Duration: 57 minutes, 30 seconds ($12.00)   • Order DVD
First Released: 1998 • Read Script (PDF)

The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1998 marked the 80th anniversary of the armistice that ended the bloodiest war in recent history.

The War Amps produced a special documentary entitled In Flanders Fields to commemorate the occasion. It tells of the sacrifices of Ypres, the Somme, Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele.

The producer – Cliff Chadderton – realized that it would be necessary to "package" this production by telling some of the more interesting facets of the 1914-1918 war. For instance:

• Three grandsons of Queen Victoria were involved - King George of Britain and Czar Nicholas of Russia on our side, and Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany.
• The spark that ignited the confrontation was the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria. Few may know, however, that the Adriatic seaport of Montenegro was the original "prize."
• The domino effect was prominent because of the alliances. The Austro-Hungarian Empire attacked Serbia, Serbia was protected by Russia, Russia had a pact with France. Britain came in to protect the neutrality of Belgium.

 

The documentary tells the intricate story with easy-to-follow maps and closes with a heart-rending reading of In Flanders Fields, the timeless poem written by Canadian John McCrae.

• Best of Canada & Gold Awards - 1999 Astrid Awards (New York)
• Gold Camera Award - 1999 U.S. International Film & Video Festival (Chicago)
• Gold Award - 1999 Worldfest-Houston (Texas)
• Gold Award - 1999 Worldfest-Flagstaff (Arizona)
• Gold Award - 2000 International CINDY Competition (California)
• Silver Award - 1999 Mercury Awards (New York)