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Welcome to Flanders Field
Book by Dancocks, Daniel G.
- GenresNonfictionHistory
292 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1988
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 28, 2024
I surely learned from this book.
'Welcome to Flanders Fields: The First Canadian Battle of the Great War: Ypres 1915' by Daniel G. Dancocks explores Canada's role in the Second Battle of Ypres in April 1915.
Beginning with a foreshadowing of the Ross Rifle's poor testing at the turn of the century, the book first introduces the reader to the Canadian homefront at the beginning of the war. Mobilisation follows at Valcartier (as well as politicking), and soon enough the Canadians are at the old textile city of Ypres in Belgium. However, the experience-lacking Canadians would experience their baptism of fire and blood here.
Miscommunication between senior officers like generals and brigadiers, relentless assaults by both sides with high casualties, tiresome and malnutrition, and more. This is what the Canadians underwent during the battle for days. The reader learns of such by author's description and by primary sources from different ranks, adding to the chaos of this struggle between the Entente and Germany.
From here, Canada suffered heavy casualties. Yet, they earned acclaim from the British, French, and even Germans at this stand. Canadian officers rose to prominence like Arthur Currie and John McCrae, and the other Canadian divisions that would fight in the Canadian Corps during the war would learn from Ypres. Such lessons would be applied at the Somme, Vimy Ridge, Hill 70, Mt Sorrel, Canal du Nord, and the Hundred Days Offensive. The book ends with John McCrae and his composition of the 'In Flanders Fields' poem.
I truly did learn a lot from this book. For example, I learned that Ypres was Canada's first true action in WW1, as well as the argument that Montréal declined not just due to WW1, but Ypres specifically. I commend Dancocks for his writing this work, but if I had to criticise, I think that his maps could have been designed a tad better. Not to mention that he could have done a little better to fight the 'Lions Led by Donkeys' myth.
In conclusion, Dancocks wrote a good work. I recommend it to all Canadian military history and WW1 learners.
'Welcome to Flanders Fields: The First Canadian Battle of the Great War: Ypres 1915' by Daniel G. Dancocks explores Canada's role in the Second Battle of Ypres in April 1915.
Beginning with a foreshadowing of the Ross Rifle's poor testing at the turn of the century, the book first introduces the reader to the Canadian homefront at the beginning of the war. Mobilisation follows at Valcartier (as well as politicking), and soon enough the Canadians are at the old textile city of Ypres in Belgium. However, the experience-lacking Canadians would experience their baptism of fire and blood here.
Miscommunication between senior officers like generals and brigadiers, relentless assaults by both sides with high casualties, tiresome and malnutrition, and more. This is what the Canadians underwent during the battle for days. The reader learns of such by author's description and by primary sources from different ranks, adding to the chaos of this struggle between the Entente and Germany.
From here, Canada suffered heavy casualties. Yet, they earned acclaim from the British, French, and even Germans at this stand. Canadian officers rose to prominence like Arthur Currie and John McCrae, and the other Canadian divisions that would fight in the Canadian Corps during the war would learn from Ypres. Such lessons would be applied at the Somme, Vimy Ridge, Hill 70, Mt Sorrel, Canal du Nord, and the Hundred Days Offensive. The book ends with John McCrae and his composition of the 'In Flanders Fields' poem.
I truly did learn a lot from this book. For example, I learned that Ypres was Canada's first true action in WW1, as well as the argument that Montréal declined not just due to WW1, but Ypres specifically. I commend Dancocks for his writing this work, but if I had to criticise, I think that his maps could have been designed a tad better. Not to mention that he could have done a little better to fight the 'Lions Led by Donkeys' myth.
In conclusion, Dancocks wrote a good work. I recommend it to all Canadian military history and WW1 learners.
March 24, 2018
Accurately recounts the tragedy of war from a Canadian perspective.
August 28, 2025
This was a very good and balanced account of Canada's experience at Ypres.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews