'With the Canadians in the Great Battle', 1918.


 

'With the Canadians in the Great Battle', 1918.

Canadian soldiers escort German prisoners through a communication trench. On 8 August 1918 General Rawlinson's Fourth Army, spearheaded by the Australian and the Canadian Corps, attacked at Amiens. Rawlinson used over 2,000 guns, 450 tanks and 1,900 aeroplanes to support the attack by 13 divisions. Through careful preparations, the Allies achieved complete surprise.

Their tanks broke through the German lines and sowed panic in the rear. This battle illustrated that the Canadians had perfected how to combine infantry, artillery, tanks and aircraft in a co-ordinated attack. Currie masterfully demonstrated throughout the war a skillful command of integrated operations involving infantry, artillery, engineers, and air support in battles such as:

1)  During the Battle of Vimy Ridge (April 1917), while the war had not yet become fully mechanized, it showcased Canada’s meticulous planning, creeping barrages, and coordination between infantry and artillery.

2)  During the Battles of Hill 70 and the Passchendaele (1917), Currie impressed upon his men the need for preparation, counter-battery fire, and tactical innovation, which, in tandem, would lay the groundwork for later breakthroughs for the Canadian Army.

3)  The Battle of Canal du Nord (September 1918) is overwhelmingly regarded as the Canadian Corps’ tactical masterpiece. It involved a high-risk crossing, engineer-led deception, and precise timing of infantry-artillery coordination—foreshadowing Second World War doctrine.

In fact, Currie’s approach to battle planning—rigorous rehearsals, decentralized command, and integration of arms—was so advanced that British commanders began to emulate it. The Canadian Corps was often used as the spearhead in major offensives precisely because of its proven tactical superiority.

By the end of the day on August 8th, the German front had been decimated. A 24 kilometres (15 miles) long gap had been punched in the German line south of the Somme by the end of the advance. The Fourth Army took 13,000 prisoners and over 300 guns. Total German losses were estimated to be 30,000 on August 8 while the Allies suffered about 6,500 killed, wounded and missing.

The first day of the Battle of Amiens had ended with a rout of the German army. This would be the opening phase of the Allied offensive that launched the Hundred Days Offensive, which ultimately led to the end of the First World War.


#BattleofAmiens

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