Today i read a news article on the VOCM News site
[Is the Ode out of Mode?
June 10, 2006
Some debate going on over how the members of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment will conduct themselves when the 'Ode to Newfoundland' is played over the French battlefieds when the regiment returns to Beaumont Hamel and area next month. Lieutenent Colonel Kevin Hutchings says it's an honour to have all the members of the first and second batallions present for the 90th anniversay of the July 1st massacre. But he notes it is not permitted for Canadian Forces members to salute a, what is now, provincial anthem.]
For many outside the province who know little about our military history of WWI, here it is in a nutshell.
At that time Newfoundland was a dominion and we played a small but distinguished part in that great war. Five thousand Newfoundlanders served in the Royal Newfoundland Regiment,another thousand in the Royal Navy and still more in the forestry brigades. The royal Newfoundland Regiment took 16 Battle Honours.
GALLIPOLI, 1915-16
Egypt, 1915-16
YPRES, 1917,'18
LANGEMARCK, 1917
France and Flanders, 1916-18
POELCAPELLE
ALBERT (BEAUMONT HAMEL), 1916
CAMBRAT, 1917
Somme, 1916
LYS
LE TRANSLOY
BAILLEUL
Arras, 1917
Kemmel
Scarpe,1917
COURTRAI
One of the most tragic events to hit our island nation happened on July 1/1916.It was called the battle of Beaumont Hamel and took place on the opening day of the Battle of the Somme. 790 men went over the top to advance towards the German linesthat morning. Out of these 710 were killed, wounded, or missing. Only 68 men answered the roll call the following day. Major General D.E. Cayley, Commander of the 88th. Brigade stated "It was a magnificent display of trained and disciplined valour and only failed because dead men can advance no further."
That July morning in France probably changed the history of our island. Young future leaders never got a chance to return. No community on our island escaped the consequences of the regiment's attempt that day to advance and help end a war. We have a memorial in France to honour our dead and July 1 was always a sacred day for Newfoundlanders but since confederation with Canada we now celebrate Canada Day and the Battle of Beaumont Hamel is going out of memory.
Would it be so wrong for The Royal Newfoundland Regiment to salute when the "Ode to Newfoundland"is played at Beaumont hamel on that day? I don't think so! I also don't think we have heard the last of this.
6 comments:
One of the most tragic events to hit our island nation
Given the number of young Labrador men who served, and died, with the RNR in the Great War, your reference to "island nation" here is VERY offensive.
Wayne
You are fighting a loser here most Canadians could give a rip less of the scarafices that were made at Beaumont Hamel, my guess is you could ask the average Newfoundlander and they would not have a clue as to what you are talking about.....It is like asking the average American who Alvin C York is......The problem with Canada is they are a country that is about to implode, when I say implode ,in the near future foreigners will out number the people that were born and raised in Canada. Last but not least you can bet your ass if Newfoundland had gone with the States they would have been able to salute when the Ode To Newfoundland was played.
Thank you for posting this.
God guard thee Newfoundland!
Lord knows Canada isn't, what with what has been allowed to transpire on the continental shelf.
dang wayne,you offended someone else...lol
i remember veterans comming to school and telling us about july 1,1916. i dont think it will be ever forgotten in newfoundland.....oooops forgot labrador.
Seems like such a shame...
Do the veterans salute the Ode when they're participating in services in NL?
Beaumont Hamel is one of the most moving sites I have visited from the Great War and is well known to the current young of Great Britain who visit in large numbers every year as part of their history courses around age 14-15.
It is clearly for Newfoundlanders and Canadians to decide these matters for themselves - but at the time of the battle Newfoundland was a British Dominion separate from Canada and that fact might be felt by many outside Canada to have some influence on their view.
I hope to be present on 1 July to salute great sacrifice.
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