Day 4 - Thelus, Vimy, Nine Elms and a lot of emotion

This morning we start what will be the main part of our tour, in essence why your kids are here in Europe can be directly tied to this small cemetery.  Shortly before 9 we arrive at Thelus Cemetery, very close to Vimy, and this is the place where I have a particular affinity for, because it has the name of one man the really got me involved in all of this and made me recognize the importance of remembrance going forward.  This is a beautiful cemetery in the middle of a farmer’s field...it’s actually rarely visited because as you are speeding by you will miss it quite easily.  So rarely visited that the actually finished the book of remembrance today.  For those of you that do not know, there is a book of remembrance located inside the gate of all CWGC gravesites, and when you enter or leave you should sign your name and where you are from.  I am proud to say that PEI is the most common located for visitors to this little cemetery and we at TOSH are the #1.  I’ll give you some perspective on this, in many cases at a place like Beaumont Hamel, their book of Remembrance is probably replaced about once or twice per year, at Thelus this book’s first entry was in 1979! In perfect fashion we are the last to sign the book and in fact I use the back page to write a note to whoever will be collecting the book.(Just noticed some poor grammar...wind was still in my eyes and not thinking straight;) )

I am always very excited when I get here and this will be my 4th visit back to visit my veteran.  We had hoped for a chance for some of the kids to do grave rubbings potentially, but because it is very wet it is unlikely. On a positive note the sun's shining and its cool, but it has poured here for about two weeks we are being told and the ground is sopping wet and footing is iffy at best. I let the kids wander for a bit, as Kinkora has some letters to leave for their chosen veterans.  This is something that we will do next time….what a great idea and the kids are actually leaving laminated letters with a small piece of pottery, very thoughtful.  Our Three Oaks kids have all been given small Canadian flags to write a message on and leave at their gravesite.  After a few minutes I gather the kids around the grave marker of Corporal Charles John Clue...the real person responsible for your son or daughter’s trip overseas in this year.  So please let me take a minute to tell you the story of CJ Clue:

Charles John Clue was born at Shepherd’s Bush in September 12, 1885, the second of six children of Henry and Emma Jane Clue.  He was educated at a school in Hammersmith, England he immigrated to Canada in early 1910 where he found employment as a butcher.  Enlisting in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force at Saskatoon in March 1916, he arrived in France as a newly promoted Acting Corporal in January 1917 and was posted to the 21st Battalion, Canadian Infantry. 
 On 9 April 1917, Charles John Clue went missing in action as was later reported killed in action on the first day of the battle of Vimy Ridge. It was noted in the research that Clue had earned $33.10 in April 1917 and on 30 April 1917 his total earnings of $98.89 was paid to his mother, then of Shepherds Bush Road, London, England.  Later on his mother was also presented with the British War and Victory Medals (204407 Cpl., 21-Can. Inf.)  and related Memorial Plaque (Charles John Clue) and Canadian Memorial Cross, G.V.R., officially inscribed, ‘204407 Cpl. C. J. Clue’, good very fine and better.
Clue was interred in a communal grave in Thelus Military Cemetery, which stands on Vimy Ridge.
Thank you for your ultimate sacrifice......  


This gentleman had no business going to the war at his age he should have been starting and caring for a wife and family, instead he was giving up these things that we so often take for granted in our own lives. The kids are finally seeing the impact of these ultimate sacrifices and the ages of these young people on the headstones before them have started to affect them deeply, and we haven’t even reached the pinnacle of our trip yet, being in Flanders Fields.  But on the whole, he is the reason why we are here.  No tears here either for me…it was the cold brisk wind and the bright sunlight in my eyes….seriously!!!

After an emotional start to the morning we are heading up to the Vimy Memorial for the Remebrance Day ceremony. Yes we know its Remebrance day tomorrow in Canada, but just as we do at home with ceremonies prior to the 11th, the same thing is happening here.  Dignitaries from UK, France and Canada along with some veterans are present for a wonderful ceremony.  The tone is obviously very sombre but the feeling is very similar to ours at Three Oaks, which makes me feel great as to how we conduct ourselves at our school.  We are on hallowed ground and the formal portion of the ceremony is very similar to our annual ceremony...proud to be a part of both.

