training was so bad that when Canadians were sent

to Britain, they were assessed as “Not Fit for Combat”The British had to re-train Canadian at Salisbury Plain,

a base in England

Sir Sam’s Failures Part 1:Training

Hughes gave military contracts for clothing and equipment to personal acquaintances and sub-standard contractors

Therefore, Canadian equipment was not fit for Trench Warfare

Uniforms fit poorly, were extremely itchy and had weak stitching

In the wet trenches, many uniforms simply fell apartCanadian boots were even worseInstead of Leather or Rubber, boots were made with

thick, treated paper. If they stayed wet, they would often disintegrate

Sir Sam’s Failures Part 2:Uniforms

Hughes order that every soldier be given a MacAdam shovel as their entrenchment tool

This shovel was too short and heavy to be useful in the trenches

Also, the shovel had a hole in the blade, to allow it to be used as a shield

This meant it was completely useless at moving wet soil.

Sir Sam’s Failures Part 3:The Mac Adam Shovel

Modeled after a successful hunting Rifle, the Ross Rifle was given to every Canadian Soldier

It was too long and heavy to be used effectively in the trenches

Although it was accurate, it jammed if it got dirty, wet, cold or hot.

Many Canadian died because their rifle failed them in combat

Sir Sam’s Failures Part 4:The Ross Rifle

Canadian Soldiers often stole equipment from British depots in order to survive.

However, Sam Hughes refused to back down and insisted that his choices were correct

He ordered the Canadian soldiers found without their original equipment would be arrested (court marshaled)

Hughes resigned in 1916 after pressure from Sir Robert Borden

After this, the Canadian Army starting purchasing good quality British Equipment

The fate of Sam Hughes

The First Canadian division got to France in early 1915 and were sent to defend the Trenches around Ypres, the last free Belgian city

Supporting the Canadians were untested French troops from Algeria

The Germans realized they were facing soldiers with no experience and decided to take advantage of the situation

On April 22, 1915 the Second Battle of Ypres began

Canada’s Baptism by Fire:The Battle of Ypres

The Germans unleashed their newest weapon on the Algerians and Canadians: Chlorine Gas

As the Germans released the gas, a thick green cloud came from their Trenches and drifted over no-man’s-land.

The Algerians panicked and ran away while choking and dying from the gas

Poison Gas

The Canadians used urine soaked rags to neutralize the gas

Although they were under horrible conditions, using poor equipment and outnumbered, the Canadians held off the German Assault

The Germans continued to hammer the Canadaians for 17 straighrt days

The 1st Canadian divsion suffered 50% casualties in the battle but held the line

Canadians quickly earned a reputation as being smart and tough

The Canadians Hold their Ground

Canada was not prepared for warSam Hughes did a poor job building Canada’s

ArmyThe Ross Rifle, MacAdam Shovel, training

programs, uniforms and boots were all a disaster

Canadians won at the Battle of Ypres despite facing chlorine gas

Key Points