The Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial is a memorial site in
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...
dedicated to the commemoration of
Dominion of Newfoundland forces members who were killed during
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
. The preserved battlefield park encompasses the grounds over which the
Newfoundland Regiment
The Royal Newfoundland Regiment (R NFLD R) is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. It is part of the 5th Canadian Division's 37 Canadian Brigade Group.
Predecessor units trace their origins to 1795, and since 1949 Royal New ...
made their unsuccessful attack on 1 July 1916 during the
first day of the
Battle of the Somme.
The Battle of the Somme was the regiment's first major engagement, and during an assault that lasted approximately 30 minutes the regiment was all but wiped out. Purchased in 1921 by the people of Newfoundland, the memorial site is the largest battalion memorial on the
Western Front, and the largest area of the Somme battlefield that has been preserved. Along with preserved trench lines, there are a number of memorials and cemeteries contained within the site.
Officially opened by British
Field Marshal Earl Haig
Earl Haig is a title in the peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1919 for Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig. During the First World War, he served as commander of the British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front in France and Bel ...
in 1925, the memorial site is one of only two
National Historic Sites of Canada located outside
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
; the other is the
Canadian National Vimy Memorial
The Canadian National Vimy Memorial is a war memorial site in France dedicated to the memory of Canadian Expeditionary Force members killed during the First World War. It also serves as the place of commemoration for Canadian soldiers of the Fir ...
. Both sites are administered by the
Veterans Affairs Canada
Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC; french: Anciens Combattants Canada) is the department within the Government of Canada with responsibility for pensions, benefits and services for war veterans, retired and still-serving members of the Canadian Arme ...
. The memorial site and experience of the Newfoundland Regiment at Beaumont-Hamel has come to represent the Newfoundland First World War experience. As a result, it has become a Newfoundland symbol of sacrifice and a source of identity.
Background
During the First World War, Newfoundland was a largely rural
Dominion
The term ''Dominion'' is used to refer to one of several self-governing nations of the British Empire.
"Dominion status" was first accorded to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland, South Africa, and the Irish Free State at the 192 ...
of the
British Empire
The British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts e ...
with a population of 240,000, and not yet part of
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
.
Hopkins
Hopkins is an English, Welsh and Irish patronymic surname. The English name means "son of Hob". ''Hob'' was a diminutive of ''Robert'', itself deriving from the Germanic warrior name ''Hrod-berht'', translated as "renowned-fame". The Robert spell ...
pp. 153–156 The outbreak of the First World War in 1914 led the Government of Newfoundland to recruit a force for service with the
British Army
The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...
.
Nicholson
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* Nicholson, Queensland
* Nicholson County, New South Wales
* Nicholson River (disambiguation)
* Nicholson ...
p. 98 Even though the island had not possessed any formal military organization since 1870, enough men soon volunteered that an entire battalion was formed, and later maintained throughout the war.
Nicholson
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* Nicholson, Queensland
* Nicholson County, New South Wales
* Nicholson River (disambiguation)
* Nicholson ...
p. 88 The regiment trained at various locations in the United Kingdom and increased from an initial contingent of 500 men to full battalion strength of 1,000 men, before being deployed.
Nicholson
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* Nicholson, Queensland
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* Nicholson River (disambiguation)
* Nicholson ...
pp. 121–154 After a period of acclimatization in
Egypt
Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Medit ...
, the regiment was deployed at
Suvla Bay on the
Gallipoli peninsula
The Gallipoli peninsula (; tr, Gelibolu Yarımadası; grc, Χερσόνησος της Καλλίπολης, ) is located in the southern part of East Thrace, the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanell ...
with the
29th British Division in support of the
Gallipoli Campaign.
Nicholson
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pp. 155–192 With the close of the Gallipoli Campaign the regiment spent a short period recuperating before being transferred to the
Western Front in March 1916.
Nicholson
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* Nicholson ...
p. 480
Battle of the Somme
![Hawthorn Ridge Redoubt mine (1 July 1916) 1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a5/Hawthorn_Ridge_Redoubt_mine_%281_July_1916%29_1.jpg)
In France, the regiment regained battalion strength in preparation for the
Battle of the Somme. The regiment, still with the 29th British Division, went into the line in April 1916 at
Beaumont-Hamel
Beaumont-Hamel () is a commune in the Somme department in Hauts-de-France in northern France.
