The Brooding Soldier at St Julien
Brooding Soldier at St Julien, Canada’s first gas attack in Flanders Fields
The Brooding Soldier at St Julien marks one of the most important Canadian moments of the First World War. This video explains why this quiet monument became a national place of remembrance for Canada in Flanders Fields.
This is the Brooding Soldier at St Julien. It remembers the Canadian soldiers who stood here in April 1915, during the Second Battle of Ypres. This was one of the first major gas attacks on the Western Front. French colonial troops on the left were hit first. A gap opened in the Allied line. The Canadians were suddenly exposed, but they held on under terrible conditions. Many had never faced anything like this before. The monument does not show victory. It shows grief, endurance and remembrance. The soldier’s head is bowed, looking down over the battlefield where so many Canadians fought and died. Today, this is one of the most moving Canadian memorials in Flanders Fields.
Vimy Ridge and Canada
Vimy Ridge and Canada
Vimy Ridge is often seen as one of Canada’s defining places of remembrance. This video gives visitors a clear first look at why the battlefield and memorial still matter today.
Vimy Ridge is not just a battlefield. For many Canadians, it is sacred ground. In April 1917, all four Canadian divisions attacked together here for the first time. The ridge had been fought over for years. The Canadians prepared carefully, using tunnels, maps, rehearsals and creeping artillery fire. They captured the ridge, but at a heavy cost. Thousands of Canadians were killed or wounded. Today, the Canadian National Vimy Memorial stands above the battlefield. It does not only remember the battle. It remembers all Canadians killed in France during the First World War, especially those with no known grave. When you walk here, you see the preserved trenches, the scarred ground and the names carved in stone. Follow for more Canadian battlefield stories.
Villers-Bretonneux, Australian National Memorial
Australian National Memorial, Villers Bretonneux
The Australian National Memorial at Villers Bretonneux is one of the key Australian remembrance sites in France. This reel explains why the town became so closely linked to Australia’s First World War story.
This is Villers Bretonneux, one of the most important Australian places on the Western Front. In April 1918, German forces captured the town during their spring offensive. Australian troops helped retake it in a night attack on 24 and 25 April, the anniversary of Anzac Day. The fighting was fierce, but the town was saved. Today, the Australian National Memorial stands above Villers Bretonneux. It carries the names of Australian soldiers who died in France and have no known grave. Nearby is the Sir John Monash Centre, which tells the Australian story through voices, images and personal records. The link between this town and Australia is still alive today. In the school, you can still read the words: “Do not forget Australia.” Follow for more stories from the Western Front. Related tour: Australian Trail on the Western Front
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