Friday, April 9, 2010

Vimy Ridge Day

I have to thank Mary for sending me her post via email. I have been to Vimy Ridge twice, once with Rebecca and my mother and once on my own. Both times I toured the tunnels and walked around the huge monument that stands so tall atop the ridge. There are still the roped off areas around Vimy where only sheep are allowed to graze due to all the unexploded ordinance that is still buried deep in the mud and clay. I have a special attachment to Vimy as my Great Uncle was killed there during that Easter battle. My father was named after him (Leonard) as is Duncan’s middle name. I often remember my Dad say to me that I had some very big boots to fill growing up as a Carter, given our family history not only of Vimy but also the Somme (my Grandfather took a grenade injury there and was recovering when Canada attacked Vimy) plus Dieppe (a little French village that my father went to as part of the Canadian raid there early in the second world war).
I have included some links to my Great Uncle for those who enjoy the history of it.


http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/content/collections/books/bww1/ww1214.jpg

And his grave location:

http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=collections/virtualmem/Detail&casualty=297062

http://www.ww1cemeteries.com/ww1frenchcemeteries/nineelmsfrance.htm

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/cef/001042-119.01-e.php?id_nbr=91095&PHPSESSID=6is9m1qhta0cpprcslc9gq4au6

S

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