During the First World War, Beaumont-Hamel was close to the front line, near many attacks, especially during the Battle of the Somme, one of the larg ...
.
Nicholson
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* Nicholson ...
pp. 239–242 Beaumont-Hamel was situated near the northern end of the 45-kilometre front being assaulted by the joint French and British force. The attack, originally scheduled for 29 June 1916 was postponed by two days to July 1, 1916, partly on account of inclement weather, partly to allow more time for the artillery preparation.
Nicholson
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* Nicholson ...
pp. 253, 261 The 29th British Division, with its three infantry brigades faced defences manned by experienced troops of the 119th (Reserve) Infantry Regiment of the
26th (Wurttemberg) Reserve Division.
Nicholson
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* Nicholson ...
p. 243 The 119th (Reserve) Infantry Regiment had been involved in the invasion of France in August 1914 and had been manning the Beaumont-Hamel section of the line for nearly 20 months prior to the battle.
The German troops were spending a great deal of their time not only training but fortifying their position, including the construction of numerous deep dugouts and at least two tunnels.
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* Sheldon, Queensland
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United Kingdom
*Sheldon, Derbyshire, England
*Sheldon, Devon, England
* ...
p. 66
The infantry assault by the 29th British Division on 1 July 1916 was to be preceded ten minutes earlier by a mine explosion under the heavily fortified
Hawthorn Ridge Redoubt
Hawthorn Ridge Redoubt was a German field fortification, west of the village of Beaumont Hamel on the Somme. The redoubt was built after the end of the Battle of Albert (25–29 September 1914) and as French and later British attacks on the W ...
.
[ Rose & Nathanail p. 404] The explosion of the 18,000 kilogram (40,000 lb) Hawthorn Mine underneath the German lines successfully destroyed a major enemy strong point but also served to alert the German forces to the imminent attack.
[ Rose & Nathanail pp. 404–405] Following the explosion, troops of the 119th (Reserve) Infantry Regiment immediately deployed from their dugouts into the firing line, even preventing the British from taking control of the resulting crater as they had planned. When the assault finally began, the troops from the 86th and 87th Brigade of the 29th British Division were quickly stopped. With the exception of the 1st Battalion of the
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers was an Irish line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 until 1968. The regiment was formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 27th (Inniskilling) Regiment of Foot and the 108th Regiment o ...
on the right flank, the initial assault foundered in
No Man's Land at, or short of, the German
barbed wire.
Nicholson
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* Nicholson, Victoria
* Nicholson, Queensland
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* Nicholson River (disambiguation)
* Nicholson ...
p. 266 At divisional headquarters, Major-General
Beauvoir De Lisle
General Sir Henry de Beauvoir De Lisle (27 July 1864 – 16 July 1955), known as Beauvoir De Lisle, was a British Army officer and sportsman. He served in both the Second Boer War and the First World War.
Military career
Born in Guernsey and edu ...
and his staff were trying to unravel the numerous and confusing messages coming back from observation posts, contact aircraft and the two leading brigades. There were indications that some troops had broken into and gone beyond the German first line. In an effort to exploit the perceived break in the German line he ordered the 88th Brigade, which was in reserve, to send forward two battalions to support attack.
Nicholson
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* Nicholson River (disambiguation)
* Nicholson ...
p. 268
![Newfoundland soldiers 1916](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/Newfoundland_soldiers_1916.jpg)
At 8:45 a.m. the Newfoundland Regiment and 1st Battalion of the
Essex Regiment
The Essex Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 to 1958. The regiment served in many conflicts such as the Second Boer War and both World War I and World War II, serving with distinction in all three. ...
received orders to move forward.
The Newfoundland Regiment was situated at St. John's Road, a support trench behind the British forward line and out of sight of the enemy.
Nicholson
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* Nicholson River (disambiguation)
* Nicholson ...
p. 270 Movement forward through the communication trenches was not possible because they were congested with dead and wounded men and under shell fire.
Nicholson
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* Nicholson River (disambiguation)
* Nicholson ...
p. 271 Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Lovell Hadow, the battalion commander, decided to move immediately into attack formation and advance across the surface, which involved first navigating through the British barbed wire defences.
