Canada and WWI Trivia Quiz

Answer: False

This is indeed false. The man who first tried to kill the Austro-Hungarian archduke threw an explosive at his car and it bounced off. The driver of the car became worried and drove down a different street. Gavrilo Princip, another member of the Serbian terrorist group, the Black Hand, then took out a gun and assassinated Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie.

Answer: The Western Front

Canada fought mostly in Belgium and France. It was here that they no longer had to rely on the British. Instead, the British relied on Canada for support, weaponry, and supplies. Their fighting was a key step on the road to achieving full nationhood.

Answer: The Battle of the Somme

The Battle of the Somme had the highest Canadian casualty rate at 24,029. Next was Passchendaele at 15,654, then Vimy Ridge with 10,600, and finally the second battle of Ypres with 6,035. These are Canadian casualties. The British casualties at these battles, except for Vimy Ridge, were much higher. Together with Verdun, these were among the bloodiest battles in WWI.

Answer: Billy Bishop

William Avery "Billy" Bishop was Canada's top ace. He started his military career as a cavalry officer, arriving in England in June 1915. He was soon tired of the muddy conditions in cavalry camp and joined the Royal Flying Corps. He went into pilot training in 1916 and was soon an ace in early 1917.

Answer: 60,000

It wasn't just guns that killed the soldiers. They had to endure life in trenches, which often caused infections like trench foot; and some men drowned in the mud, especially at Passchendaele. Chlorine and mustard gas were also killers. Gas was released from jars and gave soldiers blisters whereever it contacted them.

It often took about four days of excrutiating pain to die from gas poisoning.

Answer: All of these.

Sir Sam Hughes, the Minister of Militia and Defence, insisted that Canadians used the Ross Rifle. He was also nicknamed "Sir Sham Shoes" because he was known to be cheap, and he made the troops wear boots with soles made of cardboard. He also instructed men to paint horses black, because they were harder to see at night and they did not want to pay for actual black horses.

He was dismissed from the war in 1916.

Answer: Vimy Ridge

The war hero, Arthur Currie, was involved in this battle. The Battle of Vimy Ridge started on Easter Monday in 1917. Their first two objectives were achieved in less than two hours. After General Byng had introduced the "leap-frogging" strategy, the final objective was met.

Answer: True

According to the plan, German troops were to defeat France quickly before Russia could mobilize. The plan failed because the Germans were held up by the Belgian army, which was backed up by the British Expeditionaty Force. Russia mobilized in 10 days, and the Germans thought it would take at least 6 weeks. Germany withdrew troops to its eastern provinces.

The plan was based on assumptions that were flawed within the first month of WWI.

Answer: Military Service Act

The Military Service Act meant that conscription would have to happen. This meant that any young, healthy men in Canada had to go to war. This was introduced because the war was expected to last longer and more reinforcements would be needed because of the British army relying on the Canadian army.

Answer: Kitchener

Several other suggestions were Hydro City, Agnoleo, Huronto, Bercana, Keowana, and Adanac (Canada spelled backwards)! Kitchener was chosen because it was named after British War Secretary Lord Kitchener that was said to be very courageous and helpful.

Answer: Halifax Explosion

Two ships, the Mont Blanc and the IMO collided in the Halifax Harbour. The Mont Blanc had more than 2500 tonnes of dynamite and explosives and exploded with massive force when it was struck. In all, between 2,000 and 3,000 people perished in the explosion. More than 10000 were injured. The horrors of war had come right to Canada.

Answer: Passchendaele

Canadians fought in this brutal battle from October to November of 1917. The objective in this battle was to capture the German submarine bases on the Belgian coasts. Arthur Currie protested against Canadians fighting in this battle, but he was overruled and there were 15654 Canadian casualties in Passchendaele. The Canadian Corps won 9 Victoria Crosses for this battle.

Answer: Canada's foreign policy was still under British control at the time

The Canadian Expeditionary Force was sent to Britain, a force of 25,000 troops. They mainly participated in the second Battle of Ypres, the Battle of the Somme, the Battle of Vimy Ridge, and the Battle of Passchendaele. Vimy Ridge was said to be the Canadians' greatest victory because it was said to be impossible to win, but Canada won it.

It made them feel like an independent nation ...

Answer: In all of these roles

Almost 2500 Canadian women joined the medical and field ambulance corps. Many were killed or injured by artillery fire, bombs, and poison gas.

Answer: Treaty of Versailles

The Paris Peace Conference was held in 1919 at the palace of Versailles. The treaty ending WWI was signed on 28th June 1919. Fighting had stopped seven months earlier on 11th November 1918, when Germany signed the Armistice of Compiegne with the Allies. The armistice was extended three times until the Treaty of Versailles was signed.

While the conference was of greatest importance to Germany, it also had a huge effect on Canada. At the end of the war, Canada had won a new status in the world. It has been argued that the Allies could not have won the war without the support of countries in the British Empire, including Canada.