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Vimy Ridge Memorial at the Woodstock Cenotaph

Friday, 31 March 2017 13:38

They will be laying wreaths and paying respect at the cenotaph on Sunday April 9th to commemorate the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

WOODSTOCK - The City of Woodstock will mark the 100 year anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge with a special ceremony at the cenotaph. 

They will be laying wreaths and paying respect at the cenotaph on Sunday April 9th. Colour Sergeant for the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 55 in Woodstock Mike Pritchard tells Heart FM the battle of Vimy Ridge is a huge part of Canada's history. 

"On April 9th it's the 100 anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, it's where the Canadian Army of 100,000 men formed up for the first time where they were actually controlled by the Canadian Generals themselves. The battle was the first time we were able to do an offensive that was totally controlled and planned by the Canadian army."

Pritchard says a lot of the 75 names on the Woodstock cenotaph from the First World War died at the Battle of Vimy Ridge. 

"I think it is very significant that we have this memorial in recognition of those served and sacrificed their lives. The casualties inflicted on us in that battle were over 10,000, of which over 3500 were killed. This showed the world that for a small army, we were still a force not to be reckoned with and six months later they would prove again that Canadians could do there tasking by putting us into the Battle of Passchendaele." 

Pritchard says they will be marching from the library in Woodstock to the cenotaph at 10:30 am. 

The ceremony itself will start at 11:00 am. 
 

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