As they breasted the skyline behind the British first line, they were effectively the only troops moving on the battlefield and clearly visible to the German defenders.
Subjected to the full force of the 119th (Reserve) Infantry Regiment, most of the Newfoundland Regiment who had started forward were dead, dying or wounded within 15 to 20 minutes of leaving St. John's Road trench.
Nicholson
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* Nicholson County, New South Wales
* Nicholson River (disambiguation)
* Nicholson ...
pp. 270, 273 Most reached no further than the
Danger Tree, a skeleton of a tree that lay in No Man's Land that was being utilized as a landmark.
Nicholson
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* Nicholson ...
p. 274 So far as can be ascertained, 22 officers and 758 other ranks were directly involved in the advance.
Of these, all the officers and slightly under 658 other ranks became casualties.
Of the 780 men who went forward only about 110 survived unscathed, of whom only 68 were available for roll call the following day.
For all intents and purposes the Newfoundland Regiment had been wiped out, the unit as a whole having suffered a casualty rate of approximately 80%. The only unit to suffer greater casualties during the attack was the 10th Battalion of the
West Yorkshire Regiment
)
, march = ''Ça Ira''
, battles = Namur FontenoyFalkirk Culloden Brandywine
, anniversaries = Imphal (22 June)
The West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) (14th Foot) wa ...
, attacking west of
Fricourt
Fricourt () is a commune in the Somme department in Hauts-de-France in northern France.
Geography
Fricourt is situated on the D147 and D64 junction, some northeast of Amiens.
History
Fricourt is about a kilometre from Mametz. It was close to ...
village.
[ Farr p. 88]
The rest of the war
After July 1916, the Beaumont-Hamel front remained relatively quiet while the Battle of the Somme continued to the south. In the final act in the Somme Offensive, Beaumont-Hamel was assaulted by the
51st (Highland) Division
The 51st (Highland) Division was an infantry division of the British Army that fought on the Western Front in France during the First World War from 1915 to 1918. The division was raised in 1908, upon the creation of the Territorial Force, as ...
on 13 November 1916 on the opening of the
Battle of the Ancre
The Battle of the Ancre was fought by the British Fifth Army ( Lieutenant-General Hubert Gough), against the German 1st Army (General Fritz von Below). The Reserve Army had been renamed the Fifth Army on 30 October. The battle was the la ...
.
[ Gilbert p. 235] Within two days, all the 29th Division objectives of 1 July had been taken along with a great many German prisoners.
[ Gilbert pp. 235–238] The area of the memorial site then became a rear area with troops lodged in the former German dugouts and a camp was established in the vicinity of the present Y Ravine Cemetery.
With the German withdrawal in March 1917 to the
Hindenburg Line
The Hindenburg Line (German: , Siegfried Position) was a German defensive position built during the winter of 1916–1917 on the Western Front during the First World War. The line ran from Arras to Laffaux, near Soissons on the Aisne. In 1916 ...
, about 30 kilometres from Beaumont-Hamel, the battlefield salvage parties moved in, many dugouts were closed off and initial efforts were probably made to restore some of the land to agriculture.
However, in March 1918, the
German spring offensive was here checked on exactly the same battle lines as before.
[ Gilbert pp. 252–253] Until the
Battle of Amiens and the German withdrawal in late August 1918, the protagonists confronted each other over the same ground, although the only actions were those of routine front line
trench raids, patrols and artillery harassment.
[ Gilbert p. 254]
History
In 1921, Newfoundland purchased the ground over which the Newfoundland Regiment made its unsuccessful attack during the first day of the Battle of the Somme.
Nicholson
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* Nicholson River (disambiguation)
* Nicholson ...
p. 282 Much of the credit for the establishment of the memorial site is given to Lieutenant Colonel Tom Nangle, the former Roman Catholic Priest of the regiment.
Nicholson
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* Nicholson, Victoria
* Nicholson, Queensland
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* Nicholson River (disambiguation)
* Nicholson ...
p. 518 As Director of Graves Registration and Enquiry and Newfoundland's representative on the
Imperial War Graves Commission
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) is an intergovernmental organisation of six independent member states whose principal function is to mark, record and maintain the graves and places of commemoration of Commonwealth of Nations mil ...
he negotiated with some 250 French landowners for the purchase of the site.
