war quickly reached a stalemate. Each
side dug a complex series of damp, uncomfortable
trenches protected by barbed wire. The
men lived in these to shield themselves
from observation and the machine-gun
and artillery fire that swept the battlefields.
In April 1915, the 1st Canadian Division
fought the grim Second Battle of Ypres,
in Belgium, during which the Germans
introduced poison gas to the Western
costly war of attrition followed for
over a year and more Canadian divisions
joined the struggle. In the late summer
and autumn of 1916, the Canadians fought
under gruelling conditions to advance
only a few miles on the Somme front.
By October 1916, the Canadian Corps had
grown to four infantry divisions supported
by strong artillery, cavalry, engineer,
and auxiliary forces, a total of more
than 80,000 men.