Hill 62 Memorial
Encyclopedia
The Canadian Hill 62 Memorial is a war memorial
that commemorates the actions of the Canadian Corps
in defending the southern stretches of the Ypres Salient
between April and August 1916 including actions in battle at the St. Eloi Craters, Hill 62, Mount Sorrel
and Sanctuary Wood. These battles marked the first occasion in which Canadian divisions engaged in planned offensive operations during World War I
. In those actions the Canadians reconquered vital high-ground positions that denied the Germans a commanding view of the town of Ypres
itself.
The memorial is located beside Sanctuary Wood on the top of Mount Sorrel, which lies next to 'Hill 62' all of which the Canadians held or recaptured from the Germans during those offensive operations in early June 1916. The British Official History of the war recorded "The first Canadian deliberately planned attack in any force, had resulted in an unqualified success."http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=memorials/ww1mem/hill62
at Vimy Ridge was selected as the national memorial site and seven other locations at Hill 62, St. Julien
and Passchendaele
in Belgium, as well as Le Quesnel
, Dury
, Courcelette
and Bourlon Wood
in France were chosen to commemorate significant battles the Canadian Expeditionary Force
had engaged in. Each of the seven sites were to have an identical granite block inscribed with a brief description of the battle in both English and French.
Interestingly, the competition jury that chose Walter Allward's monument design that ultimately became the Canadian National Vimy Memorial
had originally envisioned Alward's design being built atop Hill 62, but members of the Department of Militia and Defense and Prime Minister W.L. Mackenzie King
favoured Vimy. Ultimately, Hill 62 receive the standard 'granite block' memorial instead of Alward's white towering pylons.http://www.theglobeandmail.com/archives/vimy-ridge-the-making-of-a-myth/article751295/
, Belgium
at the end of the Canadalaan (Canada Lane) which runs south off of the N8 road to Menen. The memorial park is made up of a beautiful series of three terraced gardens leading up the hillside to the grey granite block monument in a grassed circle on a low flagstone terrace at the top.
Canadian war memorials
The history of Canada comprises hundreds of years of armed actions in the territory encompassing modern Canada, and the role of the Canadian military in conflicts and peacekeeping worldwide. Many of these armed engagements are commemorated today with memorials across Canada and around the world...
that commemorates the actions of the Canadian Corps
Canadian Corps
The Canadian Corps was a World War I corps formed from the Canadian Expeditionary Force in September 1915 after the arrival of the 2nd Canadian Division in France. The corps was expanded by the addition of the 3rd Canadian Division in December 1915 and the 4th Canadian Division in August 1916...
in defending the southern stretches of the Ypres Salient
Ypres Salient
The Ypres Salient is the area around Ypres in Belgium which was the scene of some of the biggest battles in World War I.In military terms, a salient is a battlefield feature that projects into enemy territory. Therefore, the salient is surrounded by the enemy on three sides, making the troops...
between April and August 1916 including actions in battle at the St. Eloi Craters, Hill 62, Mount Sorrel
Battle of Mont Sorrel
The Battle of Mont Sorrel was a localized conflict of World War I between three divisions of the British Second Army and three divisions of the German Fourth Army in the Ypres Salient, near Ypres, Belgium, from 2 June 1916 to 14 June 1916.In an effort to pull British resources from the observed...
and Sanctuary Wood. These battles marked the first occasion in which Canadian divisions engaged in planned offensive operations during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. In those actions the Canadians reconquered vital high-ground positions that denied the Germans a commanding view of the town of Ypres
Ypres
Ypres is a Belgian municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres and the villages of Boezinge, Brielen, Dikkebus, Elverdinge, Hollebeke, Sint-Jan, Vlamertinge, Voormezele, Zillebeke, and Zuidschote...
itself.
