CANADA HISTORY - War-WWI

Newfoundland

During the First World War, Newfoundland was still a separate entity from Canada, with its strongest ties to Great Britain. As a Dominion of the British Empire, Newfoundland's commitment to support Britain was unwavering when war broke out in August 1914. Though geographically closer to North America, Newfoundland saw itself as deeply connected to the British Isles and the imperial cause. This allegiance to Britain shaped Newfoundland’s approach to the war, as it took swift steps to raise, organize, and train a military force to contribute to the war effort. However, despite its deep historical ties to the British military, Newfoundland faced significant logistical and organizational challenges in mobilizing a fighting force for the first time in decades.

The Royal Newfoundland Regiment, which had a proud history dating back to its formation in 1795, had been disbanded in 1870, leaving Newfoundland without a standing military force for nearly half a century. With the outbreak of war, the task of reestablishing the regiment had to be undertaken from scratch, a formidable challenge for a small, largely rural colony with limited infrastructure. Despite this, Newfoundland’s population of just over 240,000 responded with enthusiasm and patriotism. The young men of Newfoundland came forward as volunteers in large numbers, quickly filling the ranks of a newly formed battalion. Within a short time, the Royal Newfoundland Regiment was raised and prepared to embark on its journey to the battlefields of Europe.

The initial battalion of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment was assembled with remarkable speed, considering the lack of prior military organization. The regiment began with around 500 men, but by the time it had completed its initial training in England, its numbers had grown to more than 1,000. The volunteers were eager, but inexperienced, and upon their arrival in England, the regiment underwent further intensive training on the Salisbury Plain, alongside other units of the British Army. Here, the soldiers were introduced to the rigors of modern warfare, as they learned the discipline and tactics that would be crucial on the battlefields of Europe. This period of training was vital, as it transformed the hastily assembled volunteers into a cohesive fighting force.

The Royal Newfoundland Regiment’s first overseas deployment took them far from the familiar landscapes of the North Atlantic to the distant and alien shores of the Mediterranean. In 1915, the regiment was sent to Egypt as part of the British 29th Division, where they trained and prepared for what would be their first major test: the Gallipoli campaign. The regiment’s participation in the Gallipoli campaign marked Newfoundland’s entry into the global stage of warfare. On September 20, 1915, the Newfoundlanders landed at Suvla Bay, joining British, Australian, and New Zealand forces in the ill-fated attempt to capture the Gallipoli Peninsula from the Ottoman Turks. This made the Royal Newfoundland Regiment the only North American unit to serve in the Gallipoli campaign.

The Gallipoli campaign was a grueling and tragic chapter in the war, with Allied forces suffering heavy casualties in their efforts to break through the Ottoman defenses. The Newfoundlanders, alongside their Commonwealth counterparts, endured the harsh conditions of the Gallipoli peninsula—extreme heat, disease, and the relentless fire of the entrenched Turkish forces. The regiment earned its nickname, "The Blue Puttees," during this campaign, due to a wartime shortage of the standard olive-drab puttees (a type of leg-wrapping). Instead, the Newfoundlanders wore blue puttees, a distinctive mark that set them apart from other units. Despite their determination and courage, the Gallipoli campaign was ultimately a failure, and in January 1916, the Allied forces, including the Newfoundland Regiment, were withdrawn after months of grueling combat.

After the retreat from Gallipoli, the Royal Newfoundland Regiment was transferred to France, where they were to face an even more challenging theater of war: the Western Front. By April 1916, the Newfoundlanders were deployed to the Somme sector, where they prepared for what would become one of the most infamous battles of the First World War, the Battle of the Somme. This battle, aimed at breaking the deadlock of trench warfare, was one of the largest and bloodiest battles of the entire war, and for the Newfoundland Regiment, it would be their most tragic and defining moment.

