Canada in WW1 Trivia

1. When did the Canadian Prime Minister declare war on Germany and Austria-Hungary?

From Quiz Canada, 1914-1918

Answer: He didn't

While Canada had become an independent country in 1867, it was still a dominion of the British Empire. Thus, Canada was automatically at war when Britain declared war on Germany on 4 August, 1914. Other countries that were drawn immediately into the war were Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, as well as British India, other British colonies, and all French and German colonies.

From Quiz The Canadian Soldier in WWI

Answer: Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry

The 'Princess Pats' were the first contingent to arrive in Britain and the first to see action with the British 27th division in 1915.

From Quiz Canada and the Great War

Answer: Upholding the independence of Belgium

Canada joined the war because Britain had declared war on behalf of the entire British Empire/Commonwealth.

From Quiz Vimy Ridge

Answer: France

It was a ridge near the town of Vimy in northern France.

From Quiz The Canadian Soldier in WWI

Answer: the Ross rifle

The first contingents were all armed with the Ross rifle. An excellent weapon, but very temperamental, it tended to foul easily. The Ross rifle was retained for sniping and proved to be an excellent choice.

From Quiz Canada and the Great War

Answer: Cloth soaked in urine

The Canadians were the only army to stand firm during the chlorine gas attacks. They urinated on cloths, then placed them on the mouth and nose to cancel the effects of the gas.

From Quiz Vimy Ridge

Answer: 97,184

This was a large proportion of the Canadians in World War I.

From Quiz Canada and WWI

Answer: The Western Front

Canada fought mostly in Belgium and France. It was here that they no longer had to rely on the British. Instead, the British relied on Canada for support, weaponry, and supplies. Their fighting was a key step on the road to achieving full nationhood.

From Quiz Canada, 1914-1918

Answer: Ypres

The Canadians had a rough go of it during Second Ypres (April-May 1915). The Patricias and the 1st Canadian Division were subjected to the first widescale use of chlorine gas and suffered a great number of casualties, but they held the line and prevented a German breakthrough. In their first major engagement at the front, the Canadians proved themselves to be a tough bunch who could hold their own very well. McCrae was a doctor, and he treated thousands of wounded men in the Ypres salient (in Flanders). After a friend of his was killed, McCrae penned the famous poem: "In Flanders fields, the poppies blow between the crosses, row on row that mark our place; and in the sky the larks, still bravely singing, fly scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the dead - short days ago we lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, loved and were loved, and now we lie in Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: to you from failing hands we throw the torch - be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die, we shall not sleep, though poppies grow in Flanders fields."

From Quiz The Canadian Soldier in WWI

Answer: Oliver pattern

The leather Oliver pattern equipment was not practical for trench warfare and once lost or damaged, could not be easily replaced. The CEF was issued with the British PO8 as a replacement to all arriving Commonwealth soldiers.

From Quiz Canada and the Great War

Answer: Somme

The Somme was called the Bloodiest Battle for both sides because it killed the most people ever in a single battle. There were around 623,907 casualties on the British side and 660,000 Germans casualties. 24,000 were Canadians. (Note that these figure are for total casualties, not for the numbers killed).

From Quiz Vimy Ridge

Answer: April 9, 1917

At 5 in the morning Canadians advanced towards the German positions. This day also happened to be Easter Monday.

From Quiz Canada, 1914-1918

Answer: the Parliament buildings caught fire

Seven people died in the fire that broke out in late evening of the very cold February night. The Centre Block was destroyed, except for the parliamentary library with its irreplaceable books, which survived thanks to the heavy fire-proof doors. Rumours immediately started, blaming the Germans for the fire; even some members of Parliament were quick to assume that it was an act of war. It was later concluded that the fire was an accident, probably caused by an unattended cigar that had been left burning.

From Quiz The Canadian Soldier in WWI

Answer: whale oil

The official prescribed cure for trench foot was to apply whale oil to the feet. Not only did it not work, but it made the problem worse. The soldiers discovered it was an excellent lubricant for your rifle.

