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Battle Of Ypres Essay

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October 19, 1914, was the day the British army started a battle with the Germans over who would win possession of Ypres. This battle may seem like an ordinary battle where the British troops fight with the Germans to see who wins, but this battle was different. The Battle of Ypres was the first battle fought by Canadians and the first to use chlorine gas as a weapon of defense. It is the turning point and a start for forming a name for Canada.
On October 19, 1914, Allied and German soldiers next to the Belgian city of Ypres started the first of three battles to preserve the city and its excellent positions on the country's north coast. The first battle of the three was fought through trench warfare. Both sides engaged in the fighting in an …show more content…

British, French, and Canadian troops prepared themselves for what they expected to be a normal battle. Little did they know the Germans had something far more deadly up their sleeve that changed the view of World War 1. As the troops were surprised by this new weapon of gas being used, many of the British and French troops began to retreat. In all the chaos, there was one nation's troop that stayed till the end to fight the battle and close the gap, and that was the Canadians. They used the tactic of urinating on a cloth and covering their mouths and noses to prevent inhaling the gas. By doing this, they were able to fight till the end and set the Germans back, failing their attack scheme. This was a turning point for Canada, as the Canadian soldiers won praise from all around the world for their heroic and determined defense of Allied positions in the Ypres Salient during their first significant action of the Great War. They persevered in the face of immense obstacles, including the first significant chlorine gas strikes of the conflict, and did so with bravery, pride, passion, and courage. By earning recognition and praise from all over the world, people got to see Canada for who it really is and really show the world Canada's strong, brave, and courageous side. As we honor the Canadians for their bravery, we must also remember those who sacrificed their lives for the country. One in every three men was a casualty, resulting in over 2000 Canadian deaths. However, all casualties were exceptional, as it advanced the Allies. The Battle of Ypres proved that Canada once again earned its name and created Canadian history and identity. Just like all heroes leave their footprints, so did the soldiers. Fisher, Captain Francis Alexander, Lieutenant Edward, and Sergeant-Major Frederick William were awarded the Victoria Cross. This showed their bravery and courage in continuing and

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