He also played a leading role in selecting and developing the sites where the Newfoundland memorials currently stand, as well as supervising the construction of each memorial.
The memorials, including that at the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial site, were constructed for the Government of Newfoundland between 1924 and 1925.
The Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial site was officially opened, and the memorial unveiled, by
Field Marshal Earl Haig
Earl Haig is a title in the peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1919 for Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig. During the First World War, he served as commander of the British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front in France and Bel ...
on 7 June 1925.
Since Newfoundland's confederation with Canada in 1949, the Canadian Government, through the
Department of Veterans Affairs
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a Cabinet-level executive branch department of the federal government charged with providing life-long healthcare services to eligible military veterans at the 170 VA medical centers an ...
, has been responsible for the site's maintenance and care.
Nicholson
Nicholson may refer to:
People
*Nicholson (name), a surname, and a list of people with the name
Places Australia
* Nicholson, Victoria
* Nicholson, Queensland
* Nicholson County, New South Wales
* Nicholson River (disambiguation)
* Nicholson ...
p. 533 The site had fallen into some disrepair during the German occupation of France in the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...
and following confederation the replacement of the original site cabin with a modern building as well as some trench restoration work was undertaken in time for the 45th anniversary of the battle.
The memorial site was established as one of only two
National Historic Sites of Canada located outside of Canada by the then
Minister of Canadian Heritage
The minister of Canadian heritage (french: ministre du patrimoine canadien) is the minister of the Crown who heads Canadian Heritage, the department of the Government of Canada responsible for culture, media, sports, and the arts.
History
The ...
Sheila Copps
Sheila Maureen Copps (born November 27, 1952) is a former Canadian politician who also served as the sixth deputy prime minister of Canada from November 4, 1993, to April 30, 1996, and June 19, 1996, to June 11, 1997. Her father, Victor Copps, ...
on 10 April 1997.
The site
![Beaumont Hamel2004](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/af/Beaumont_Hamel2004.jpg)
The Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial site is situated north of
Albert
Albert may refer to:
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* Albert Productions, a record label
* Alber ...
,
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...
near the village of
Beaumont-Hamel
Beaumont-Hamel () is a commune in the Somme department in Hauts-de-France in northern France.
During the First World War, Beaumont-Hamel was close to the front line, near many attacks, especially during the Battle of the Somme, one of the larg ...
in an area containing numerous cemeteries and memorials related to the
Battle of the Somme.
The site is one of the few places on the former
Western Front where a visitor can see the trench lines and
no-man's land of the First World War and the related terrain in a preserved natural state.
[ Rose & Nathanail p. 216][ Lloyd p. 120] It is the largest site dedicated to the memory of the Newfoundland Regiment, the largest battalion memorial on the Western Front, and the largest area of the Somme battlefield that has been preserved.
Although the site was founded to honour the memory of the Newfoundland Regiment, it also contains a number of memorials as well as four cemeteries maintained by the
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) is an intergovernmental organisation of six independent member states whose principal function is to mark, record and maintain the graves and places of commemoration of Commonwealth of Nations m ...
; that of
Y Ravine Cemetery,
Hawthorn Ridge Cemeteries No. 1 and No. 2 and the unusual mass burial site of
Hunter's Cemetery.
Beyond being a popular location for battlefield tours the site is also an important location in the burgeoning field of First World War
battlefield archaeology
Battlefield archaeology is a sub-discipline of archaeology which studies the material remains and topography of a battlefield to understand a conflict. Archaeological battlefields consist of skirmishes, sieges, camps, and training sites. The study ...
, because of its preserved and largely undisturbed state.
Saunders
Saunders is a surname of English and Scottish patronymic origin derived from Sander, a mediaeval form of Alexander.See also: Sander (name)
People
* Ab Saunders (1851–1883), American cowboy and gunman
* Al Saunders (born 1947), American foot ...
pp. 101–108[ Dolamore pp. 12–17] The ever-increasing number of visitors to the Memorial has resulted in the authorities taking measures to control access by fencing off certain areas of the former battlefield.
