In the hour or so before dawn on Easter Monday morning one hundred years ago, thousands of young Canadians found themselves cold, wet, and scared.. at the bottom of Vimy Ridge. This ridge provided a commanding view of the surrounding French countryside. In times of peace you could imagine children scampering up the huge hill to see far off into the distance. But since the fall of 1914, merely raising your head above ground level was risking your life. At the top, thousands of German soldiers and their guns looked down on the allied soldiers as they had been doing for almost three years. They could see everything that dared to come out in the open. At the bottom, Canadians carefully moved into position, many in tunnels constructed for this event. Others sneaking quietly below the top of their trenches. Although it was spring, it was cold and wet, a chilling mixture of rain and ice made their fingers rigid and caked the frozen mud to their heavy boots.

Then.. suddenly.. at someone’s signal… BOOM. It might have been the loudest sound in the history of the world to this point.  It was to that point in world history the greatest bombardment ever.  It was heard in London, England where civilians must have been wondering exactly what kind of cataclysm was happening over in France. Canadian guns, thousands of them, trained on the German trenches, gun emplacements, and for the first time… just in front of the Canadian trenches. It was a new plan in war. Something called a creeping barrage. The Canadians would come out their trenches, not “after” the bombardment… but “during” the bombardment. Countless metal projectiles exploded just in front of the Canadians who leaped out of their trenches and tunnels and exposed themselves to death. For three thousand, six hundred Canadians, this cold wet morning would be their last. For twice as many young men, this would be their last morning without a serious injury.

This bombardment was to this point in the history of mankind, the most intense ever, anywhere. The plan was for the Canadians to follow behind this sheet of exploding steel so closely, that when the Germans came out of their safe dugouts the Canadians would be waiting for them. For the first time in the history of warfare, every single soldier would be trained on a mocked battle field designed to give soldiers the exact feel for this piece of earth they needed to conquer. For the first time in the history of warfare, every soldier would be outfitted with a map so they’d know just where they stood throughout the attack. It was absolutely revolutionary planning, and it was Canadians who planned it and executed it… And it worked!

In ONE DAY, Canadian soldiers fighting together for the very first time were able to wrestle most of Vimy Ridge away from the German army. This ridge had been impregnable to attack for over two years. Tens of thousands of British and French troops had died trying to take Vimy Ridge. In ONE DAY, the Canadians managed to do the unthinkable. It was such a shocking victory, the Allies had no plan to follow up the attack and as the Germans retreated to safe ground, no one was available to push them back further to exploit the stunning chain of events.

It was the greatest military victory in Canadian history.  It was a defining moment.  One hundred years later, Canadians are still considered among the best soldiers in the world.  It’s been proven time and again right up until today, but this was the first time.

Among those Canadians serving in uniform, was Red Deer’s Walter MacKenzie, a Sergeant Major with the 1st Canadian Division who fought during all four years of the war from 1914-1918. MacKenzie’s son Craig, is the last surviving direct descendant of this decorated World War 1 Veteran and shares the story of his father with us here at Todayville. Enjoy part one of this interview produced by Sheldon Spackman.

This is our second installment of our conversation with Red Deer Realtor Craig MacKenzie, the last surviving direct descendant of a World War 1 Veteran from Red Deer.

In this segment, MacKenzie talks about some of the stories his father shared with him about his experiences fighting in the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

Sergeant Walter MacKenzie served with the 1st Canadian Division and fought during all four years of the First World War war from 1914-1918.

In this final installment of our conversation with the last surviving direct descendant of a World War 1 Veteran from Red Deer, Craig MacKenzie shares some amazing stories his father – a Battle of Vimy Ridge Veteran told him of bravery, compassion and mercy amidst the brutality of the First World War.

Sergeant Walter MacKenzie served with the 1st Canadian Division and fought during all four years of the First World War war from 1914-1918.