Post by rlaughton on May 28, 2016 13:13:09 GMT
Milton War Trophy, Victoria Park
43°30'36.73"N 79°53'3.82"W
Milton, Ontario Canada
The Milton War Trophy was captured by the 3rd Canadian Infantry Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Canadian Division during “Canada’s Hundred Days” 1. During this period the Canadian Expeditionary Force advanced through the Hindenburg Line to Cambrai, ending the stalemate of “Trench Warfare”. Specifically the Canadians crossed the Canal du Nord and captured Bourlon Wood, and in doing so captured a German Field Gun #9563, Milton’s War Trophy.
Milton War Trophy: A Google Earth Show
The war diary reports on September 27th that there is heavy fighting off the left flank of the Canadian Corps, however no hostile shelling was being encountered by the 3rd Bn. That changed on September 28th when the rear battalion headquarters were shelled intermittently all day. One has to wonder, were any of those shells from the 77 mm German Field Gun #9563 that now rests in Victoria Park, Milton? The details of the action are best described by the actual narrative provided in the 3rd Battalion War Diary for September 27, 1918.
The 3rd Canadian Battalion, the unit that captured the Milton War Trophy, met with some resistance as they leap-frogged the 1st Battalion, as they were held up soon after the “jump off” by stiff resistance in the vicinity of the railroad (the War Diary reports this at W.30.a&c). By noon that day, the Canadian Battalions had driven the enemy troops from the railway and captured the Third Objective at the BLUE LINE (see Map 6). During this period the war diary reports that the 3rd Battalion received significant support from three Batteries, No, 1 Company, 1st Battalion Canadian Machine Gun Corps (CMGC). Although there is no direct reference to the Milton War Trophy it is stated that the CMGC units fired relentlessly at an enemy field gun that was firing point blank at the Canadian Infantry. The specific area, and perhaps the location of the Milton War Trophy, is reported at W.30.a and W.29.b, as the BLUE LINE was captured along the Arras-Cambrai Road (see MAP 4). The 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade was also supported by two pairs of Mark IV tanks, which were reported to render valuable service during the advance through the wire.
43°30'36.73"N 79°53'3.82"W
Milton, Ontario Canada
The Milton War Trophy was captured by the 3rd Canadian Infantry Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Canadian Division during “Canada’s Hundred Days” 1. During this period the Canadian Expeditionary Force advanced through the Hindenburg Line to Cambrai, ending the stalemate of “Trench Warfare”. Specifically the Canadians crossed the Canal du Nord and captured Bourlon Wood, and in doing so captured a German Field Gun #9563, Milton’s War Trophy.
Milton War Trophy: A Google Earth Show
The war diary reports on September 27th that there is heavy fighting off the left flank of the Canadian Corps, however no hostile shelling was being encountered by the 3rd Bn. That changed on September 28th when the rear battalion headquarters were shelled intermittently all day. One has to wonder, were any of those shells from the 77 mm German Field Gun #9563 that now rests in Victoria Park, Milton? The details of the action are best described by the actual narrative provided in the 3rd Battalion War Diary for September 27, 1918.
The 3rd Canadian Battalion, the unit that captured the Milton War Trophy, met with some resistance as they leap-frogged the 1st Battalion, as they were held up soon after the “jump off” by stiff resistance in the vicinity of the railroad (the War Diary reports this at W.30.a&c). By noon that day, the Canadian Battalions had driven the enemy troops from the railway and captured the Third Objective at the BLUE LINE (see Map 6). During this period the war diary reports that the 3rd Battalion received significant support from three Batteries, No, 1 Company, 1st Battalion Canadian Machine Gun Corps (CMGC). Although there is no direct reference to the Milton War Trophy it is stated that the CMGC units fired relentlessly at an enemy field gun that was firing point blank at the Canadian Infantry. The specific area, and perhaps the location of the Milton War Trophy, is reported at W.30.a and W.29.b, as the BLUE LINE was captured along the Arras-Cambrai Road (see MAP 4). The 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade was also supported by two pairs of Mark IV tanks, which were reported to render valuable service during the advance through the wire.