[ Gough p. 699]
29th Division Memorial
Near the entrance to site is situated a memorial to the
29th British Division, the division of which the Newfoundland Regiment was a part. Lieutenant-General
Beauvoir De Lisle
General Sir Henry de Beauvoir De Lisle (27 July 1864 – 16 July 1955), known as Beauvoir De Lisle, was a British Army officer and sportsman. He served in both the Second Boer War and the First World War.
Military career
Born in Guernsey and edu ...
, wartime commander of the 29th British Division, unveiled the monument the morning of the official opening of the site on 7 June 1925.
Each wartime unit of the 29th British Division sent a representative to form a guard of honour for the occasion.
Afterwards, this detachment, joined by French infantry from Arras formed the honour guard for the unveiling of the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial.
Newfoundland Regiment Memorial
![Sculptor Basil Gotto With His Caribou Statue ca1921](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e5/Sculptor_Basil_Gotto_With_His_Caribou_Statue_ca1921.jpg)
The memorial is one of seven identical memorials erected following the First World War. Six were erected in France, Belgium, and at
Bowring Park in
St. John's, Newfoundland
St. John's is the capital and largest city of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland.
The city spans and is the easternmost city in North America ...
; the seventh was erected in Turkey.
[ Busch p. 151] The sixth memorial was not a national war memorial but rather a gift of Major William Howe Greene who donated it to Bowring Park. The memorial is a bronze
caribou, the emblem of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, standing atop a cairn of Newfoundland granite facing the former foe with head thrown high in defiance. At the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial site the mound rises approximately from ground level.
Nicholson
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* Nicholson, Queensland
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* Nicholson River (disambiguation)
* Nicholson ...
p. 517 The mounds are also surrounded by native Newfoundland plants. At the base of the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial mound, three bronze tablets carry the names of 820 members of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, the
Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve
The Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve was a military reserve force founded in 1900 in what was then the Newfoundland Colony, a part of the British Empire. From 1900 to 1902, approximately 50 members of the reserve trained each winter with the North ...
, and the Mercantile Marines who gave their lives in the First World War and have no known grave.
The memorial is situated close to the headquarters dugout of the 88th Brigade, the brigade of which the Newfoundland Regiment was a part. Sixteen memorial designs were submitted to Nangle for review. He recommended that the government accept British sculptor
Basil Gotto
Basil (, ; ''Ocimum basilicum'' , also called great basil, is a culinary herb of the family Lamiaceae (mints). It is a tender plant, and is used in cuisines worldwide. In Western cuisine, the generic term "basil" refers to the variety also kn ...
’s plan to erect five identical caribou statues in memory of the regiment.
Nicholson
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People
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Places Australia
* Nicholson, Victoria
* Nicholson, Queensland
* Nicholson County, New South Wales
* Nicholson River (disambiguation)
* Nicholson ...
p. 516 Gotto was already well known in Newfoundland as he had been previously commissioned to execute the statue of the ''Fighting Newfoundlander'' located in Bowring Park.
The landscape architect who designed the sites and supervised their construction, was Rudolph Cochius, a native of the
Netherlands
)
, anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands
, established_title = Before independence
, established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
living in St. John's.
It was decided to plant many of Newfoundland's native tree species, such as
spruce,
dogberry and
juniper, along the boundaries of the site.
In total, over 5,000 trees were transplanted before the project was completed in 1925.
The memorial was unveiled at the official opening of the site by
Field Marshal Earl Haig
Earl Haig is a title in the peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1919 for Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig. During the First World War, he served as commander of the British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front in France and Bel ...
on 7 June 1925.
Those that participated or were present included Chief of the French General Staff, Marshal of France
Marie Émile Fayolle
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, Newfoundland Colonial Secretary John Bennett,
Lieutenant Generals
A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations.
The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often sub ...
Aylmer Hunter-Weston
Lieutenant General Sir Aylmer Gould Hunter-Weston (23 September 1864 – 18 March 1940) was a British Army officer who served in World War I at Gallipoli in 1915 and in the very early stages of the Somme Offensive in 1916. He was also a Scottis ...
and
Beauvoir De Lisle
General Sir Henry de Beauvoir De Lisle (27 July 1864 – 16 July 1955), known as Beauvoir De Lisle, was a British Army officer and sportsman. He served in both the Second Boer War and the First World War.
