222 Days

As the war progressed the feelings of the participants that had survived the Great War will never be adequately expressed or even summarized by those that come after.

The 4th Battalion, CEF was part of the 1st Contingent and had been serving in France and Belgium since February 11th, 1915. A War Diary entry from April 1st, 1918 is illuminating:

4th Battalion War Diary Entry: April 1, 1918

Battalion relieved 1st Canadian Battalion in the TELEGRAPH HILL AREA, ARRAS. Relief complete by 11.25 p.m. of 31st inst.

“D” Company suffered two kiled [killed] and twenty one G.S. wounds while passing through BEAURAINS. Battalion headquarters located in deserted battery position in BEAURAINS. Royal Flying Corps Pilots report that Statue of the Virgin on ALBERT CATHEDRAL had fallen about March 26th. Popular French Legend that the great War would end Victorious forty days later. Weather: cool and dry. Clean sky and moonlight.

It would be 222 days from the date of that entry that the war would end. The Canadian Forces would suffer approximately 16,327 service personnel deaths during this period.