Slaughter in the Mud: The Canadians at Passchendaele - 1917

Overview

In the summer of 1917 Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, the British Commander, planned to launch his greatest offensive yet with the goal of liberating northern Belgium. Attacking from the city of Ypres, the battle began with a 10 day artillery bombardment but amid the pouring rain, the attack founders in a sea of mud. By October, the British have lost nearly a quarter of a million soldiers and the key objective, Passchendaele Ridge, has not been reached. The Canadian Corps is given the task of taking that position. In the attack, the Canadians lost one man for every meter gained - with over 2000 meters to go. Passchendaele was taken on schedule. In total, there were 16,000 Canadian casualties.