Who expressed frustration with Borden regarding the Battle of Passchendaele due to heavy casualties?

• A. Wilfrid Laurier
• B. General Currie
• C. Lemieux
• D. Riley

Answer: (B)

The correct choice is General Currie. He was the commander of the Canadian Corps during World War I and had firsthand experience of the conditions and challenges faced by Canadian soldiers, particularly during the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917. Currie expressed significant frustration with Prime Minister Borden regarding the decision to pursue this costly offensive, which resulted in heavy casualties for the Canadian forces.

His concerns were rooted in the high number of Canadian lives lost and the deteriorating conditions of the battlefield, which he feared were not justifiable given the continued lack of strategic advantage. Currie's perspective was vital since he was directly responsible for the welfare and morale of the troops, and his input highlighted the critical tension between military strategy and political decisions during the war. This key disagreement illustrated the difficulties leaders faced in balancing political objectives with the realities of warfare.