Canal du Nord

Canadians constructing a bridge across Canal du Nord. Advance East of Arras. September, 1918.
Credit: Canada. Dept. of National Defence/Library and Archives Canada/; (MIKAN no. 3194494)

First World War

Date

27 September – 1 October 1918

Geographical parameters

Road Banteux – Gouzeaucourt (exclusive) – Fins (exclusive) – Ytres – Lagnicourt – Quéant – Cagnicourt – Récourt – Lécluse (exclusive): thence the river Sensée

Context

A battle honour incorporating the tactical incident “Capture of Bourlon Wood”, formally entitled the “Battle of the Canal du Nord”, and itself being part of “The Battles of the Hindenburg Line”.^{Footnote 1}

Description

The construction of the Canal du Nord had been halted by the outbreak of war in 1914. When the Canadian Corps (Lieutenant-General Sir A.W. Currie) approached it in the autumn of 1918 they found the obstacle to be impassable. The vicinity of the canal was marked by swampy areas, broken bridges and formidable German defensive positons called the Canal du Nord Defence Line. The Canadian Corps Commander, Sir Arthur Currie, carried out a local reconnaissance. He noted that to the right of the Canadian lines was a dry section of canal opposite the village of Inchy-en-Artois. With the permission of Field-Marshal Haig, the Canadian Corps boundary was stretched 2600 yards south to incorporate this piece of terrain. Currie then planned on a crossing on an extremely narrow three-brigade front. Once over the obstacle the Corps would be funnelled through this narrow opening fanning out on the far bank to take the German lines from the rear. On the night of 26 – 27 September the assault crossing was successfully completed. Pre-built and positioned bridging was then deployed over the canal as the artillery and follow-on infantry forces crossed in the wake of the assault brigades. The following day the 4th Canadian Division (Major-General Sir D. Watson) captured the steep hill crowned with the ancient oak trees of Bourlon Wood a feature which dominated the approaches to the city of Cambrai.

Awarded to:

Currently serving units

• 1st Hussars
  Award to the 1st Hussars (GO 71/30)
• 48th Highlanders of Canada
  Awards to the 15th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The 48th Regiment (Highlanders) (GO 110/29)
• 56th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
  Awards to the 4th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Dufferin Rifles of Canada (GO 110/29)
• The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's)
  Awards to the 19th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), the 3rd Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Corps, CEF (GO 123/29), The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's) (GO 110/29), and the 3rd Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC (GO 123/29)
• The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada
  Awards to the 13th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), the 42nd Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), and The Royal Highlanders of Canada (GO 110/29)
• The British Columbia Dragoons
  Awards to the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The British Columbia Dragoons (GO 110/29)
• The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own)
  Awards to the 7th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 71/30), the 29th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29), the 102nd Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), the 1st British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own) (GO 110/29), The North British Columbia Regiment (GO 123/29), and The Vancouver Regiment (GO 71/30)
• The Calgary Highlanders
  Awards to the 10th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29) and The Calgary Highlanders (GO 110/29)
• The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Duke of Edinburgh’s Own)
  Awards to the 38th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29) and The Ottawa Highlanders (GO 110/29)
• The Canadian Grenadier Guards
  Awards to the 87th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Canadian Grenadier Guards (GO 110/29)
• The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's)
  Awards to the 16th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Canadian Scottish Regiment (GO 110/29)
• The Cape Breton Highlanders
  Awards to the 85th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Cape Breton Highlanders (GO 110/29)
• The Essex and Kent Scottish
  Awards to the 18th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Essex Scottish (GO 110/29)
• Governor General's Foot Guards
  Awards to the 2nd Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29) and The Governor General's Foot Guards (GO 32/32)
• The Governor General's Horse Guards
  Awards to the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), The Governor General's Body Guard (GO 112/35), and The Mississauga Horse (GO 110/29)
• Irish Regiment of Canada
  Awards to the 1st Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Corps, CEF (GO 123/29) and the 1st Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC (GO 123/29)
• The King's Own Calgary Regiment (RCAC)
  Awards to the 50th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Calgary Regiment (GO 110/29)
• The Lake Superior Scottish Regiment
  Awards to the 52nd Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29) and The Lake Superior Regiment (GO 110/29)
• The Loyal Edmonton Regiment (4th Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry)
  Awards to the 49th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Edmonton Regiment (GO 110/29)
• The North Saskatchewan Regiment
  Awards to the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), the 5th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), the 16th Canadian Light Horse (GO 110/29), The Saskatchewan Mounted Rifles (GO 110/29), and The Saskatoon Light Infantry (GO 110/29)
• The Nova Scotia Highlanders
  Awards to the 25th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29) and The Colchester and Hants Regiment (GO 110/29)
• The Ontario Regiment (RCAC)
  Awards to the 116th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Ontario Regiment (GO 123/29)
• The Princess of Wales' Own Regiment
  Awards to the 21st Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29) and The Princess of Wales' Own Regiment (GO 110/29)
• Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
  Award to Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (GO 123/29)
• The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada
  Awards to the 43rd Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada (GO 110/29)
• The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada
  Awards to the 3rd Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29) and The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada (GO 110/29)
• The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) (RCAC)
  Awards to the 20th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Queen's Rangers, 1st American Regiment (GO 110/29)
• Royal 22e Régiment
  Award to the Royal 22e Régiment (GO 110/29)
• The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal)
  Awards to the 1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade, CEF (GO 110/29) and the 1st Motor Machine Gun Brigade (GO 110/29)
• The Royal Canadian Regiment
  Awards to the 1st Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), the 2nd Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Corps, CEF (GO 123/29), The Royal Canadian Regiment (GO 110/29), The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) (GO 110/29), and the 2nd Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC (GO 123/29)
• The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment)
  Awards to the 4th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (GO 110/29)
• The Royal Montreal Regiment
  Awards to the 14th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Royal Montreal Regiment (GO 110/29)
• The Royal New Brunswick Regiment
  Awards to the 26th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), The Carleton Light Infantry (GO 110/29), and The Saint John Fusiliers (GO 110/29)
• The Royal Regiment of Canada
  Awards to the 3rd Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29), the 58th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), The Royal Grenadiers (GO 110/29), and The Toronto Regiment (GO 110/29)
• The Royal Regina Rifles
  Awards to the 28th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Regina Rifle Regiment (GO 110/29)
• The Royal Westminster Regiment
  Awards to the 47th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Westminster Regiment (GO 110/29)
• The Royal Winnipeg Rifles
  Awards to the 8th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), the 10th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29), the 27th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29), the 44th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), The Winnipeg Rifles (GO 110/29), and The Winnipeg Light Infantry (GO 110/29)
• The Saskatchewan Dragoons
  Awards to the 46th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The King's Own Rifles of Canada (GO 110/29)
• The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada
  Awards to the 72nd Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 5/31) and The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada (GO 5/31)
• The Sherbrooke Hussars
  Awards to the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and the 7th/11th Hussars (GO 10/39)
• The South Alberta Light Horse
  Awards to the 31st Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), The South Alberta Regiment (GO 110/29), and the 19th Alberta Dragoons (GO 71/30)
• The Toronto Scottish Regiment (Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother's Own)
  Awards to the 75th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Toronto Scottish Regiment (GO 110/29)

Units on the Supplementary Order of Battle

• 24th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
  Awards to the 54th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Kootenay Regiment (GO 110/29)
• 27th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
  Award to The Eastern Townships Mounted Rifles (GO 110/29)
• 38th Field Battery, RCA
  Awards to the 2nd Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade, CEF (GO 71/30) and the 2nd Motor Machine Gun Brigade, CMGC (GO 71/30)
• 50th Field Artillery Regiment (The Prince of Wales' Rangers), RCA
  Awards to the 2nd Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29), the 4th Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Corps, CEF (GO 123/29), The Peterborough Rangers (GO 110/29), and the 4th Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC (GO 123/29)
• 118th Medium Battery, RCA
  Awards to the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Manitoba Mounted Rifles (GO 5/31)
• The Victoria Rifles of Canada
  Awards to the 24th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Victoria Rifles of Canada (GO 110/29)
• The Winnipeg Grenadiers
  Awards to the 78th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Winnipeg Grenadiers (GO 110/29)

Disbanded Units

• 1st Canadian Pioneer Battalion, CEF
  Award to the 1st Canadian Pioneer Battalion, CEF (GO 88/31)
• The Manitoba Regiment
  Award to The Manitoba Regiment (GO 123/29)
• The North Alberta Regiment
  Awards to the 31st Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The North Alberta Regiment (GO 110/29)