One Month From Today – #Vimy101

Exactly one month from today, the 101st anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge will be observed across Canada on April 9th, Vimy Ridge Day. To mark this occasion, we will be posting Vimy-related facts, stories and history over the next four weeks. Be sure to follow along and share the posts with the hashtag #Vimy101 as we will also be running contests to win Vimy-themed prize packs!

Andrew George Latta McNaughton in 1912.
Credit: Notman and Son/Library and Archives Canada/PA-034151.

We’re kicking-off our #Vimy101 coverage with #FastFacts on Andrew McNaughton, arguably the Canadian counterpart to Germany’s “Durchbruchmüller” (Breakthroughmüller).

#DYK – A former engineering professor at McGill University, McNaughton improved the artillery concepts of “flash-spotting” and “sound-ranging” in preparation for the Battle of Vimy Ridge. #Vimy101

#DYK – McNaughton’s work later led to his invention of the cathode ray direction finder, an early form of RADAR. He sold the rights of the invention to the Government of Canada for just $1. #Vimy101

A 6-inch naval gun fires at night over the Canadian lines at Vimy Ridge in May 1917. Muzzle flashes such as this were used by McNaughton to develop the method of flash-spotting for locating enemy artillery.
Credit: Canada. Dept. of National Defence/Library and Archives Canada/PA-001879.