The Battle of Vimy Ridge opened in the early morn of Easter Monday, April 9, 1917. At first it was all clear gain for the Canadians. But, at last, toward the evening, word kept coming back that the Canadian advance was being held up, that Hill 145 remained untaken, that it was a “nasty critical situation,” because the enfilading of the Huns would destroy attacking troops totally, and that if Hill 145 were not somehow taken, the engagement would fail. Where were there fresh troops who could be sent in to take Hill 145? It is understood that Colonel Hilliam, commanding the 25th Battalion, Nova Scotia’s invincible “Shock Troops,” recommended that the 85th Battalion be selected for the feat. He assured Brigadier Odlum that even if they were “green troops” they would be steady under fire. The die was cast. Orders came from headquarters that two Companies of the 85th were to go into the line at sundown and assault Hill 145. Lieut.-Col. Borden, Commanding Officer, selected “C” and “D” Companies, and placed Capt. Percival W. Anderson in command, with Capt. Harvey E. Crowell in command of “C” Company. [Illustration: LIEUT.-COL. E. C. PHINNEY.] At zero hour “C” Company went over the top, followed immediately by “D” Company, but, for good reasons, without the usual barrage. The 85th had _dared_. The question now was on the part of the Units that had been held up, Would the 85th also _DO_? From the moment the Companies went over the top, they proceeded on to their objective, the crest of Hill 145, with the precision and steadiness of inured troops. There is no necessity to describe the assault in detail. But when the Huns first saw the 85th Companies going over the top, they were amazed. As the Companies proceeded forward, steady and indomitable in spite of the gun fire and the hail of bullets from concealed nests of machine guns, the while themselves wreaking destruction on the Bosche, the Germans became alarmed. And when the 85th Companies still kept on, in the same spirit, and with the same effectiveness, the Huns became disconcerted, and at last ignominiously turned and “beat it,” leaving Hill 145—the Huns’ “pivotal strategic stronghold”—in possession of the 85th Companies and the Canadian Corps. The clearing up of the Ridge and the advance of the 85th Companies to the Lens-Arras Road need not detain us. On the morning of April 14, 1917, the Battalion was relieved by the Royal Sussex, and marched back to rest quarters at Bouvigny Huts.