Over 100 years ago, Canadian troops prepared for the Battle of Vimy Ridge at Base Borden. On the morning of 9 April, as they are every year, those who fought and died for freedom were remembered.
Invited guests and members of the Canadian Armed Forces were joined by leaders and residents of the communities surrounding Base Borden for this annual ceremony.
“The first troops to train in Borden practiced trench warfare right here. And many of them saw their first action at the Battle of Vimy Ridge,” Col Dan Rivière, Commander of CFB Borden and Military Personnel Generation Training Group said in his remarks.
“The trenches you see here were designed to defend against the advanced weaponry of the time, including machine guns and artillery. And they now serve as a living monument to the sacrifices made by those who fought and died in and around these defensive structures during the Great War,” said Col Dan Rivière said.
Approximately 30,000 Canadians fought at Vimy Ridge, with an estimated 11,000 casualties and nearly 3,600 killed. The battle was a turning point in the First World War.
“We must continue to remember for two important reasons,” Col Rivière said. “First, to ensure the service and sacrifice of those who so valiantly served Canada are never forgotten. And second, to ensure that present and future generations appreciate that the peace and freedoms we enjoy today came at a heavy price. As we see today in our world, peace is fragile and the conditions for peace to take hold are often gained only through great cost.”
The ceremony was followed by a breakfast at the Borden Golf Club.
By: Emily Nakeff, Editor
