Description
This $20 fine silver coin commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Neuve-Chapelle, the first battle Canadian forces were engaged in during the First World War. The coin weighs just over one ounce of pure silver and has a limited mintage of 10,000 coins. HST/GST exempt.
The Design:
The design presents an 18-pounder field gun manned by three gunners. Behind the gunners a sergeant stands looking through binoculars. In the lower portion of the image, framed by a banner is a winged figure of “Victory” in selective gold plating. On the back of the coin is a selective gold portrait of King George V. The coin weighs just over one ounce of pure silver and has a limited mintage of 10,000 coins. HST/GST exempt.
The Battle of Neuve-Chapelle:
March 10th marks the 100th anniversary of the battle of Neuve-Chapelle, were the Canadian Expeditionary Force saw their first battle in March 1915. Canadian forces were instructed to prevent the Germans from reinforcing the sector of Neuve Chapelle, allowing the British 1st Army to successfully push through German lines and establish a new Allied front line.
Although the British were unable to make use of their advantage due to poor communication, it taught Canadians that artillery bombardment was too light to suppress the enemy trenches; that better artillery observation points were necessary; that reserves were too few to follow up success quickly; and most importantly, that the procedure of transmitting information and sending orders to the advanced troops was slow and difficult, and that the systems of communication were much too vulnerable.
