The Canadian Corps in World War I

by René Chartrand, Gerry Embleton (Illustrator)

Overview

This book describes the organization, lists the units and illustrates the uniforms and equipment of the four Canadian divisions which earned an elite reputation on the Western Front in 1915-18. Canada's 600,000 troops of whom more than 66,000 died and nearly 150,000 were wounded represented an extraordinary contribution to the British Empire's struggle. On grim battlefields from the Ypres Salient to the Somme, and from their stunning victory at Vimy Ridge to the final triumphant 'Hundred Days' advance of autumn 1918, Canada's soldiers proved themselves to be a remarkable army in their own right, founding a national tradition.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781782008453
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	12/20/2012
Series:	Men-at-Arms , #439
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	48
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

René Chartrand was born in Montreal and educated in Canada, the United States and the Bahamas. A senior curator with Canada's National Historic Sites for nearly three decades, he is now a freelance writer and historical consultant. He has written numerous articles and books including over 30 Osprey titles. He lives in Gatineau, Quebec, with his wife and two sons.

Gerry Embleton has been a leading illustrator and researcher of historical costume since the 1970s, and has illustrated and written Osprey titles on a wide range of subjects over more than 20 years. He is an internationally respected authority on 15th and 18th century costumes in particular. He lives in Switzerland, where since 1988 he has also become well known for designing and creating life-size historical figures for museums.
RENÉ CHARTRAND was born in Montreal and educated in Canada, the United States and the Bahamas. A senior curator with Canada's National Historic Sites for nearly three decades, he is now a freelance writer and historical consultant. He has written numerous articles and books including over 50 Osprey titles. He lives in Quebec, with his wife and two sons.
Gerry Embleton has been a leading illustrator and researcher of historical costume since the 1970s, and has illustrated and written Osprey titles on a wide range of subjects for more than 20 years. He is an internationally respected authority on 15th and 18th century costumes in particular. He lives in Switzerland, where since 1988 he has also become well known for designing and creating life-size historical figures for museums.

Table of Contents

Introduction     3
Canada in 1914
Chronology     6
Canada in the Great War     8
The dominance of Sir Samuel Hughes - recruitment and mobilization -organization of the Canadian Expeditionary Force
Across the Atlantic - first blood: Second Ypres, April 1915 - formation of the Canadian Corps, 1916
Internal problems: the controversy over French-Canadian recruitment - conscription, 1917 - patterns of enlistment
The Newfoundland contribution
Divisional & brigade organization - listing of Canadian units 1914-19
Corps Operations     20
Field commanders
Vimy Ridge, April 1917 - Passchendaele, October 1917 - the Arras counteroffensive, August 1918 - 'Canada's Hundred Days'
Other fronts: North Russia and Siberia, 1918-19 - the Middle East, 1918
Uniforms, Arms & Equipment     24
The debate over khaki - khaki Canadian pattern uniforms, 1903 & 1914 - adoption of British service dress from 1915 - coloured shoulder straps - brassards - unit and formation patches - headgear - steel helmets - greatcoats and protective clothing - Highland uniforms - rank distinctions
Personal equipment: Oliver patterns M1899, M1915 & M1916 - British 08 web equipment
Rifles: the Ross and the SMLE
Ordnance
Select Bibliography     42
Plate Commentaries     43
Index     48

Editorial Reviews

Rene Chartrand's The Canadian Corps in World War I is also an excellent recommendation for a specialty military library, surveying the units, organization and uniforms of the four Canadian divisions which gained fame during the battle.” —The Bookwatch (December 2007)

From the Publisher