Ypres, 1917

First World War

Date

31 July – 10 November 1917

Sketch of Flanders, 1917, and the advances made by Belgian, French, and British armies during the summer and early fall of 1917
Credit: Sketch by Nicholson, found in C.E.F. 1914-1919 p.305.

Geographical Parameters

The Comines-Ypres Canal as far as Voormezeele; thence road to Vlamertinghe Château – Elverdinghe Château – Woesten – Bixschoote

Context

A group honour incorporating the “Battle of Pilckem Ridge”, the “Battle of Langemarck, 1917”, the “Battle of the Menin Road Ridge”, the “Battle of Polygon Wood”, the “Battle of Broodseinde”, the “Battle of Poelcappelle”, the “First Battle of Passchendaele”, and the “Second Battle of Passchendaele”, formally entitled “The Battles of Ypres, 1917”, and itself being part of “The Flanders Offensive (7 June – 10 November 1917)” .

Description

The Honour “Ypres 1917” was awarded as a Campaign Honour for the series of attacks that led up to the taking of Passchendaele. Begun on 31 July this campaign had anticipated a breakthrough in the German lines but ended up as a series of attacks that slowly chipped away at the German positions and wore down their forces. Adverse weather combined with the low lying ground and mud of Flanders made the fighting and living conditions difficult for the attackers and defenders. The hope for breakthrough by the British High command never materialized but the repeated attacks were maintained in order to keep pressure on the German forces in part to ease pressure on the French. Most of the Canadian involvement in this campaign came as the closing chapter in taking Passchendaele Ridge. This battle of attrition cost enormous casualties on both sides.

Awarded to:

Currently Serving Units

• 26th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
  Award to The Manitoba Rangers (GO 71/30)
• 31 Combat Engineer Regiment (The Elgin's)
  Award to The Elgin Regiment (GO 71/30)
• 42nd Field Artillery Regiment (Lanark and Renfrew Scottish), RCA
  Award to The Lanark and Renfrew Scottish Regiment (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)
• 49th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
  Award to The Sault Ste. Marie Regiment (GO 71/30)
• 56th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
  Awards to the 4th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), The Dufferin Rifles of Canada (GO 110/29), and The Haldimand Rifles (GO 71/30)
• 64th Field Battery, RCA
  Award to The Yorkton Regiment (GO 71/30)
• 116th Independent Field Battery, RCA
  Award to The Kenora Light Infantry (GO 71/30)
• The Algonquin Regiment
  Award to The Northern Pioneers (GO 71/30)
• The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's)
  Awards to the 19th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's) (GO 110/29)
• 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), The Irish Fusiliers of Canada (GO 71/30), 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
  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), The Essex Scottish (GO 110/29) and The Kent Regiment (GO 71/30)
• The Fort Garry Horse
  Award to The Manitoba Horse (GO 144/31)
• Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal
  Award to Les Carabiniers Mont-Royal (GO 71/30)
• Governor General's Foot Guards
  Awards to the 2nd Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29) and The Governor General's Foot Guards (GO 71/30 and 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 71/30 and GO 112/35), and The Mississauga Horse (GO 110/29)
• The Grey and Simcoe Foresters
  Award to The Grey Regiment (GO 71/30) and The Simcoe Foresters (GO 71/30)
• The Halifax Rifles (RCAC)
  Award to The Halifax Rifles (GO 71/30)
• The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment
  Awards to The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment (GO 71/30), The Argyll Light Infantry (GO 71/30), and The Northumberland Regiment (GO 71/30)
• Irish Regiment of Canada
  Award to The Irish Regiment (GO 71/30)
• 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 Lincoln and Welland Regiment
  Awards to The Lincoln Regiment (GO 71/30) and The Lincoln and Welland Regiment (GO 71/30)
• The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment)
  Awards to The Halton Rifles (GO 71/30) and The Peel and Dufferin Regiment (GO 71/30)
• 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 Saskatchewan Mounted Rifles (GO 110/29), The Saskatoon Light Infantry (GO 110/29), and The Prince Albert Volunteers (GO 71/30)
• The North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment
  Award to The North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment (GO 71/30)
• The Nova Scotia Highlanders
  Awards to the 25th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29), The Colchester and Hants Regiment (GO 110/29), and The Cumberland Highlanders (GO 71/30)
• The Ontario Regiment (RCAC)
  Awards to the 116th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Ontario Regiment (GO 123/29)
• The Prince Edward Island Regiment (RCAC)
  Awards to The Prince Edward Island Light Horse (GO 71/30) and The Prince Edward Island Highlanders (GO 71/30)
• The Princess Louise Fusiliers
  Award to The Princess Louise Fusiliers (GO 71/30)
• 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), the 127th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 71/30), The Queen's Rangers, 1st American Regiment (GO 110/29), and The York Rangers (GO 71/30)
• Le Régiment de Maisonneuve
  Awarded through perpetuation of the 41st Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (CAO Part 33-1 and 229-1 10 July 1961)
• The Rocky Mountain Rangers
  Award to The Rocky Mountain Rangers (GO 71/30)
• 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 Royal Canadian Regiment (GO 110/29), The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) (GO 110/29), and The Oxford Rifles (GO 71/30)
• The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment)
  Awards to the 4th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (GO 110/29), and The Wentworth Regiment (GO 71/30)
• The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada
  Award to The Highland Light Infantry of Canada (GO 71/30)
• 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), The Saint John Fusiliers (GO 110/29), The York Regiment (GO 71/30), and The New Brunswick Rangers (GO 71/30)
• The Royal Newfoundland Regiment
  Award to The Royal Newfoundland Regiment (Award to The Royal Newfoundland Regiment (1914-1919) (Adjutant General, War Office, to Official Secretary, Office of the High Commissioner for Canada, 14 Dec 1951))
• 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 123rd Canadian Pioneer Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29), the 124th Canadian Pioneer Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29), 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), The Sherbrooke Regiment (GO 71/30), 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 Edmonton Fusiliers (GO 71/30)
• Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders
  Award to The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders (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)
• Les Voltigeurs de Québec
  Award to Les Voltigeurs de Québec (GO 71/30)
• The West Nova Scotia Regiment
  Awards to The Annapolis Regiment (GO 71/30) and The Lunenburg Regiment (GO 71/30)