From Quiz Canada and the Great War

Answer: 10

Canada was the main army that won the almost 10 kilometres (six miles). Somme was the worst battle of all time, so even though they didn't get very far its better than retreating.

From Quiz Canada and WWI

Answer: Billy Bishop

William Avery "Billy" Bishop was Canada's top ace. He started his military career as a cavalry officer, arriving in England in June 1915. He was soon tired of the muddy conditions in cavalry camp and joined the Royal Flying Corps. He went into pilot training in 1916 and was soon an ace in early 1917.

From Quiz The Canadian Soldier in WWI

Answer: 1st Newfoundland Regiment

The 1st Newfoundland Regiment was almost annihilated on the first day of the Somme offensive. Out of over 800 men, only 69 were present the next day to answer the muster.

From Quiz Vimy Ridge

Answer: 83%

They did this using their new counter battery techniques that involved observation balloons and microphones to pin point location of enemy artillery.

From Quiz Canada and WWI

Answer: 60,000

It wasn't just guns that killed the soldiers. They had to endure life in trenches, which often caused infections like trench foot; and some men drowned in the mud, especially at Passchendaele. Chlorine and mustard gas were also killers. Gas was released from jars and gave soldiers blisters whereever it contacted them. It often took about four days of excrutiating pain to die from gas poisoning.

From Quiz Vimy Ridge

Answer: the Canadians and British (joint operation)

The Americans weren't even in the war at the time. This was the first Canadian-planned attack.

From Quiz Canada, 1914-1918

Answer: Battle of Arras

Most other nations do not really consider the capture of Vimy Ridge as a distinct, separate battle. Rather, it is generally considered to be a small part of the British Arras Offensive, which in turn was the first step of the larger Nivelle Offensive. The Canadian Corps was sent to Vimy to capture the ridge, so that the Arras Offensive would be able to advance without being attacked by Germans at the ridge. The Battle of Vimy Ridge is highly regarded in Canadian history because it marked the first time that the Canadian divisions all fought together, on their own, without the BEF there supporting them. Canada's largest war monument stands at Vimy Ridge, in commemoration of the effort of the Canadians and in memorial of the greater than 10,000 casualties suffered there.

From Quiz The Canadian Soldier in WWI

Answer: a jerkin

The sleeveless thigh length leather jerkin was preferred over the standard issue greatcoat because it offered greater freedom of movement, and was not apt to cause the soldier to be entangled in the wire.

From Quiz Vimy Ridge

Answer: Arthur Currie

After this battle, Currie became the head of the Canadian army and was later knighted as Sir Arthur Currie.

From Quiz The Canadian Soldier in WWI

Answer: the Brodie helmet

The CEF soldiers as well as the BEF all wore the 1915 pattern Brodie helmet which was called the 'tin hat'.

From Quiz Vimy Ridge

Answer: Hill 145

The taking of Hill 145 was tasked to the Canadian 4th Divison and they saw some of the toughest fighting of the battle for Vimy Ridge. The whole time they were under fire from the pimple which was the other dominant point on the ridge.

From Quiz The Canadian Soldier in WWI

Answer: toilet paper

The Yanks had toilet paper - a simple luxury that no one in the War Departments of either Great Britain or its Commonwealth allies thought of issuing to the men in the field. Needless to say, the Doughs were envied and bore the brunt of a few jokes.

From Quiz Canada and the Great War

Answer: Military supplies

Canada had one of the largest military supplies maker by the end of the war. The women and wounded made all of the supplies during the war.

From Quiz Canada and WWI

Answer: Military Service Act

The Military Service Act meant that conscription would have to happen. This meant that any young, healthy men in Canada had to go to war. This was introduced because the war was expected to last longer and more reinforcements would be needed because of the British army relying on the Canadian army.

From Quiz The Canadian Soldier in WWI

Answer: Vimy Ridge

The seizure of Vimy ridge was an astounding victory. The Germans were driven from ground they considered impregnable.

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