The Way I see it.

The way I see it.

On Thursday, 30th October 2025, I set off for Vimy Ridge in northern France. It's just over the border from Belgium. The onboard GPS screen shows my destination coming ever closer. The monument at Vimy Ridge is clearly seen from the road. It's twin white limestone peaks of nearly 30 metres dominate the skyline. I remember that the final few metres of road take me on to Canadian territory -this piece of France was ceded to the Canadians in 1921.

I have sons and grandchildren who live in Canada. Two of the sons live in Comox, British Columbia on Vancouver Island. And it is here, in Comox, that my story begins. My sons are of an age where, at a different time and place they could have had all been embarking from Comox in June 1916 with the 102nd Battalion - destination... Belgium and Northern France. (There is a small memorial in Comox on the main avenue set off from the road and easily missed. It states more that 600 men from the 102nd were killed in the First World War.) In the museum in Comox is a large sepia coloured poster showing young fit soldiers heading for embarkation from Comox to Europe. They would have no idea that they would be leaving forests, oceans and mountains for mud, water, trench foot and a life expectancy that could be measured in weeks or days. And many of the 102nd would fight for their country in Northern France at Vimy Ridge.

Living in Flanders I know where so many World War 1 cemeteries of the commonwealth and other countries can be found. Such loss, such industrial levels of slaughter, I forget the total number of soldiers and others killed in this conflict. So pointless given the leaders at that time either all knew each other or were related to each other-such folly and dereliction of duty and leadership. But it was what it was and, 'the dogs of war’, were let loose.

The Vimy memorial sits in silence on the ridge that looks out over open countryside. The surrounding green fields are pock marked with shell holes and fenced off due to unexploded ordnance. The memorial steps are shared with white limestone statues, male and female setting the scene for loss and remembrance. These sculptures and this monument are beautiful prompting thought and reflection over the scale of loss due to war...or a war that should have ended all wars. On the limestone memorial are the carved names of more than 11000 men who fought for the Ridge but have never been found. They lie out there 'somewhere' in fields used by troops in the assault on the Ridge.

The Givenchy Road cemetery and Canadian number 2 cemetery are laid out in accordance with the Commonwealth war graves design and oversight. The headstones, like the soldiers themselves, all in line and perfectly upright. Some headstones are to 'those known only to God.' Others have names and dates, April 9th and their ages. H. Marrison was just 20 years old on April 9th, 1917, and he knows his place will be there for others to visit and pay respects.

There are not many people here today, October 2025, as I seek to find other soldiers from the 102nd Northern Columbia Battalion that set sail from Comox on Vancouver Island in 1916 for Belgium and Northern France. What a waste and what a folly war is. I have told my sons never to get involved in wars; Those that enthusiastically promote conflict are often far removed from the consequences. Why sacrifice your life on the altar of someone else’s convictions? They will enthusiastically put you in the line of fire while they retreat to some bunker well away from the fighting.

My name is Private B. Osborne and I'm a Canadian of the 102nd Battalion and proud to be so. Once the War kicked off, I enlisted and trained down on Goose Spit on Vancouver Island with many others ready to go and fight against an enemy determined to invade and dominate Europe. I remember departing Comox on June 19th ,1916 with the rest of the Battalion. For me this is a just war. Those that can fight should fight to make sure the aggressor fails. The training is hard but for most of us no problem. Most of us work in the Lumber industry -or fishing- or other outside jobs. We work every day to be in the best shape for the voyage and deployment once we get to Europe.

I know little of Europe apart from what the training Officers told us.

And the fighting conditions were about to be discovered with the Battalion's deployment to Northern France. In April 1917 I am with the 102nd at Vimy Ridge where the Germans are well dug in. Our orders are to take Vimy Ridge. Four separate Divisions will attack the Ridge on April 9th, 1917. And I am in one of those Divisions of the 9th to start the attack - Number 2 Division, my division will be at the centre of the attack attacking head on while other Divisions hold more of a flanking attack.

The night before the 9th me and others sleep in the underground tunnels avoiding any shellfire. The dank, dark tunnels make us all sleep lightly and the call to assemble is met with a silence and resolve to do what we know we must do. We know this will not be easy. We have our bayonets, rifles and plans. The whistle blows and the assault begins. You should have seen us take off. So many men, such determination, such confidence that we can do this. I cannot forget the buzz of adrenaline as we charged the German positions.

It takes a few days to secure the Ridge but succeed we do. I lost a lot of my friends and fellow fighters, and I did not make it for the final push. I bought it on the 9th but am proud to have been a part of war that defeated the enemy. I rest my soul on Canadian soil here at Givenchy Road Cemetery- just a stone’s throw from Vimy Ridge. I am proud to have served my country. I regret so many have fallen, but when all else fails War must be the final arbiter.