The objective of the Newfoundland Regiment, as part of the 29th British Division, was the village of Beaumont-Hamel, located on the northern edge of the Somme battlefield. The village was heavily fortified by the Germans and defended by the 26th Württemberg Division, an experienced and battle-hardened unit. The Newfoundlanders’ role in the attack was to capture the German lines near Beaumont-Hamel and drive the enemy out of their fortified positions. As they prepared for the attack, the soldiers were filled with a mix of anticipation and anxiety, knowing the scale of the offensive that was about to unfold.

At 7:30 AM on July 1, 1916, the Battle of the Somme began with the detonation of a massive mine beneath the German lines, as British engineers ignited 18,000 kilograms of explosives under the enemy trenches. The explosion created a tremendous crater and signaled the start of the assault. However, the blast, while spectacular, also served to alert the Germans to the impending attack. The defenders quickly regrouped and manned their positions, setting up a deadly crossfire of machine guns and artillery aimed at the advancing British troops.

The Newfoundland Regiment, along with the 1st Battalion of the Essex Regiment, had been held in reserve, waiting for their turn to join the battle. At 8:45 AM, a miscommunication occurred when a German flare was mistaken for the signal to advance. The Newfoundlanders left their trenches on St. John’s Road and began their assault across No Man’s Land. As they climbed over the crest of the battlefield, they were fully exposed to the withering fire of the German machine guns. The open ground offered little cover, and within minutes, the regiment was decimated. The advance turned into a slaughter, as the Newfoundlanders were cut down in waves by the entrenched German defenders.

In the space of just 15 minutes, the Royal Newfoundland Regiment was nearly wiped out. Of the 780 men who began the attack, only 110 remained unscathed. Every officer who led the charge was either killed or wounded, and only 68 soldiers answered the roll call the following day. The devastating loss at Beaumont-Hamel left a deep scar on Newfoundland, and the memory of that day would remain etched in the national consciousness for generations to come. The Newfoundland Regiment had been virtually destroyed, but their sacrifice became a symbol of the island’s commitment to the war effort and the courage of its people.

After the catastrophe at Beaumont-Hamel, the Newfoundland Regiment was withdrawn from the front lines to be rebuilt. Reinforcements were brought in, and the regiment slowly recovered its strength. Despite the overwhelming losses, the Newfoundlanders continued to serve with distinction throughout the remainder of the war. In the fall of 1916, the regiment returned to the Somme front, participating in the battle at Gueudecourt, where they played a key role in securing Allied positions. They later fought in the Battle of Arras in 1917, where they once again suffered heavy casualties but managed to hold the line against German forces.

The Newfoundland Regiment continued to fight in some of the most critical battles of the First World War, including the defense of Cambrai in November 1917 and the battles of Bailleul and Ypres in 1918. In the final months of the war, the regiment took part in the Hundred Days Offensive, the Allied push that eventually forced the Germans into retreat and brought an end to the conflict. By the war’s end, the Royal Newfoundland Regiment had earned a reputation for bravery and resilience, having participated in some of the most grueling and significant battles of the war.

The Battle of Beaumont-Hamel remained the key event in the history of Newfoundland’s participation in the war. The scale of the loss on July 1, 1916, deeply affected the people of Newfoundland, and the date became a day of remembrance for the island. Long before Newfoundland joined Canada in 1949, July 1st was marked as Memorial Day in Newfoundland, a solemn occasion to honor the men who had fallen at Beaumont-Hamel and throughout the war. After Newfoundland’s entry into Confederation, the day was shared with Canada Day, but in Newfoundland, the memory of Beaumont-Hamel remains central to the commemoration of that day.

The story of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment in the First World War is one of extraordinary sacrifice and courage. Despite the staggering losses they endured, the regiment continued to fight with determination and honor, contributing to the Allied victory and leaving a lasting legacy in the history of Newfoundland. Their participation in the war helped to forge a stronger sense of identity for the island, and their sacrifices on the battlefields of Gallipoli, the Somme, and elsewhere are remembered as a testament to Newfoundland’s commitment to the cause of freedom. The battle of Beaumont-Hamel, in particular, stands as a symbol of the heavy price paid by this small but proud Dominion in the global conflict that reshaped the 20th century.