Sunrise on the Western Front, April 1917.
This footage shows Canadian troops at a front-line machine gun post at dawn, filmed in April 1917, probably during the Second Battle of Arras.
The Second Battle of Arras was a significant Allied offensive on the Western Front during the First World War. Taking place from April 9 to May 16, 1917, the five-week-long battle was part of the Anglo-French Nivelle Offensive. The battle was significant because of the swift and spectacular gains made by the Allies, especially the capture of Vimy Ridge by the Canadian Corps, which, up to that point, was considered virtually impregnable. Despite this initial success, when the battle ended in a stalemate, both sides had endured over 300,000 casualties. This battle was part of a broader strategy to shatter the German defences and engage the smaller German Army in a war of movement.
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