On Demand: Passchendaele – 3rd Battle of Ypres – 1917

Description

Perhaps nothing conjures up images of the horror of war more than the word Passchendaele. This small village on a ridge in the Ypres salient has become synonymous for some as prime evidence of the futility of war and the source of heated debate ever since.
The Canadian Corps’ introduction on 26th October 1917 and the subsequent capture of the village and ridge two weeks later is an example of the incredible resilience and determination of the fighting man to overcome the most difficult of obstacles in the most appalling conditions imaginable. Their struggle would lead to the awarding of 9 Victoria Crosses, testament to their endurance and bravery. But was it a step too far? Had the strategic value of continuing the advance gone, and was the ultimate fight for the ridge a sacrifice that should have been avoided?

This tour follows the fortunes of the Canadian Corps in the last act on the Passchendaele Ridge and attempts, using the words of those who served, to create a picture of what the fighting was like in those last desperate days of the battle. Using modern technology, we will explore the battlefield and try and piece together the story of the attack and its legacy.