During which battle were Canadians first exposed to chlorine gas warfare?

During the First World War, the Battle of Ypres marked a significant and tragic moment as it was the first large-scale use of chemical weapons, specifically chlorine gas, by Germany in 1915. The battle took place in April of that year and involved Canadian troops, who were among the first to encounter this new and devastating form of warfare.

The use of chlorine gas created a horrific impact on the soldiers, leading to severe injuries and fatalities, and it highlighted the brutal nature of trench warfare. The Canadians’ experiences at Ypres underscored the horror of chemical warfare, which would continue to evolve throughout the war.

Other battles mentioned, such as Vimy Ridge, the Somme, and Passchendaele, occurred later in the war and featured different aspects of combat and technology, but it was at Ypres that Canadian soldiers first faced chlorine gas, making it a pivotal event in Canadian military history. This exposure significantly affected military tactics and the eventual development of protective measures against chemical weapons in subsequent conflicts.