Military career
Born in Guernsey and edu ...
,
Major-General
Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...
D. E. Cayley and former regimental commanding officers
Lieutenant-Colonel
Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colo ...
Arthur Lovell and Adolph Ernest Bernard.
51st Division Monument
Overlooking Y Ravine is the memorial to
51st (Highland) Division
The 51st (Highland) Division was an infantry division of the British Army that fought on the Western Front in France during the First World War from 1915 to 1918. The division was raised in 1908, upon the creation of the Territorial Force, as ...
. The ground originally donated by the commune of
Beaumont-Hamel
Beaumont-Hamel () is a commune in the Somme department in Hauts-de-France in northern France.
During the First World War, Beaumont-Hamel was close to the front line, near many attacks, especially during the Battle of the Somme, one of the larg ...
to the Veterans of the 51st Division was found to be unstable because of the many dugouts beneath it.
Lieutenant Colonel Nangle offered a location overlooking Y Ravine within the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial site.
The Y ravine had been the scene of fierce fighting for the division on 13 November 1916.
The selected sculptor for the 51st Division Monument was
George Henry Paulin
George Henry Paulin (14 August 1888–1962), often called Harry Paulin, or 'GHP' (his sculpting insignia) was a Scottish sculptor and artist of great note in the early 20th century.
Life
Born in 1888 in the manse at Muckhart, Clackmannansh ...
.
Dolman
The somewhat vaguely defined term dolman (from Turkish ''dolaman'' "robe" ) can refer to various types of clothing, all of which have sleeves and cover the top part of the body, and sometimes more. Originally, the term ''dolaman'' referred to ...
p. 532 The base of the monument consists of rough blocks of
Rubislaw granite which were produced by Garden & Co. in
Aberdeen
Aberdeen (; sco, Aiberdeen ; gd, Obar Dheathain ; la, Aberdonia) is a city in North East Scotland, and is the third most populous city in the country. Aberdeen is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas (as Aberdeen City), and ...
,
Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a Anglo-Scottish border, border with England to the southeast ...
, and are assembled in a pyramid form.
Company Sergeant Major Bob Rowan of the
Glasgow Highlanders
The Glasgow Highlanders was a former infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Territorial Force, later renamed the Territorial Army. The regiment eventually became a Volunteer Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow ...
was used as the model for the kilted figure atop the memorial.
The figure faces east towards the village of Beaumont-Hamel. On the front is a plaque inscribed in Gaelic: which in English translates as "Friends are good on the day of battle".
[ Salmond p. 271] The 51st Division Monument was unveiled on 28 September 1924 by
Marshal of France
Marshal of France (french: Maréchal de France, plural ') is a French military distinction, rather than a military rank, that is awarded to generals for exceptional achievements. The title has been awarded since 1185, though briefly abolished ( ...
Ferdinand Foch
Ferdinand Foch ( , ; 2 October 1851 – 20 March 1929) was a French general and military theorist who served as the Supreme Allied Commander during the First World War. An aggressive, even reckless commander at the First Marne, Flanders and Ar ...
, the former Allied Supreme Commander.
[ Salmond p. 270] The memorial was rededicated on 13 July 1958, the front panel now referring to not only those who died during the First World War but the Second as well. A wooden
Celtic cross directly across the track from the memorial was originally sited at
High Wood
The Attacks on High Wood, near Bazentin le Petit in the Somme ''département'' of northern France, took place between the British Fourth Army and the German 1st Army during the Battle of the Somme. After the Battle of Bazentin Ridge on 14 July ...
and subsequently moved to the Newfoundland site.
The cross commemorates the men of the 51st Highland Division who fell at High Wood in July 1916.
The Danger Tree
![Danger Tree site, Beaumont-Hamel](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/34/Danger_Tree_site%2C_Beaumont-Hamel.jpg)
The Danger Tree had been part of a clump of trees located about halfway into No Man's Land and had originally been used as a landmark by a Newfoundland Regiment trench raiding party in the days before the Battle of the Somme.
British and German artillery bombardments eventually stripped the tree of leaves and left nothing more than a shattered tree trunk.