 We are actually scheduled to come back to Vimy in the afternoon for our official trench and tunnel tour of the area.  This is certainly a proud place to be a Canadian.  From here we are heading to Neuvelle St. Vaast, which is a German cemetery.  The cemetery was established by the French in 1919 as concentration cemetery for all German war casualties from the regions north and east of the town of Arras. It is the largest German memorial in France with 44,833 burials, buried 4 to a grave with dark crosses for christian Germans and headstones for Jewish German soldiers.  It is a very dark contrast to the Allied cemeteries for sure, but in the end people still died, it doesn't matter whether they are German, French or Canadian.  They were fighting for a cause they were told to believe in.  The kids have been great when put in these circumstances and they extremely respective of the "heaviness" of the situations they are being put it in.  A great group for sure!

French graves to the far left and Commonwealth graves in the foreground

From here we make our way back to to Vimy for our tour and on the way back we pass “La Targette” which is a major cemetery for the French and the kids get a chance to see another mass of headstones.  Look at both the German and the French and see if you can see the differences that I have been talking about.  You can hardly move without finding a cemetery in this region and there are big ones and small ones alike and just so many names to read.

Mother Canada on front of memorial

Back at Vimy we have a small picnic lunch on the bus and stay warm for a little while longer and then we are ready to hit the tunnels and learn more about the battle the saw Canada's birth into the world stage.  Once again, very proud to be a Canadian and especially on this site.The kids learn more about how we took new methods of attacking during the lead up to this battle.

 For example, the Canadians made about 40,000 copies of the battle area and attack plan for all of its soldiers to have.  This was never done before as only the commanding officers would know the plan of attack, but in this instance the Canadians trusted their men and because of the intricacies of the attack it was well needed.  Soldiers were also given watches for the first time because of the need for exact timing in their new tactic called the rolling barrage.  The men were expected to reach certain objectives under the cover of fire from behind them and it became one of the most important pieces of this 4 day battle that allowed the Allies to gain control of the most important area of this war. 
After our tour the kids are getting presented with their Vimy pilgrimmage medals from the Vimy foundation in a small ceremony at the base of the monument. These are keepsakes are an important part of the Vimy experience and the importance of making this trek as a Canadian.
Our day is coming to close but we have one last surprise....well not a surprise at this point to the group but we are off to find the Nine Elms Thelus Cemetery where not one but two of our travellers have a relative located in this cemetery.  After travelling down the craziest of back road farm roads, have I mentioned how awesome our bus driver Freck from Holland is?  Well he is willing to do anything for these kids and it is greatly appreciated.  After finally finding the directions to the cemetery Freck drives as far as he can, about 500 metres in reverse for good measure, we get off the bus and start the trek to Nine Elms.

 Both Dempsey and Logan Robinson from Kinkora have relatives that would have fought together during the first day of the Vimy offensive and unfortunately both perished on the 9th of April. It was a very fitting way to end a very special day.  Dempsey did a great job of telling the story of veteran MacKinnon and when we get up I will post a couple of more pictures of the grave rubbing we were able to get done for both boys and their families.  This is why we do this...we are connecting generations of Canadians to their past and their no price that can be placed on this.  If we do not know where we came from we will never know where to go in the future.  Both Dempsey and Logan we proud Canadian young men today, one slightly younger than his veteran who past away almost 100 years ago, and Dempsey who is almost the exact age of his great uncle when he left for overseas so many years ago.  Signing off after a long and emotional day, but one that makes me extremely proud to be a Canadian, and Islander, a teacher at Three Oaks, and a friend of these wonderful young men and women who are representing your community with great dignity and respect.  Take care all and LEST WE FORGET.  Hope you all make it to a Remembrance Day ceremony in your community as we commemorate in Ypres, Flanders, and Passchendaeale tomorrow.  
                                  Yours in remembrance,
                                                            David