A group of Cranbrook and area army cadets are having a difficult time raising funds in order to attend the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge (First World War).

While a GoFundMe account has been established and fundraising efforts have been ongoing, 1813 Army Cadet sponsoring committee chair Barb Smythe said the kids have hit a wall and are struggling to push forward.

“We have undertaken a huge endeavor to get our kids to the 100th anniversary ceremonies of the Battle of Vimy Ridge in April of 2017. Canadian troops were instrumental in this battle and our kids have the opportunity of a lifetime to take part in such an historical moment,” Smythe said, explaining, “We need to raise $100,000 to send the 20 most deserving cadets on this trip with no cost to the families. Of that sum, $20,000 is to be paid by the end of summer this year.

“We have set up a GoFundme page but raising awareness is one of our biggest hurdles, as we are a small community with several not-for-profit groups, we are fighting an uphill battle,” she said.

The 1813 Army Cadets are located in Cranbrook and have cadets in the corps who travel over an hour each way every week just to participate in weekly training and even spend more time on the road to join fundraising and weekend training.

“We will be participating in several other fundraising programs over the next two years but the August deadline is looming and we seem to be getting nowhere,” Smythe said, emphasizing the educational value of the trip to the 20 cadets.

“If we do not learn from the past we are destined to repeat it,” she noted.

The Battle of Vimy Ridge is one of the most important points in time in Canadian history. Prior to that battle, staged April 9 to 12, 1917, Canadian troops had never fought under their own ensign; always under those of the British Empire.

Vimy Ridge had been a deadly and seemingly impenetrable barrier that the German Army had been holding since near the start of the First World War. Numerous attempts had been made by British and French troops to take the strategic high point of land, with terrible casualties the result.

Finally, the task was placed at the feet of four Canadian divisions, united as one and over a period of a few months leading up to the April assault, intensive planning was undertaken. Canadian soldiers slithered off through no-man’s land to survey the German lines and a detailed replica was established behind the Allied line. Using coloured ribbons to note where to charge, Canadian troops practiced steadily up to the whistle April 9 and the subsequent battle became the point in time where Canadian troops because revered world-wide for the brilliant performance on the field that day.

Utilizing a creeping artillery barrage and other new tactics, the Canadians achieved in just over one day what the British and French were unable to do in almost three years; capture Vimy Ridge.

The headline in the New York Times following the battle was ‘Canadians take Vimy.’ It wasn’t ‘British take Vimy.’ That seemingly small detail was one of the first times in Canada’s 50 years as a nation that the world community considered it outside the realm of being a British holding.

The 100th anniversary of the battle will feature a ceremony at the Vimy Ridge Memorial, a 100-hectare piece of land at Vimy given to Canada by the French Government in 1922 in recognition of our achievement on the field of battle that day, and in helping free France of German occupation.

The site is preserved as a park and historical memorial, with preserved trenches, tunnels, craters and other sites familiar with First World War lore.

It would be a perfect opportunity to educate some East Kootenay youth about Canadian history, Canada’s role in world affairs and a great gesture of respect.

“If we do not raise the needed funds by the deadline we will forfeit close to $8,000 and have to cancel the trip,” Smythe told e-KNOW.

If you can spare a few dollars, please consider donating to the 1813 Army Cadets so they can attend this important anniversary in France.

Please go to: https://www.gofundme.com/lgcgi0

Meanwhile, cadets are hosting a carwash and BBQ at Cranbrook Dodge on the strip on May 3 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., where there will be draw for their raffle winner.

Cadets are selling tickets for the raffle at Just Music, The Choice, The Roadhouse Grill and the Cranbrook Street liquor store, as well as every cadet. Tickets are for a chance to win two times four day passes to the Rockin’ River Music Fest in Merrit in July/August.

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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