Building 1068 in Work Point Barracks was built in 1904 by the Royal Engineers as the Detention Barracks for the Royal Garrison Artillery. It remained as such until 1957 when it was utilized for other barracks logistical requirements. It was designated Hill 70 Building in 1977 by the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry in honour of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry who fought in that battle and for which action they received a Battle Honour.
Hill 70 battle was planned and carried out almost entirely by Canadians—a rarity in the First World War where Canadians usually fought as part of a larger British effort. Lieutenant-General Arthur Currie felt that his artillery would have trouble smashing the well-camouflaged German defences at Lens and a direct attempt to send attacking troops into the town would result in terrible casualties. He persuaded his superiors to instead allow the Canadians to first capture the nearby high ground to the north (code-named Hill 70).
Poison gas was widely used, often forcing the men to gasp for air inside their restrictive respirators as they struggled to see the advancing enemy through their fogged-up goggles. Many soldiers had to engage in desperate hand-to-hand combat against the German attackers who managed to reach the Canadian defensive lines. The 100,000-strong Canadian Corps suffered some 9,200 casualties between August 15 and 25, 1917.
