Documentary on Vimy Ridge

mikegtzg · Post by **mikegtzg** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 5:15 pm

The documentary 'Vimy Ridge: Heaven to Hell' premiers on History Television Monday March 26th at 8PM EST. Starring Canada'a oldest flying homebuilt aircraft (mine and its 74 years old) as the allied spotter plane. Yes a Pietenpol isn't a Sopwith Camel but its hard to find 90 year old aircraft thats still flying. Most of the public would agree it fits the part well anyway.
The documentary focuses on the monumental sacrifice and success of Canada's military. And how Canada orchestrated this campaign in 3 dimensions: Underground, Ground, and the Air. With many innovative techniques that proved highly effective.
This documentary was made for History Television by YAP Films in conjunction with the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry Museum located at Canadian Forces Base, Shilo MB. And all the aerial scenes were filmed in Manitoba on the artillery range of CFB Shilo.

April 9th 2007 will be the 90th anniversary of the battle of Vimy Ridge.

ZBB118.10 · Post by **ZBB118.10** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 5:47 pm

Vimy Ridge is one of the most moving battle grounds I have ever visited. It has the most surreal effect on you. Its actually classified as Canadian soil (I believe) and is managed by the Canadian government. Its crazy to go there and stand in the (still present) front line trenches and see how tiny the seperation was between the two lines, and yet how many people lost their lives there.

hazatude · Post by **hazatude** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 5:49 pm

My Great Grandfather was there

Alexander Grant-Henderson

xsbank · Post by **xsbank** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 5:52 pm

Apparently if you wander off the paths there you can blow yourself up or disappear into a tunnel?

There's a fellow out here with a Pietenpol with a Ford Model something engine with a big radiator that sticks up in front - he says he is never cold in the winter.

180 · Post by **180** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 8:31 pm

My Great Grand Father was there too. He lied about his age to get in and was a 17 year old stretcher bearer during Vimy, Sommes and yvpres. He ended up flying a Sopwith Camel in the final years of the war, he had 14 hours in his logbook when he flew his first dawn patrol and he was 19 and the oldest pilot in his squadron at the end of WWI.

Lest we forget...

Thanks for letting us know Mike, my family will be interested to watch.

shitdisturber · Post by **shitdisturber** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 4:06 pm

xsbank wrote:Apparently if you wander off the paths there you can blow yourself up or disappear into a tunnel?

You can indeed still blow yourself to bits at Vimy or many other battlegrounds throughout France; the Verdun sector springs to mind as an area where the woods are signed as dangerous. While much of the ridge is cordoned off to prevent people from annihilating themselves; sheep graze on the grass all around the monument. I guess they figure if one gets blown up, it's time to be dinner came a little early. As for disappearing in a tunnel, I suppose anything is possible if you're terminally stupid; but access to the Grange tunnel is controlled by Parks Canada. I don't think any attempt has been made to open up any of the other ones.

Should anybody find themselves in France, Vimy is a must see! As has been mentioned; it's shocking to see how close together the trenches were, literally a stone's throw away; and to go into the Grange tunnel and see where thousands of men were hidden in secret in brutally cramped conditions waiting for the time to go over the top is something no one should miss.

Spinner · Post by **Spinner** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 5:45 am

You guys are making me feel old. My Grandfather was a part of the great war also. Caught some mustard gas and left him with eyesight and breathing problems. Shortened his life and my time with him also.

Thanks for info will be watching!

Axial Flow · Post by **Axial Flow** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 6:11 am

You can go to the National Archives and search for the names of your relatives. They have scanned in their application for the military so you can see where they lived, their job etc. Also if you go to the Archives in person you can get their records of where they were stationed, where they were buried, etc.

Edit: Just found the On-line virtual World War 1 Memorial. I looked up my great uncle and it tells you the date when he died, where, a little about his parents. Truly amazing the resources on the internet.

Cheers,

AF