Second Battle of Passchendaele - 9 VCs Awarded
This film might have been better if one of the secondary characters had been based upon one of the actual soldiers that was awarded a VC for service at Passchendaele.
Instead of the Pvt. David Mann character that runs into the German trench and ends up tangled up on a cross. I am familiar with the story of the crucified soldier and I assume Paul Gross is trying to suggest that this is how it could have happened. But that's beside the point. The crucified soldier happened 2 years earlier (assuming it happened at all) and really has nothing to do with this battle.
They film could have focused on this soldier:
http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/gal/vcg-gcv/bio/holmes-tw-eng.asp
Thomas William Holmes
Thomas William Holmes was born in Montreal, Quebec on 17 August 1897 and at an early age moved with his family to Owen Sound, Ontario. During the First World War he served with the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles, Canadian Expeditionary Force. On 26 October 1917 the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles was taking part in the opening assault by the Canadian Corps on German defences near Passchendaele in Belgium. Heavy machine gun and rifle fire from a German “pillbox” fortification had stopped the advance by the Canadians on the right flank, and had inflicted many casualties. Alone and on his own initiative, Private Holmes ran forward and with two grenades killed and wounded the crews of two of the enemy machine guns. Returning for another grenade, he again attacked the pillbox alone and under heavy fire. Holmes threw his grenade into the entrance of the pillbox and compelled the surrender of its nineteen occupants, in so doing clearing the way for the advance to resume. For his conduct in this action Private Holmes received the Victoria Cross.
Holmes died in Toronto, Ontario on 4 January 1950.
Citation
“For most conspicuous bravery and resource when the right flank of our attack was held up by heavy machine-gun and rifle fire from a ‘pill-box’ strong point. Heavy casualties were producing a critical situation when Pte. Holmes, on his own initiative and single-handed, ran forward and threw two bombs, killing and wounding the crews of two machine guns. He then returned to his comrades, secured another bomb, and again rushed forward alone under heavy fire and threw the bomb into the entrance of the ‘pill-box,’ causing the nineteen occupants to surrender.
By this act of valour at a very critical moment Pte. Holmes undoubtedly cleared the way for the advance of our troops and saved the lives of many of his comrades.”
(London Gazette, no.30471, 11 January 1918)
It was during the investiture at Buckingham Palace that Holmes admitted to King George V that he had lied about his age and joined the army at age 17.
There are 8 other biographies you can read about on wikipedia.
The film could have shown how the soldiers would attack by following a rolling barrage of artillery.
The film could have focused on how the battle-plan had 3 stages and lasted from 26 October – 10 November 1917.
I thought the battlefield looked very realistic, and there are some good things about this film, but I think it should have focused a lot more on the battle itself.