FOUNDERS OF CLARK WILSON AND THE 91st ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF VIMY RIDGE

At the height of the First World War, on Easter Monday, April 9, 1917, in early morning sleet, 49 Battalions of the 100,000 – man Canadian Corps rose along a nine mile line of trenches in Northern France and began to advance against fortified German forces. All four Canadian Divisions moved forward through No Mans Land at a walking pace protected by a well rehearsed creeping barrage of artillery fire. By nightfall, the Germans had suffered a major set back. Four days later, Vimy Ridge, which other Allied Troops had assaulted previously and failed to capture, was firmly in Canadian hands. It was the first time Canadians had fought as a distinct national army, and in many ways it was the coming of age for the young nation of Canada.

The Order of Battle that day included the 72nd (Seaforth Highlanders, Vancouver) Battalion as part of the Twelfth Brigade of the Fourth Canadian Infantry Division. This Battalion of “Vancouver’s finest” was led by two young lawyers, Lt. Col. John Arthur Clark, and his Second-in-Command, A. D. Wilson. Both Arthur Clark and Alexander Wilson were decorated heroes. Arthur Clark was eventually promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and Alexander Wilson to the rank of Brigadier.

Both men survived the war and returned to their respective practices of law in Vancouver and went on to become founding partners in the merged firm of Clark, Wilson, White, Clark & Maguire in 1952.

General Clark, K.C. (as he was known throughout his legal career) went on to further serve his country between the wars as a Member of Parliament representing the Vancouver Burrard constituency for three terms, during which he maintained his busy law practice.

Brigadier Wilson passed away in 1965 and General Clark in 1976.

On the 91st Anniversary of that famous battle, we honour and pay great respect to the role played by the founders of this Firm.