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

[Marianne King-Wilson]

John, I must correct any impression I might have given, that my grandfather 
served with the valiant RNR.  He served in Gallipoli but not with the 
Newfoundlanders.  He spent months in  hospital after the evacuation, and 
never got to France.

A copy of his journal is in the Imperial War Museum, where it has been used 
by researchers and quoted in several books.  I have his photos and the 
journal, as well as many of his field notes, as a battlefield surgeon. 
Brain surgery in a dugout was one of  the lesser challenges.

A few years ago, I wrote a Remembrance Day piece about him,  but I see it is 
no longer online at  the Globe and Mail.    Please email me directly, if you 
would like a copy.  I will be happy to share it.

Marianne

----- Original Message  unabridged  ---- 
From: "John Birch" <Sunstone at cogeco.ca>
 Subject: Re: [Public-List] Royal Newfoundland Regiment ~ "with chins 
tuckeddown as if walking into a blizzard"


> 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.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> These businesses support your Association:
> http://www.alberg30.org/store/A30supporters.html
> Please support them.
> _______________________________________________
> Public-List mailing list
> Public-List at lists.alberg30.org
> http://lists.alberg30.org/listinfo.cgi/public-list-alberg30.org 


 1197389286.0