Betty Cantwell Photography

Even, though, we are learning to live with distance, keep one another close in heart! Keep yourself safe and the ones you love! Happy Canada Day!

Over the next few days we will be posting content from The Royal Newfoundland Regiment during the First World War, and notably Beaumont-Hamel. This will lead up... to Memorial Day where we will be releasing a video commemorating our fallen, and thanking our essential workers. Memorial Day Post 1/4: June 26th, 1916 Under the cover of moonlight and with weeks of training in close quarter combat, fifty-seven handpicked men from the Royal Newfoundland Regiment entered no mans land in Northern France under the command of Captain Bertram Butler. Their mission was not an easy one. Tasked with raiding a heavily fortified enemy position located at the "Y" ravine, a natural depression in the area that enabled the Germans to reinforce their front line, with the intent to gauge the defensive capability of the enemy trenches and capture a prisoner if possible. The men were well equipped with Short Magazine Lee Enfield Rifles (known as the 'Smely' among the troops), mills bombs and an assortment of melee weapons fit for the brutal close combat of the trenches such as trench knives, spiked maces, clubs and more. While attempting to break through the wire near the enemy lines, the raiding party lost the element of surprise when German flares illuminated them and began to attract enemy attention. Captain Butler realizing this ordered the men back to friendly lines, suffering only two minor casualties. Headquarters did not accept this result and ordered a second patrol the following night, having the same party attack the same location. Commanding the second raid on the night of June 27th, Captain Butler led his men through heavy rain to the Y-Ravine once again, finding a large gap in the enemy wire as a result of heavy shelling earlier in the day. Just as the Newfoundlanders reached the enemy trench a flare burst in the sky, illuminating both the raiders and the trenches occupants. Vicious combat immediately followed as rifles cracked and grenades were thrown from both sides, casualties mounted on the raiding party as they pushed into the enemy trenches where melee combat ensued. After 25 minutes that felt as if it was an eternity, their supplies of explosives were depleted and a withdrawal to the Danger Tree was ordered, followed by smaller rescue parties from the tree to collect the wounded. The remaining Newfoundlanders withdrew from the Danger Tree back to friendly lines and reported to much dismay the strength of the German defenses and that their wire was not only intact but thick and with any gaps being covered by enemy observation. Similar raids in the area yielded the same information, which was largely ignored by command due to the confidence in the upcoming great push in the Battle of the Somme. Four men were killed in action during the raid, Two later died of their wounds, Four were taken prisoner, Twenty-One wounded. We will remember them. (Pictured: Major (Then captain) Bertram Butler - Map of the Advance)