During the Newfoundland Regiment's infantry assault, the tree was once again used as a landmark, where the troops were ordered to gather. The tree was, however, a highly visible landmark for the German artillery and the site proved to be a location where the German shrapnel was particularly deadly. As a result, the regiment suffered a large concentration of casualties around the tree.
A replica representation of the twisted tree now stands at the spot.
Visitors Centre
There is a Visitors' Centre which exhibits the historical and social circumstances of Newfoundland at the beginning of the 20th century and traces the history of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment and some of its personalities.
A Memorial room within the Centre houses a copy of the Newfoundland Book of Remembrance, along with a bronze plaque listing the
Battle Honours
A battle honour is an award of a right by a government or sovereign to a military unit to emblazon the name of a battle or operation on its flags ("colours"), uniforms or other accessories where ornamentation is possible.
In European military t ...
won by the Royal Newfoundland Regiment.
The centre also incorporates the administrative offices and site archive. Canadian student guides based at the site are available to provide guided tours or explain particular facets of the battlefield and the Newfoundland involvement.
Influence on Newfoundland
![Trail of Caribou - Beaumont Hamel Stamp](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/50/Trail_of_Caribou_-_Beaumont_Hamel_Stamp.jpg)
The significance of the events at Beaumont-Hamel on the first day of the Battle of the Somme was perhaps most strongly felt by the Dominion of Newfoundland, as it was the first great conflict experienced by that dominion. Newfoundland was left with a sense of loss that marked an entire generation.
Steele
Steele may refer to:
Places America
* Steele, Alabama, a town
* Steele, Arkansas, an unincorporated community
* Steele, Kentucky, an unincorporated community
* Steele, Missouri, a city
* Lonetree, Montana, a ghost town originally called Steele
...
pp. 200–201[ Busch pp. 150, 157] The effects on the post-war generation were compounded by chronic financial problems caused both by Newfoundland's large debt from the war, and a prolonged post-war economic recession due to a decline in the fisheries.
Steele
Steele may refer to:
Places America
* Steele, Alabama, a town
* Steele, Arkansas, an unincorporated community
* Steele, Kentucky, an unincorporated community
* Steele, Missouri, a city
* Lonetree, Montana, a ghost town originally called Steele
...
p. 14[ Busch p. 157]
Lasting impressions of the war experience are ever-prevalent on the island. In Canada, 1 July is celebrated as
Canada Day, in recognition of Canadian confederation. In the
Canadian province of
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador (; french: Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador; frequently abbreviated as NL) is the easternmost provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic Canada, Atlantic region. The province comprises t ...
the date is
Memorial Day
Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day) is a federal holiday in the United States for mourning the U.S. military personnel who have fought and died while serving in the United States armed forces. It is observed on the last Monda ...
, in remembrance of the Newfoundland Regiment's losses at Beaumont-Hamel. Memorial University College, now
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Memorial University of Newfoundland, also known as Memorial University or MUN (), is a public university in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, based in St. John's, with satellite campuses in Corner Brook, elsewhere in Newfoundland and ...
, was originally established as a memorial to Newfoundlanders who had lost their lives in active service during the First World War.
Lastly, the seven caribou memorials and the
National War Memorial erected following the First World War, and the establishment of the preserved battlefield park at Beaumont-Hamel which is visited by thousands of tourists a year. The Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial site also serves an informal ambassadorial function, educating visitors not only about the experience of the Newfoundland Regiment but also regarding the history of the island.
Notes
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External links
''Newfoundland and the Great War'' by Heritage NewfoundlandBeaumont-Hamel Newfoundland MemorialBeaumont-Hamel Memorial Parkat
Find a Grave
Find a Grave is a website that allows the public to search and add to an online database of cemetery records. It is owned by Ancestry.com. Its stated mission is "to help people from all over the world work together to find, record and present fin ...
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{{Good article
Canadian military memorials and cemeteries
World War I memorials in France
National Historic Sites of Canada in France
Battle of the Somme
Newfoundland in World War I
Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries in France
Commonwealth War Graves Commission memorials
Monuments and memorials in Somme (department)
Cemeteries in Somme (department)
Tourist attractions in Somme (department)
Royal Newfoundland Regiment