Beaumont-Hamel

The Caribou Monument at Beaumont-Hamel in France. This memorial is dedicated to the Royal Newfoundland Regiment who fought bravely at the Battle of the Somme on July 1st, 1916. On that day, the regiment of approx. 700 soldiers suffered 90% casualties. There is a Caribou Monument in St. John's that faces this one in France.                        

Trench warfare was prominent in the First World War.  It was this system that led to a battle of attrition and caused many casualties.  Soldiers would go 'over the top' and storm toward enemy lines, while the artillery would pound the enemy front lines by shooting over top of their own soldiers.  One major problem in this battle was that the shells used by the Newfoundland Regiment weren't heavy enough to damage the barbed wire leading to the German trenches.  As a result, infantry stormed into 'no man's land' and were trapped in barbed-wire.  The German's also had a well-established position and were able to judge distance perfectly with their artillery. 

 The ground at Beaumont-Hamel remains scarred to this day as a result of artillery bombardments.  Undetonated explosives are also present at this site.

This is an overview of what Newfoundland soldiers would have had to face on the morning of July 1st, 1916. The timing and tactics of the battle have been heavily criticized. This site was chosen out of 'convenience' because there was lots of room for British (includes Newfoundland) and French soldiers to fight side by side, which meant greater numbers to overwhelm the Germans. However, it also meant lack of cover, as you can see in the open field. Another controversy has to do with the time of attack. The decision was made to attack at 7am. This meant the Newfoundland Regiment went over the top of their trench, and were faced with the blazing sun directly in their eyes.  There was no cover of darkness with which to surprise the Germans. 

This marker came to be known as the 'danger tree'.  It symbolizes the point of farthest advance by the Newfoundland Regiment.  At the time, it was the only tree in the field which offered any hope for cover.  Tragically for the Newfoundlanders, it also represents the marker that German artillery used to judge the distance of their artillery shells.  Disoriented and unable to advance past the barbed-wire, many Newfoundland soldiers would flee to this, the only point of cover.  As a result, the Germans were able to bombard this area heavily and cause overwhelming casualties to the Newfoundlanders.  The remains of this tree have been preserved in memory of the soldiers who died in this very area. 

Museum honouring soldiers of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment.  Many of the soldiers were under the age of 20 and some lied about being the minimum age of 16.  The death or injury of nearly 600 soldiers had devastating effects on communities in Newfoundland.



After the war, trees were brought from Newfoundland and planted in the battlefield to honour the dead.  On July 1st, Newfoundlanders remember the dead with a ceremony in the morning of this day of tragedy and the second half of the day is reserved for Canada Day celebrations.  The care taken in preserving the memorial at Beaumont-Hamel means that the young men who perished at this site on July 1st, 1916 will never be forgotten.