The Battle of Mount Sorrel or the Canadian Battle of Ypres, was a brief and bloody fight between the Canadians and the Germans over a small piece of the Ypres Salient. Initially the Germans inflicted a major defeat on the Canadians, driving them from hard-won trenches overlooking Ypres with mines and flamethrowers. The Canadians lost two Generals and 5 Colonels in one day. Humiliated by their defeat, the Canadians regained their confidence under their new Commander’s calm, and thorough planning . Only 11 days after their defeat, they struck back, driving off the Germans and regaining the sacred ground of the Ypres Salient. General Byng showed the Canadians that with the right planning, and leadership they could beat anyone. It was a turning point battle for the Canadians and a sign of things to come.

This volume includes an historical Overview of the Battle; a Battlefield Tour of 6 Points; a list of 23 Cemeteries and memorials where the Canadians killed in Battle are commemorated or buried. Asides in the book include: the Mystery of Gordon Blackader, Byng of the Bing Boys, and the Story of the Menin Gate. Profusely illustrated with maps, photos and drawings, and includes a fold-out Tour map at the back of the book.

This volume was made into a TV show, Lost Battlefields (Mount Sorrel). The DVD covers the battle like the book, and is literally a walking tour.

by Norm Christie

Beckles Willson was also a fierce opponent of the rebuilding of Ypres, feeling that the horrific losses sustained there by the British Army meant it should always remain a Memorial. He was farsighted in his viewpoints and single-handedly reminded the Royalty and Dignitaries of Europe that the sacrifice should not be forgotten.

In his extremely rare 1920 book, Ypres, The Holy Ground of British Arms Major Willson presented his powerful argument against redevelopment, and presented his vision of the Sacred City of Ypres, by telling all the history of Ypres before and during the Great War. This is a unique perspective on the legendary City. Henry Beckles Willson was born in Montreal in 1869. He was an early Canadian literary type who found his fame, not in Canada, but in the Mother Country. By the end of his life he had written 25 books on a wide variety of subjects and genres, including History, Novels and Memoir.

During the Great War he served under Lord Beaverbrook for a time, then the War Office, finally, just after the Armistice, as the Town Major, overseeing the ruins of Ypres. During the Second World War he was interned in Unoccupied France and died there in 1942. Beckles Willson was one of those lost Victorians, a man of his times, whose generation was eclipsed by the tragedy of the Great War. But he left an important legacy. His vision is felt by all who return to the City to pay Homage to the Fallen of the Great War generation. It is a great pleasure to resurrect this exceptional rare book, Ypres, The Holy Ground of British Arms, written by this forgotten character, a man who played such an critical role in the Ypres we see today.

by H.Becckles Willson
112 Pages.

The book is well-illustrated. A unique addition to any CEF library.

(Sorry the hard cover version is SOLD OUT but paper back still available.)

The late Ted Wigney was Canada's foremost Great War researcher. His Roll of Honour of the CEF has become the WWI Researchers Bible. Ten years in the making in Guests of the Kaiser Ted has compiled the details of 3800 CEF POWs. The majority were taken at Ypres and Mount Sorrel, but Ted's meticulous list gives details of all POWs, those lost on Trench Raids, The March Retreats, and even divulges the Alias of the RCR deserter, Otto Doerr, who went over to the Germans before Vimy, and gave up much information on the Canadian Plans. Only Ted Wigney couls unravel the story of the RCR deserter. The book also contains the stories of the 100 Escapees, gallantry awards, and many other fascinating details of this forgotten piece of Canadian history.

by Ted Wigney