HISTORICAL EVENTS THAT TOOK PLACE ON THIS DAY IN CANADA
22 April
Germans Use Deadly Gas
No troops ever received a more severe baptism of fire in World War I than the Canadians who moved into the front line in mid-April, 1915. They were assigned to hold Ypres in Belgium, gateway to the channel ports of Dunkirk, Calais and Boulogne. The Germans had nearly broken through in 1914, as they did in 1940.
Nothing exciting happened until the afternoon of April 22, when a little breeze blew up. Suddenly the Canadians saw gas drifting like fog across the fields toward them. Algerian conscripts on the left flank broke and ran, throwing away their rifles. As the gas was moving at 6 miles an hour, many were overtaken by it and fell into canals and ditches clutching their throats.
Soon, two French divisions to the left of the Canadians were over-run and the Germans came pouring through the gap, bayonets high. The flank of the Canadian division was turned and virtually trapped.
Ralph Allen in Ordeal by Fire says: "Three things stopped the Germans: their lack of any master plan, . . . the terror and discomfort the advancing soldiers met as they stumbled over their writhing enemies into the gas cloud they had created; and perhaps above all else the valour of the Canadian division."
The battle raged back and forth until May 4, under the most terrible conditions. There were no gas masks but the Canadians learned they could get some protection by holding urine-soaked rags over their noses and mouths. The gas destroyed the will to live. Victims usually cried, "Go away and let me die."
On the first day of the battle, one battalion was down to 193 of its 800 men. Another had 250 left. By May 4, the Canadians had lost 6,000 men; either killed, wounded, or missing, one man out of every five who had been rushed into battle.
In all, the Allies lost 60,000 men in the defense of Ypres, a tragedy made deeper by the aftermath. Military historians still cannot decide whether it was worthwhile. At this great cost Canadians proved that they ranked with the best of fighting men.
OTHER NOTABLE EVENTS ON THIS DAY IN CANADIAN HISTORY
22 April
-1635 William Alexander (Earl of Stirling) given further grants in Canada and Long Island.
-1737 The first smelter in Canada was established at Three Rivers, Quebec.
-1745 A British naval force under Admiral Warren joined Pepperell at Canso for the attack on Louisburg.
-1786 Lord Dorchester was again appointed Governor of Canada.
-1844 The Bytown Packet, later the Ottawa Citizen was founded.
-1897 Finance Minister Fielding introduced new tariffs.
-1960 Field Marshal Montgomery arrived at Ottawa for a four-day visit.
-1963 Lester B. Pearson became Prime Minister of Canada.