History Browser

At one time, Passchendaele, Belgium, was a pleasant crossroads village surrounded by rich farmland. But heavy bombardment and heavier rains turn the reclaimed marshland into a nightmarish sea of mud and muck, which the British called "The Slough of Despair." In this clip from CBC-TV's Their Springtime of Life, Canadian veterans recall what it was like trying to stay alive in the deadly mud of Passchendaele.

Summarizes the third battle of Ypres, called Passchendaele. Includes a map, photos and a link to Archivianet's War Diary Database.

A comprehensive bibliography of resources on the Canadian Expeditionary Force, including official history, accounts of specific battles and the role of war technologies.

A young man from the Gaspé peninsula witnesses the atrocities of battle in World War I. From the television series "Canada: A People's History." Includes links to educational resources, bibliography, games, puzzles, and video clips.

The preserverance of Canadian Forces during the First World War was perhaps never more apparent then at Passchendaele Ridge. A memorial now stands where many Canadian soldiers died waist-deep in mud and exposed to a hail of jagged iron from German shelling.

A comparison of the losses sustained in several battles involving the Canadian Corps in World War One.

Resources on the World Wide Web (WWW) for those interested in researching Canada's participation in the First World War. These include reading lists, documents, maps, photographs, posters, biographical information, samples of letters from the front and information about individuals.

The battles for Passchendaele were not successful and cost many Canadian casualties, but did provide a respite for the French who were rebuilding their army.

On October 30 1917, the Canadians began an assault on Passchendaele. After five days of fighting the enemy and the elements, four-fifths of the attackers were dead. Passchendaele had become a Canadian Calvary.

From the capture of Passchendaele in June 1917 to the offensive at Amiens, Canadian Corps played a leading role in achieving Allied victory.