One of [our?] planes shot down.
AT 5:20 am our artillery open up their barrage – also M. Gun Coy. There’s a regular hell on earth, truly a grand sight – for us! The semi-darkness is lit up by bursting shells, making sprays of red light.
Our barrage lasts for 1 hr 20 minutes. 4th Div. held up temporarily by wire. All the Rgts. reach their objective & VIMY RIDGE IS OURS. ‘Tis surprising how near one can be to shells when they burst for two burst almost @ my feet.
I go up after & make a panorama sketch for the General. Lt. Bole is killed.
*The Canadians advanced behind a “creeping barrage.” This precise line of intense artillery fire advanced at a set rate and was timed to the minute. The Canadian infantrymen followed the line of explosions closely. This allowed them to capture German positions in the critical moments after the explosions but before the enemy soldiers emerged from the safety of their underground bunkers. (http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/first-world-war/fact_sheets/vimy)