Units on the Supplementary Order of Battle

• 11th Field Squadron, RCE
  Award to The Lambton Regiment (GO 71/30)
• 14th Canadian Hussars
  Award to the 14th Canadian Light Horse (GO 5/31)
• 24th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
  Awards to the 54th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Kootenay Regiment (GO 110/29)
• 26th Field Battery, RCA
  Award to The Lambton Regiment (GO 71/30)
• 27th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
  Award to The Eastern Townships Mounted Rifles (GO 110/29)
• 33rd Medium Artillery Regiment, RCA
  Award to The Frontenac Regiment (GO 71/30)
• 48th Field Squadron, RCE
  Award to The Lambton Regiment (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 Peterborough Rangers (GO 110/29), and The Victoria and Haliburton Regiment (GO 71/30)
• 118th Medium Battery, RCA
  Awards to the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Manitoba Mounted Rifles (GO 5/31)
• 202nd Field Battery, RCA
  Award to The Yorkton Regiment (GO 71/30)
• The Royal Rifles of Canada
  Award to The Royal Rifles of Canada (GO 71/30)
• 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)
• 2nd Canadian Pioneer Battalion, CEF
  Award to the 2nd Canadian Pioneer Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29)
• 16th/17th (Reserve) Medium Battery, RCA
  Award to The Kenora Light Infantry (GO 71/30)
• 107th Canadian Pioneer Battalion, CEF
  Award to the 107th Canadian Pioneer Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29)
• The Irish Canadian Rangers
  Award to The Irish Canadian Rangers (GO 71/30)
• The Irish Canadian Rangers
  Award to The Manitoba Regiment (GO 123/29)
• McGill University Contingent (148th Bn., C.E.F.), The Canadian Officers' Training Corps
  Award to the McGill University Contingent (148th Bn., C.E.F.), The Canadian Officers' Training Corps (GO 136/32)
• The Middlesex and Huron Regiment
  Award to The Middlesex Light Infantry (GO 71/30)
• The North Alberta Regiment
  Awards to the 31st Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The North Alberta Regiment (GO 110/29)