Neuville-Saint-Vaast

Hill 145 is where the monument is now - highest point in area. 7km of trench line. Every Canadian soldier after went through vimy. Preparation was key to success. 40000 maps to soldiers, replicas, twice as much artillery, lessons learned from Somme failures. Underground subways for communication and moving supplies secretly from reserve lines closer to Arras. Hid the digging of tunnels by using hand tools. Germans knew there was work happening but not aware of why. Grange subway 1.2 km long third largest. 6 months to compete 10 km by Welsh miners. Next tunnel is black watch. 42nd black watch battalion. Sand bags full of chalk infantry brought out of tunnels to construct trenches or hide them with mud 200 sand bags for each ton of chalk removed. Soldiers in tunnel for 36 hours before attack began. Lots of flooding during the April 8th snow storm. Deep tunneling to get below the enemy who was also tunneling then mine them. Trained listeners to listen to where other side digging. Got as deep as 30m.Read more