The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Canadian Divisions were assigned to the British Reserve Army at the Somme. They avoided the horrific first day of fighting, and the battles that followed in July and August. By September it was the Reserve Army's turn to fight - all other units were decimated or exhausted.

Sept 15th-22nd The Battle of Flers-Courcelette. During the third stage of the Somme offensive the 2nd and 3rd Canadian Divisions participated in an attack near Flers. The attack was much more successful than the original July attacks and with half the casualties. The Canadians made a well planned, steady unspectacular advance, and demonstrated their increasing ability to organize and mount a well-planned attack. The Canadians planners did extensive air photo analysis, creating detailed maps with specific objectives. The soldiers advanced under cover of the new "creeping" barrage, with co-ordinated support from British aircraft and small units of the newest offensive weapon - the tank. The Canadians drove the Germans back over 3000 metres towards the village of Courcelette but the attack stalled due to heavy losses and heavy rains before the German defences collapsed completely

Here is a short video about the Battle of the Somme. Click on the link to view the video. At the end, click on the left or back arrow at the upper left corner of the screen.