2007 CEFSG Vimy Project

Some of the best parts to read in these War Diaries are perhaps not the "Fighting Battalions" but the outside units in the artillery, sanitary sections, headquarters and even British units.  Many have appendices that tell the story rather than reiterate the progress.  If you find more of these, tell us about them and we will include those links! Remember also as you read these diaries that the attack on Vimy Ridge was originally scheduled for Easter Sunday, April 8th 1917.  It was not until early evening on the 7th (X/Y hour) that the jump off time (Z hour) was changed.

click on image to see full scale image of sample April 9, 1917, Attack on Vimy 2nd Division, 5th Infantry Brigade 25th Infantry Battalion

click on image for full scale map Attack on Vimy Ridge, April 1917 Official History of the Canadian Army Col. G. W. L. Nicholson, National Defence, 1962

To read more about the Battle of Vimy Ridge, we also welcome you to read the detailed text of battle and see the maps that outline where the units were on that frightful day in 1917, as depicted by Colonel G. W. L. Nicholson, C.D. of the Department of National Defense, Army Historical Section. The Battle for Vimy Ridge, Chapter VIII The Battle Map for Vimy Ridge, Map 7 To see the Vimy Memorial Restoration Project and search a soldier's name: Vimy Memorial Restoration Project

Notes:

1. The basis for the identification of the military units during this period is the ORBAT (Order of Battle) of the Canadian Expeditionary Force.  For additional information about the formation and structure of the CEF as Army Troops and Army Corps, please refer to the Matrix Navigation and the CEF Military Organization.  As we uncover more about the actual ORBAT for the Battle of Arras and Vimy Ridge in particular we will adjust the ORBAT so that it truly represents the troops that were in that theatre of war on April 9th to 12th, 1917.  Please note that some units (i.e. 4th Division) were held in reserve on April 9th for the following attack on Hill 145 and The Pimple) after the main offensive.  We will note the unit status where possible.
   
   
2. Once you are in a group of war diary extracts you normally can move forward and backward beyond the shown range by changing the last digit in the URL.  For example, if you are at:
        http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/e/e048/e001175337.jpg
   then change the last number 337 to 338 or 336 and so on.  If you are in the main section of the War Diary for any unit, it is also a good exercise to jump forward and backwards in units of 10 to find new sections.  Lastly, always look for the appendices to the units if the diaries seem scarce, as many authors preferred to put the details in an Appendix.  A number of these are noted in the following table.
   
   
3. Asterisks have been used to loosely classify the war diary of any group relative to the amount of information found in that particular diary.  One asterisk (*) would mean minimal information was included whereas five asterisks (*****) would suggest that the particular diary had a good amount of interesting information.  The codes are based on the personal opinion of the CEFSG member who recovered that page for posting.  Not all submitters are coding their submissions so don't hesitate to check any submission that appears to be of interest.  Once the main assembly of the war diaries is complete we will probably go back and mark the more detailed or interesting sections.  Please also send in your suggestions or corrections.
   
   
4. Newly added units-the ORBAT for Vimy Ridge as taken from new 2007 text "Vimy Ridge-A Canadian Reassessment, Appendix 1".  Those include attached British Units, however we may not have access to all those war diaries.  There are also some questions as to the Troops Artillery Units that have not yet been sorted out.  Sheffield reports in the introduction to the text that 7 British Heavy Artillery groups supported the actions of the 2 Canadian groups.  The field artillery of three Canadian Divisions was supplemented by 2 British units serving the 4th Division CEF, with another eight British Royal Field Artillery units. Those with expertise on this specific topic are invited to participate and offer advise and correction!
   
   
5. Where the information is available, we have noted which of the Infantry Battalions were "In Reserve" at the start of the battle.  That does not mean they stayed in reserve, merely that they were in reserve at Z hour.  For example, in the 2nd Division the 21st and 25th Battalions were in reserve until the point they leapfrogged ahead to capture the Red Line after the Black Line was held.