Canadian soldiers are again atop France's Vimy Ridge, this time preparing for ceremonies marking the momentous battle 90 years ago.

The weekend ceremonies will culminate Easter Monday with the dedication of the newly restored Canadian National Vimy Memorial. The monument is covered with 11,000 engraved names representing Canadian soldiers who died in France during the First World War, but whose bodies were never found.

Canadian soldiers prepare for ceremonies marking the 90th anniversary of the Vimy Ridge battle in France.
(CBC)

"It really was the great war that you never wanted to ever repeat again," said Cpl. Andrew McDonald of the Canadian Forces. "But history tends to repeat itself in that way."

Thousands of visitors, many from Canada, are expected to attend the ceremonies. Prime Minister Stephen Harper will join the Queen, French President Jacques Chirac and many other dignitaries.

As well, 3,600 students are travelling to France to mark the anniversary of the Canadian victory. Each student has spent much of the year researching an individual soldier who fought there.

On Saturday, the body of a Canadian soldier, Pte. Herbert Peterson, will be laid to rest with his comrades-in-arms at La Chaudière Military Cemetery.

Peterson's remains were discovered in 2003 during construction south of Avion, France, in the vicinity of Vimy Ridge. They were later identified using DNA from his descendants.

His niece and nephew, along with hundreds of current Canadian soldiers, will be there for the burial.

"It really made me think back, just wonder why would these guys have to die so young, but yet they were doing it for their country," said Cpl. Tim Bailey.

The attack on Vimy Ridge on April 9, 1917, is seen as a key step in Canada's evolution as a nation, because all four divisions of the Canadian Corps fought together to take a German position that had resisted previous attacks.

In three days of heavy fighting, there were 10,602 Canadian casualties, including 3,598 dead, but the Germans lost control of the ridge and retreated.

Military historian Jack Granatstein said the weekend events prove there is a re-emerging interest in Canada's war history.

"Canadians have decided they want something of their military past to be in the forefront of their minds," he said. "After years of pretending this didn't exist, it's coming back in a major way to Canadians."