The Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial is a site in France we visited on a rainy 7 August 2013. It was about a 90 minute drive from our camp site and we did struggle to find it resulting in a couple of three point turns in muddy lanes and lay-bys.
The site is dedicated to the commemoration of Newfoundland soldiers who were killed during World War I. The site covers the ground over which the Newfoundland Regiment made their attack on 1 July 1916 during 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. Of the 801 men who went into action 233 were killed, 386 wounded and 91 were missing.
After going in the visitors centre we did a complete circuit of the site stopping at three cemeteries on the way before returning to the car and heading back to our camp site.
This is a thought provoking place.
The site is dedicated to the commemoration of Newfoundland soldiers who were killed during World War I. The site covers the ground over which the Newfoundland Regiment made their attack on 1 July 1916 during 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. Of the 801 men who went into action 233 were killed, 386 wounded and 91 were missing.
After going in the visitors centre we did a complete circuit of the site stopping at three cemeteries on the way before returning to the car and heading back to our camp site.
This is a thought provoking place.
Interconnecting trenches at the top of the hill in woodland. The trees many of which I believe are native to Newfoundland were planted after the site was bought by Canada.
I have seen old pictures of the site taken during the war and it looks quite different - thick mud, trenches, shattered trees and miles of tangled barbed wire.
I have seen old pictures of the site taken during the war and it looks quite different - thick mud, trenches, shattered trees and miles of tangled barbed wire.
Trenches zig-zag across the hillside, the remains of trenches and shell craters were everywhere.
Looking across the hill towards the German positions. It was down this hill that the Newfoundland Regiment advanced nearly a 100 years ago.
At the bottom of the hill - Trees and sheep now occupy some of the German positions.
Walking back across the top of the hill along the edge of the woodland.
The monument to the Newfoundland Regiment can be seen in the distance.
Electric fences keep you from straying off the path.
The monument to the Newfoundland Regiment can be seen in the distance.
Electric fences keep you from straying off the path.
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