[Public-List] Royal Newfoundland Regiment ~ "with chins tucked down as if walking into a blizzard"

[John Birch]

Marianne's connection with her granddad and the RNR really brings home the 
reality at a very human level - particularly since he was sent to the Somme 
and the legendary courage and sacrifice of the RNR which occurred there.

George, I know this is off topic/subject, but please forgive the post.

"the RNR heroism is seldom told."

I don't know about seldom - but certainly not often enough. Nor appreciated
enough.

The incredible sacrifice and heroism of the RNR can be found so clearly, if
no where else, at the action seen at Beaumont-Hamel during the first day of
the Battle of the Somme, where between 8-900 men went over the top "with
chins tucked down as if walking into a blizzard" and 68 answered role call
the next day.

"On July 1, (1916) in broad daylight, one hundred thousand men climbed out
of their trenches and advanced shoulder to shoulder across the crater-torn
waste of No Man's Land. At Beaumont Hamel, the (Royal) Newfoundland Regiment
was virtually annihilated. In less than half an hour, as they advanced into
point-blank fire, the Islanders were cut down. Of the 801 men who went into
the battle only sixty-eight unwounded men answered the roll call the next
day."

That horrific reality I find so moving every time I think of it. 94%
casualties. No wonder the intent was to make that war "the war to end all
wars."

How sad it never became reality.

Lest we forget.

ATB

John


Details of the RNR at the Somme that Day can be found at the Dept. of 
Veteran's Affairs Website

http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=memorials/ww1mem/beaumonthamel&CFID=4823104&CFTOKEN=34260201

Well worth a read.