For 4 years, the Western Front claimed the lives of numerous men. Today the country from the North Sea down to Switzerland is scattered with cemeteries and war commemoratives to the guys who fought and died there.
When war broke out in 1914, men from Britain and her gigantic empire signed up by the thousand. British men answered the famous Lord Kitchener poster that proclaimed 'Your Country Wishes You'. In Australia and New Zealand, men were recruited into ANZAC (Australia and New Zealand Army Corp) and in Canada, the Canadian Expeditionary Force started to enroll men.
By the end of the World War I, the Canadian Expeditionary Force had recruited over half 1,000,000 men. Many of them were sent to the Western Front served with excellence at Ypres, the Somme, Passchendaele and likely their most signifcant battle at Vimy Ridge. It was here that all 4 Canadian divisions attacked as one force under sole Canadian control. Their attack was a convincing success and was a significant point in the state's history.
Although the majority of the guys that fought with the Canadian Expeditionary Force were volunteers, several them were conscripts. Around 24,000 were employed to France before the end of the war. It was one of these conscripts who was to become the last Allied infantryman to die in action during World War I.
Non-public George Lawrence Price was conscripted in October 1917 and was a part of 'A ' Company, 28th Northest Corps (Saskatchewan Regiment). Non-public Price saw action in Amiens, Cambrai and Mons. On the morning of the Truce, Price was tangled up in an try to take the town of Havre. While in pursuit of some German infantrymen, Price was shot dead by a sniper.
It was 10.58am on 11th November 1918, just 2 minutes before the ceasefire was due to take effect. Today, Non-public Price lies buried in the St Symphorien Army Graveyard just outside Mons. By coincidence, the last British soldier to die in World War I is also buried in the same graveyard. Non-public George Edwin Ellison had been on active service since 1914 and was snuffed out while on patrol at approximately 9.30am on 11th November 1918.
When war broke out in 1914, men from Britain and her gigantic empire signed up by the thousand. British men answered the famous Lord Kitchener poster that proclaimed 'Your Country Wishes You'. In Australia and New Zealand, men were recruited into ANZAC (Australia and New Zealand Army Corp) and in Canada, the Canadian Expeditionary Force started to enroll men.
By the end of the World War I, the Canadian Expeditionary Force had recruited over half 1,000,000 men. Many of them were sent to the Western Front served with excellence at Ypres, the Somme, Passchendaele and likely their most signifcant battle at Vimy Ridge. It was here that all 4 Canadian divisions attacked as one force under sole Canadian control. Their attack was a convincing success and was a significant point in the state's history.
Although the majority of the guys that fought with the Canadian Expeditionary Force were volunteers, several them were conscripts. Around 24,000 were employed to France before the end of the war. It was one of these conscripts who was to become the last Allied infantryman to die in action during World War I.
Non-public George Lawrence Price was conscripted in October 1917 and was a part of 'A ' Company, 28th Northest Corps (Saskatchewan Regiment). Non-public Price saw action in Amiens, Cambrai and Mons. On the morning of the Truce, Price was tangled up in an try to take the town of Havre. While in pursuit of some German infantrymen, Price was shot dead by a sniper.
It was 10.58am on 11th November 1918, just 2 minutes before the ceasefire was due to take effect. Today, Non-public Price lies buried in the St Symphorien Army Graveyard just outside Mons. By coincidence, the last British soldier to die in World War I is also buried in the same graveyard. Non-public George Edwin Ellison had been on active service since 1914 and was snuffed out while on patrol at approximately 9.30am on 11th November 1918.
About the Author:
A unusually large number of soldiers died on Armistice Day. Though the accord was signed at 5am, the communication took time to reach all soldiers who treated it as yet another day in World War I.
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