The Canadian Hill 62 (Sanctuary Wood) Memorial is a war memorial that commemorates the actions of the Canadian Corps in defending the southern stretches of the Ypres Salient between April and August 1916 including actions in battle at the St Eloi Craters, Hill 62, Mount Sorrel and Sanctuary Wood. These battles marked the first occasion in which Canadian divisions engaged in planned offensive operations during World War I. In those actions the Canadians reconquered vital high-ground positions that denied the Germans a commanding view of the town of Ypres itself. Historical Background Actions of St Eloi Craters On April 3, 1916, the Canadian Corps, including the newly formed and inexperienced 2nd & 3rd Canadian Divisions was dispatched to a stretch of the front south of Ypres at the St. Eloi Craters. There they found themselves in a wasteland, in places waist-deep in water and mud, with six large mine craters and few trench defenses under the full view of the German forces on higher ground. Three days later, the Germans launched a series of attacks that went on for ten days in miserable rainy weather during which their weak defensive positions, poor understanding of the situation, poor communication and poor leadership led to the Canadians being forced off of several key positions despite several attempts at counter-attack. In 13 days of fighting at St. Eloi some 1,375 Canadians became casualties including some men who were felled by their own artillery fire due to the poor understanding of battlefield. This would prove to be the Canadians only significant, lasting defeat of the war. Battles of Mount Sorrel, Hill 62 & Sanctuary Wood After their withdrawal from the St. Eloi sector, the Canadians were redeployed into frontline trenches about 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) to the northeast, at the opposite end of the same ridgeline. Here, the Allies still held the heights atop Mount Sorrel, Hill 61 and Hill 62. Again, shortly after inheriting their trenches, from June 2 to 6 the Germans mounted an attack aimed to knock the 3rd Division out of their positions on the high ground. In the fiercest bombardment that had been experienced by Canadian troops to that point in the war, entire sections of trench were obliterated and the soldiers defending them annihilated, with many being hopelessly buried alive. As men were literally blown from their positions, the 3rd Division fought desperately until overwhelmed by the ensuring