Hollande and Trudeau meet to mark ‘birth of Canada’ at Vimy Ridge
President Hollande joined Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Vimy, Pas-de-Calais, to commemorate a battle seen as marking the ‘birth’ of the modern nation of Canada.
At the Battle of Vimy Ridge from 9-12 April 1917, Canadian soldiers retook the strategically important Vimy Ridge from the Germans, in a battle that cost 3,598 Canadian lives.
The victory, where French and British armies had failed, was instrumental in Canada being given an independent role in the signing of the Treaty of Versailles.
It saw four battalions of Canadian troops – some 80,000 soldiers – previously incorporated into the British army, fighting together as the Canadian Corps. It marked the opening of the Battle of Arras, a major British offensive on the Western Front which saw the longest advance since the trench warfare had begun.
“Canada was born here,” Mr Trudeau said, during the ceremonies at which Mr Hollande also spoke of the “strong links” uniting France and Canada and the two leaders inaugurated a giant ‘Poppy of peace’ monument to the 100,000 who died during the Battle of Arras in April and May, 1917.
Among some 23,000 people attending were Princes Charles, William and Harry, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve.
The commemorations included music and theatre performances and people dressed in period costumes to welcome the visitors.
