Vimy Ridge Visual Timeline
The video below displays a visual timeline of the main events that occurred during the Battle of Vimy Ridge, April 9 - 12, 1917.
Vimy map courtesy of G.W.Nicholson
Return to the Battle of Vimy Ridge
The Battle of Vimy Ridge Timeline
Starting Line - 9 April 1917: 5:30am
- The tunnel system is shown in red, used by thousands of Canadian troops to conceal the first wave of infantry that started off the attack. Approximate starting line for the Canadian attack is shown
First objective reached - 9 April 1917: 6:30am
- More than 15,000 Canadian infantry storm the German defences behind a creeping barrage. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Canadian Divisions reach their first objective by 6:30am. The 4th Division held up on the left flank.
Second objective reached - 9 April 1917: 7:30am
- One hour later at 7:30am, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Divisions reach their second objective, the Red Line.
End of the first day - 9 April 1917: 6:00pm
- By the evening of the first day, the Canadians had reached the crest of Vimy Ridge. Scattered units even managed to reach the outskirts of Farbus and Willerval. The exception was Hill 120 to the north, which remained in German hands.
End of the second day - 10 April 1917: 6:00pm
- By nightfall of the second day, the Canadians had reached almost all their objectives, including the highest part of the ridge, Hill 145. However, even after fierce fighting, the north-west part of the ridge, Hill 120, had yet to be captured.
Entire Ridge captured - 12 April 1917: 6:00pm
- After gains were consolidated on April 11th, Hill 120 was attacked again on April 12th by the 10th Canadian Brigade supported by massive artillery. After an entire day of fighting, the objective was finally captured, and the entire length of Vimy Ridge now belonged to the Canadians.
Vimy Ridge Memorial
- The site of the present day Vimy Ridge Memorial is shown in green on Hill 145.