Account of Canadians in the Battle of Vimy Ridge, Western Front, 9-12 April 1917. A false impression of the battle is created through the use of 1916 footage from IN ACTION WITH OUR CANADIAN TROOPS and 1917 footage from Vimy Ridge.~Roll one film begins with a series of intertitles spliced to the head of the roll; "CANADIAN OFFICIAL WAR FILMS - The originals of these films were taken under authority of the Government of Canada and the copyright is vested in the Crown." "Being of great interest to the People of Canada and especially to veterans of the Great War, their dependents and their widows and orphans of those who died,-" "They are now being exhibited by permission of the Department of National Defence."~"In Action With Our Canadian Troops." "Princess Patricia's Light Infantry on Parade." Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry parade by. "The Flag which was presented by Princess Patricia." The PPLI with the standard presented by the Princess. "On the way to the trenches." PPLI march along a road to the trenches. "British lines on the Canadian flank." They enter heading towards "Prowse Point", the shallow, waterlogged trench which forms the junction of the British and Canadian lines. "Entering the Communication trenches." Troops in a trench.~Animated graphics of a map of the battle, showing the initial dispositions, divisional boundaries and the three phases of the Canadian offense are interspersed with actuality material. Canadian division moves up. Artillery gun fires from the woods. Map, Divisional Operations." Map, "Objectives No. 1", Map, "Objectives No. 2.", Map, "Objectives No. 3.", Map, "Objectives No. 4." "The Battle." "Key to plan: Germans-Canadians-Guns." "Shell Fire-Standing Barrage-Rolling barrage." Map, "Infantry file into position." Shots of troops (Highlanders). Map, "Infantry file into position." Map, "Zero hours 5:30am." Map, "Barrage fire opens." Shot of artillery guns opening fire.~Roll two; Explosions from artillery. Map, "Advance Canada." Troops cross the battlefield past the camera. Map, "Advance Canada." Map, "First objective captured - 6:30am." Map, "Positions consolidated." Troops digging into trenches. Map, "Advance to 2nd objective." Map, "Objective captured 9:30am." Map, "Positions consolidated." Map, "Advance to 3rd objective." Map, "Thelus trench captured 11:00am." Map, "Advance to 3rd objective." Map, "Objective captured 1pm." Map, "Positions consolidated." Troops on horseback pass camera with POW's alongside the side of the road. Captured prisoners act as stretcher bearers. Troops on horseback. Map, "Advance to fourth objective." Map, "Final objective captured 3:30pm." "Trophies captured by the Canadians in the historic engagement at Vimy Ridge." Shot of a captured artillery cannon with an exhibit sign that reads, "Application for the reward of this article, as a trophy after the war, is being submitted by the 42nd Batt. Royal Highlanders of Canada, of the 3rd Canadian Division Canadian Corps, First Army British Expeditionary Force. Date trophy was handed in at Railhead identification no. quoted in the application for the award of the trophy 418001." Shot of the trophy cannon. Shot of a cannon with sign that reads, "Captured by 44th Canadians at Vimy Ridge - 12-4-17." The troops pose for a shot next to the cannon trophy. Shot of the cannon.~Roll three; “Here in the muddy fields of Ypres commenced the state of siege - trench warfare.” Shot of muddy trenches surrounding Ypres. Supplies move forward in wagons covered with mud. “Where to show a head meant death. An artillery officer directs the fire of his battery.” Shot of an officer on the phone, while another jots into a notepad, and another with a flag. Shots of artillery guns hidden in trees firing. “They fought with an inflexible courage while they faced the first rigours of winter?” In the trenches a soldier lights a brazier while others walk by on duckboards. . "The mid-day meal." A soldier tends to a brazier in a trench. Troops eating, smoking. "Bombardment of a farm in the German lines." Long shots of explosions and a farm building in the distance. "A hill near the Canadian front - Note: Officer ducks as a shrapnel bursts just overhead." An officer ducks, (sign post in background reads, Regina: cut off). Troops with rifles hide behind trees. "Graves of Canadian heroes." A field of white crosses. Shot of two soldiers, one wearing a headset. "Replenishing the shell 'dump'." Troops unload bomb shells off the back of a truck. Shot of rows of shells. Shot of two shells with writing on them, 'A PRESENT FROM CANADA' and 'IRON RATIONS'. "Another 'Tank' well away to the enemy's lines." Several shots of a camouflaged tank, 'D20' passes camera.
