Milton's War Trophy

Most Canadians, like me, probably thought that the armaments that adorn our local parks, cenotaphs and memorials are Canadian.

While researching the background to our “Milton War Trophy” I asked numerous friends, Legion Comrades and Veterans about our Milton Victoria Park War Trophy. Only one person knew it was of German origin, captured during the Great War (WW1 1914-1919). Specifically, it was captured during the famous period of “Canada’s Hundred Days”, from August 8^th to November 11^th 1918.

This is the incredible story of the capture of that gun by the 3^rd Canadian Infantry Battalion on Friday September 27^th 1918.

A complete report with photographs, maps and capture details is available here:

Report on Milton's War Trophy by Richard Laughton

For more photographs of the war trophy, see the Photobucket site here:

More pictures of Milton’s War Trophy On-Line

Additional information is available at the Milton Historical Society Archives in the Jim Dills Collection.

The Milton War Trophy was captured by the 3^rd Canadian Infantry Battalion, 1^st Brigade, 1^st Canadian Division during “Canada’s Hundred Days” ¹. During this period the Canadian Expeditionary Force advanced through the Hindenburg Line to Cambrai, ending the stalemate of “Trench Warfare”. Specifically the Canadians crossed the Canal du Nord and captured Bourlon Wood, and in doing so captured a German Field Gun #9563, Milton’s War Trophy.