For King and Empire
90 YEARS AGO TODAY, Sir Arthur Currie's Canadian Corps triumphed at the Battle of Passchendaele.
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It was a welcome relief for the British Empire after slogging it for months in the misery of the thick mud, and all the more so given the dangerously low morale and mutinous French Army that the Allies had to contend with at this particular juncture of the Great War. Passchendaele shifted the bleeding from the French to the British and secured the reputation of the Canadian Corps as an élite fighting force on the Western Front.
Throughout the year leading up to the Armistice, the Canadian Corps would be called upon again and again as shock troops to soften up the German divisions and weaken the morale of the German Imperial High Command. Prior to the victories at Amiens and the last Hundred Days, however, there was the great spring German Offensive of 1918, which caused much foreboding in high circles of the Supreme Allied Command. Perhaps no words were more stirring at this critical juncture than that of General Sir Arthur Currie to his troops:
"Today the fate of the British Empire hangs in the balance. I place my trust in the Canadian Corps knowing that where Canadians are engaged, there can be no giving way. You will advance or fall where you stand facing the enemy. To those who will fall, I say, you will not die but step into immortality. Your Mothers will not lament your fate but will be proud to have born such Sons. Your names will be revered for ever and ever by your grateful country and God will take you unto Himself. I trust you to fight as you have ever fought with all your strength, with all your determination, with all your tranquil courage. On many a hard fought field of battle you have overcome the enemy. With God's help you shall achieve victory once more."
.jpg)
It was a welcome relief for the British Empire after slogging it for months in the misery of the thick mud, and all the more so given the dangerously low morale and mutinous French Army that the Allies had to contend with at this particular juncture of the Great War. Passchendaele shifted the bleeding from the French to the British and secured the reputation of the Canadian Corps as an élite fighting force on the Western Front. 
Throughout the year leading up to the Armistice, the Canadian Corps would be called upon again and again as shock troops to soften up the German divisions and weaken the morale of the German Imperial High Command. Prior to the victories at Amiens and the last Hundred Days, however, there was the great spring German Offensive of 1918, which caused much foreboding in high circles of the Supreme Allied Command. Perhaps no words were more stirring at this critical juncture than that of General Sir Arthur Currie to his troops:
"Today the fate of the British Empire hangs in the balance. I place my trust in the Canadian Corps knowing that where Canadians are engaged, there can be no giving way. You will advance or fall where you stand facing the enemy. To those who will fall, I say, you will not die but step into immortality. Your Mothers will not lament your fate but will be proud to have born such Sons. Your names will be revered for ever and ever by your grateful country and God will take you unto Himself. I trust you to fight as you have ever fought with all your strength, with all your determination, with all your tranquil courage. On many a hard fought field of battle you have overcome the enemy. With God's help you shall achieve victory once more."
posted by The Monarchist at 5:42 p.m.
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