Today is Canada Day. Woo hoo!Today is also the 97th anniversary of the Battle of Beaumont-Hamel which was fought on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. Beaumont-Hamel is an important piece of history for the Province of Newfoundland & Labrador. In 1916, Newfoundland was officially the Dominion of Newfoundland, and while no longer a British colony its ties to the Commonwealth and to the Crown were strong and contributed greatly to the First World War. Beaumont Hamel was the Royal Newfoundland Regiment's first major battle. Under the direction of British officers the RNR were the first troops over the top at Beaumont Hamel when it was believed that a prior attack had breached the German lines. The lines were not breached and when the RNR went over the top they were the only attacking troops on the field of battle and faced the full force of the German defensive positions. 22 Regimental Officers and 758 other men went over the top. The following mornings roll call had 0 RNR officers and 68 men in line. Only one other British regiment faced greater losses than the RNR.
For the men who served in the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, for all Canadian Armed Forces members, past and present, I want to thank you for your service and on Canada's 146th birthday I want to wish you a ...
HAPPY CANADA DAY!!!!
