Nicholson Map 9: Passchendaele 26 October - 10 November 1917
Map Upgraded October 15, 2007

This is also described in Nicholson Chapter X.
Nicholson Chapter X: Passchendaele, October November 1917

Passchendaele, known for the great battle or in fact campaign, when it is but a typical tiny crossroads in Flanders (Belgium). In many tales it is referred to the "Slaughter in the Mud" and rightfully so! The first four weeks of the offensive in the summer of 1917 cost the British 68,000 casualties, more than 3,400 of them officers.

Canadians first arrived at Passchendaele in October 1917. They were asked to submit plans for the capture of the crossroads village. Action started for them at almost the exact line they were at at the time of the April 1915 gas attack (see Chapter III). The massive bombardments had left the area a sea of mud, so their was great reliance on the construction of wooden roads.

The CEF had now mastered the art of the artillery barrage to avoid undue casualties. The arrival of the 5th Divisions artillery to France allowed more resources to be freed in Belgium. The plan was to "pay the price of victory in shells and not in the lives of men". Attacks and counterattacks took place in the later days of October, as new German tactics battled intense Canadian artillery fire. On the last day of October the Canadian's had gained 1,000 yards on a 2,800 yard front., with 884 killed, 1429 wounded and 8 captured - on just that one day in the mud.

General Haig would be critically reviewed for his tactics that lead to the slaughter of so many men at Passchendaele. Canada fulfilled its role, with new artillery tactics, the first use of wireless sets during the attack (with success) on November 6 1917 - but at the cost of 2,238 Canadian casualties of which 734 were killed on that one day.