Every so often I'm asked to come up with a thread for this day.
July 1 may be Canada Day to all of Canada, but more significantly in Newfoundland, it's Memorial Day.
100 years ago, July 1, 1916 The Newfoundland Regiment got named to start the Battle of the Somme at Beaumont Hammel.
The attack was a devastating failure. In a single morning, almost 20,000 British troops died, and another 37,000 were wounded. The Newfoundland Regiment had been almost wiped out. When roll call was taken, only 68 men answered their names - 324 were killed, or missing and presumed dead, and 386 were wounded.
This year there have been more programs on air to remind us of how significant that battle was to Newfoundland. A grandfather to several, an uncle to others, a cousin to still more. 100 years is just enough to mean many connections to that comparatively small population.
A day to remember.
Today, July 1 remains an official day of remembrance in Newfoundland and Labrador. Every year, people gather at the National War Memorial in downtown St. John's and at other locations across the province to remember the soldiers who fought at Beaumont Hamel, as well as the many other men and women who have served in other forces and other wars.
http://www.heritage.nf.ca/first-world-war/articles/beaumont-hamel-en.php is a recent revision of this story.
:C
