The 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles - ElectricCanadian.com

Oct.1917/^""^INCECHAPTER VIPASSCHENDAELEthe Somme the French and British had beencontinuing a vigorous offensive. As soon as theeffects of one blow began to wane another wasstruck on a different front. When the Battle ofArras neared a deadlock the British threw theirweight into another huge onslaught in Flanders. Thisoffensive was designed to keep the enemy on the defensive,engage reserves, which were continuously increasing asa result of the Russian collapse, and to wrest from theGermans the high ground overlooking Ypres and to relievethat sorely tried bulwark, so long menaced.This new offensive in Flanders became the Battlesof Ypres, 1917. Three armies were employed; the FirstFrench Army on the north, the Fifth British Army in thecentre, and on the south the Second British Army. Thefirst of the attacks was launched at the end of July, thesecond large attack took place on August 16th and thethird on September 20th when the British, althoughsuffering heavy losses, captured the high ground acrossthe Menin Road. In October there were several attacks.On October 4th, 9th and 12th, the British and Anzacsadvanced slowly under enormous difficulties. The linewas established along the main ridge overlooking Ypressome 1,000 yards east of the old line occupied by the 4thC. M. R. on June 2nd, 1916. But Passchendaele wasstill in the hands of the enemy.After the wettest August in many years and an unusually damp September it had been expected that Octoberwould be more favourable, but the rain continued to fall,turning the country into a bog. Mud had been encountered in every previous offensive, but it was as nothingcompared to this. Troops could be moved only on72