The memorial is located beside Sanctuary Wood on the top of Mount Sorrel, which lies next to 'Hill 62' all of which the Canadians held or recaptured from the Germans during those offensive operations in early June 1916. The British Official History of the war recorded "The first Canadian deliberately planned attack in any force, had resulted in an unqualified success."http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=memorials/ww1mem/hill62
Site selection
The Canadian Battlefield Monument Commission established after the Great War was appointed to select the location and design of the memorials to commemorate the Canadian participation in the First World War. The Canadian National Vimy MemorialCanadian National Vimy Memorial
The Canadian National Vimy Memorial is a memorial site in France dedicated to the memory of Canadian Expeditionary Force members killed during the First World War. It also serves as the place of commemoration for First World War Canadian soldiers killed or presumed dead in France who have no known...
at Vimy Ridge was selected as the national memorial site and seven other locations at Hill 62, St. Julien
Saint Julien Memorial
The St. Julien Memorial is a Canadian war memorial and small commemorative park located in the village of Saint Julien , Belgium. The memorial commemorates the Canadian First Division's participation in the Second Battle of Ypres of World War I which included the defence against the first poison...
and Passchendaele
Passchendaele Memorial
The Passchendaele Memorial is a Canadian war memorial that commemorates the actions of the Canadian Corps in the Second Battle of Passchendaele of World War I...
in Belgium, as well as Le Quesnel
Le Quesnel Memorial
The Le Quesnel Memorial is a Canadian war memorial that commemorates the actions of the Canadian Corps during the 1918 Battle of Amiens during World War I...
, Dury
Dury Memorial
The Dury Memorial is a World War I Canadian war memorial that commemorates the actions of the Canadian Corps in the Second Battle of Arras, particularly the their breakthrough at the Drocourt-Quéant Line switch of the Hindenburg Line just south of the town of Dury. The Drocourt-Quéant Line was a...
, Courcelette
Courcelette Memorial
The Courcelette Memorial is a Canadian war memorial that commemorates the actions of the Canadian Corps in the final two and a half months of the infamous four and a half month long Somme Offensive of the First World War...
and Bourlon Wood
Bourlon Wood Memorial
The Bourlon Wood Memorial is a Canadian war memorial that commemorates the actions of the Canadian Corps during the final months of the First World War; a period also known as Canada's Hundred Days, part of the Hundred Days Offensive...
in France were chosen to commemorate significant battles the Canadian Expeditionary Force
Canadian Expeditionary Force
The Canadian Expeditionary Force was the designation of the field force created by Canada for service overseas in the First World War. Units of the C.E.F. were divided into field formation in France, where they were organized first into separate divisions and later joined together into a single...
had engaged in. Each of the seven sites were to have an identical granite block inscribed with a brief description of the battle in both English and French.
Interestingly, the competition jury that chose Walter Allward's monument design that ultimately became the Canadian National Vimy Memorial
Canadian National Vimy Memorial
The Canadian National Vimy Memorial is a memorial site in France dedicated to the memory of Canadian Expeditionary Force members killed during the First World War. It also serves as the place of commemoration for First World War Canadian soldiers killed or presumed dead in France who have no known...
had originally envisioned Alward's design being built atop Hill 62, but members of the Department of Militia and Defense and Prime Minister W.L. Mackenzie King
William Lyon Mackenzie King
William Lyon Mackenzie King, PC, OM, CMG was the dominant Canadian political leader from the 1920s through the 1940s. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Canada from December 29, 1921 to June 28, 1926; from September 25, 1926 to August 7, 1930; and from October 23, 1935 to November 15, 1948...
favoured Vimy. Ultimately, Hill 62 receive the standard 'granite block' memorial instead of Alward's white towering pylons.http://www.theglobeandmail.com/archives/vimy-ridge-the-making-of-a-myth/article751295/
Description and location
The Hill 62 (Sanctuary Wood) Memorial site is located a few minutes east of YpresYpres
Ypres is a Belgian municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres and the villages of Boezinge, Brielen, Dikkebus, Elverdinge, Hollebeke, Sint-Jan, Vlamertinge, Voormezele, Zillebeke, and Zuidschote...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
at the end of the Canadalaan (Canada Lane) which runs south off of the N8 road to Menen. The memorial park is made up of a beautiful series of three terraced gardens leading up the hillside to the grey granite block monument in a grassed circle on a low flagstone terrace at the top.