By Geoff Smith (@smithco on Twitter)

Vimy-related artifacts sought ahead of anniversary

Mar 6, 2017 | 10:10 AM

LETHBRIDGE – A letter or a box of personal effects handed down across the generations may be a priceless link to a watershed moment in Canadian history.

As preparations take place to mark the centennial of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, local historian and veteran Glenn Miller is concerned artifacts related to the battle or those who served may be overlooked.

“Family members who have inherited heirlooms within a short, couple of generations don’t value necessarily what they have, or know what they have, so unfortunately it gets thrown out,” Miller said. He wants to stop that from happening, asking anyone in that situation to contact the Galt Museum, which might be able to provide such items a good home.

On April 9, 1917, Canadians, joined by British troops, began an operation to capture Vimy Ridge, vital terrain for a larger operation in France. Miller said the operation included members of the 113th Lethbridge Highlanders,

“They were broken up upon arrival but were redistributed primarily to two other units, but to others as well. And the 29th and 30th batteries of artillery played a key role in Vimy.”

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Miller said the battle made use of lessons learned in previous attempts by the British and French.

“Certainly at Vimy a lot of new lessons and tactics were imposed, and a lot of great detailed study by everyone involved in the battle, not just the generals but the troops,” he explained. “A lot of it was decentralized. A platoon of soldiers would be able to solve a situation on the ground and have that flexibility to do so, instead of going all the way back up to ask for a general’s permission to advance.”

Nearly 3,600 Canadians were killed in the battle. A national memorial at the site was first dedicated in 1936, and was repaired and rededicated in 2007. A group of Lethbridge students will be part of a special ceremony at Vimy Ridge on April 9.

Other events include a military parade through downtown Lethbridge Saturday, April 8, and a climb of the peak named after Vimy Ridge at Waterton Lakes National Park.

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