History Channel - For King and Empire Canadas Soldiers in the Great War (2001) Part 1 Baptism of Fire The Canadians at Ypres - 1915

With military historian Norm Christie as our guide, we explore the battlefields, cemeteries and monuments of the First World War. The men who fought tell their stories, and we discover how the naive, amateur soldiers of 1914 became, by 1918, perhaps the most feared, efficient and deadly Allied fighting machine on the Western Front the “Canadian Corps.” FOR KING AND EMPIRE tells the stories of ordinary Canadians who fought extraordinary battles during the First World War. Six episodes represent a turning point in the Great War Ypres, the Somme, Vimy, Passchendaele, the Battles of the Last Hundred Days, and the Legacy of the War. By depicting walking tours of each battleground, For King and Empire explores the significance of the battle and what was at risk, the initial strategies and what actually transpired. In six harrowing hours rife with veteran testimonies and battlescarred films, Canadian historian Norm Christie tours WWI battlefields on foot, including Ypres, The Somme and the once blood-soaked Vimy Ridge to relive the horrors of what was known as The Great War. Canadian regiments played key roles in pivotal moments, and this well-researched series functions both to record the memories of the living and, perhaps, raise the ghosts of some of the ten million souls lost in the terrible trenches. Based on the series of books “For King and Empire” by Norm Christie.

A Breakthrough Entertainment Inc. Production in Association with History Television, Bell Broadcast, Knowledge Network and ACCESS - The Education Station.

Part 1 Baptism of Fire The Canadians at Ypres - 1915

This episode follows the early development of the Canadians, from enthusiastic volunteers in 1914, to their first taste of battle, confronting the Germans and poison gas in front of the ancient Belgian city of Ypres. When England declared war on Germany in August 1914, Canada immediately pledged 20,000 troops. Army enrollments were high and the troops set off after basic training acting like they were going on holiday. Immediately on arrival, the troops were sent to hold the line at Ypres and came under heavy German artillery fire. The Germans were also to introduce their latest weapon - chlorine gas. The men were unprepared for this type of weapon - they had no gas masks - and may took to urinating in a handkerchief and placing it over their nose and mouth. In 4 days, there were over 2000 casualties. In the end, the German's were stopped but at a great price.

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