Royal Newfoundland Regiment in the First World War Royal Newfoundland Regiment

1 royal newfoundland regiment in first world war

1.1 outbreak of war
1.2 gallipoli
1.3 battle of somme
1.4 after beaumont-hamel
1.5 first world war honours

royal newfoundland regiment in first world war
outbreak of war

dr cluny macpherson of royal newfoundland regiment in egypt, september 1915

during first world war newfoundland largely rural dominion of british empire population of 240,000 people, , not yet part of canada. outbreak of first world war in 1914 led government of newfoundland recruit force service british army. though island had not possessed formal military organization since 1870, enough men volunteered whole battalion formed, , later maintained throughout war. first recruits in regiment nicknamed blue puttees due unusual colour of puttees, chosen give newfoundland regiment unique look, abandoned when 1st five-hundred reached england in october 1914. headquarters recruiting , training supplied clb, nucleus of command structure. in fact, first man enlist member of clb. bermudian-born sir joseph outerbridge, had been commanding officer of church lads brigade 1890 1894, vice president of patriotic association of newfoundland, raised , maintained newfoundland regiment, 2 of sons serving in regiment on western front.

the regiment trained @ various locations in united kingdom , increased initial contingent of 500 men full battalion strength of 1,000 men, before being deployed. after period of acclimatization in egypt, regiment deployed @ suvla bay on gallipoli peninsula 29th division in support of gallipoli campaign.

gallipoli

on 20 september 1915 regiment landed @ suvla bay on gallipoli peninsula, british viii corps, ix corps , australian , new zealand army corps (anzac) had been attempting seize control of dardanelles strait turkey since first landings on 25 april. @ gallipoli 1st newfoundland regiment faced snipers, artillery fire , severe cold, trench warfare hazards of cholera, dysentery, typhus, gangrene , trench foot. on next 3 months thirty soldiers of regiment killed or mortally wounded in action , ten died of disease; 150 treated frostbite , exposure. despite terrible conditions, newfoundlanders stood well. when decision made evacuate british empire forces area, regiment chosen part of rearguard, withdrawing gallipoli last of british dardanelles army troops on 9 january 1916. close of gallipoli campaign regiment spent short period recuperating before being transferred western front in march 1916.

battle of somme

restored photo of regiment members in st. john s road, support trench, 200 metres behind british forward line @ beaumont hamel, 1916

in france, regiment regained battalion strength in preparation battle of somme. regiment, still in 29th division, went line in april 1916 @ beaumont-hamel. beaumont-hamel situated near northern end of 45-kilometre front being assaulted joint french , british force. attack, scheduled june 29, 1916, postponed 2 days july 1, 1916, partly on account of inclement weather, , partly allow more time artillery preparation. 29th division, 3 infantry brigades, faced defences manned experienced troops of 119th (reserve) infantry regiment of 26th (wurttemberg) reserve division. 119th (reserve) infantry regiment had been involved in invasion of france in august 1914 , had been manning beaumont-hamel section of line 20 months prior battle. german troops had been spending great deal of time not training fortifying position, including construction of numerous deep dugouts , @ least 2 tunnels.

newfoundland soldiers waiting in st. john s road support trench

the infantry assault 29th division on 1 july 1916 preceded ten minutes earlier mine explosion under heavily fortified hawthorn ridge redoubt. explosion of 18,000 kilograms (40,000 lb) hawthorn mine underneath german lines destroyed major enemy strong point served alert german forces imminent attack. following explosion, troops of 119th (reserve) infantry regiment deployed dugouts firing line, preventing british taking control of resulting crater had planned. when assault began, troops 86th , 87th brigade of 29th division stopped. exception of 1st battalion of royal inniskilling fusiliers on right flank, initial assault foundered in no man s land at, or short of, german barbed wire. @ divisional headquarters, major-general beauvoir de lisle , staff trying unravel numerous , confusing messages coming observation posts, contact aircraft , 2 leading brigades. there indications troops had broken , gone beyond german first line. in effort exploit perceived break in german line ordered 88th brigade, in reserve, send forward 2 battalions support attack.

major-general sir beauvoir de lisle referring newfoundland regiment @ beaumont-hamel

at 8:45 a.m. newfoundland regiment , 1st battalion, essex regiment received orders move forward. newfoundland regiment situated @ st. john s road, support trench 250 yards (230 m) behind british forward line , out of sight of enemy. movement forward through communication trenches not possible because congested dead , wounded men , under shell fire. lieutenant colonel arthur lovell hadow, battalion commander, decided move attack formation , advance across surface, involved first navigating through british barbed wire defences. breasted skyline behind british first line, troops moving on battlefield , visible german defenders. subjected full force of 119th (reserve) infantry regiment, of newfoundland regiment had started forward dead, dying or wounded within 15 20 minutes of leaving st. john s road trench. reached no further danger tree, skeleton of tree lay in no man s land being utilized landmark. far can ascertained, 22 officers , 758 other ranks directly involved in advance. of these, officers , under 658 other ranks became casualties. of 780 men went forward 110 survived unscathed, of whom 68 available roll call following day. intents , purposes newfoundland regiment had been wiped out, unit whole having suffered casualty rate of approximately 90 percent. unit suffer greater casualties during attack 10th (service) battalion, prince of wales s own (west yorkshire regiment), attacking west of fricourt village.

after beaumont-hamel

royal newfoundland regiment crossing rhine germany, 1918

although understrength, newfoundland regiment continued see service , after taking on reinforcements in front line on 14 july near auchonvillers. on 17 july 88th brigade transferred quieter portion of western front. in weeks , months following attack, surviving officers wrote letters of condolence families , relatives in newfoundland. period of recovery coupled additional reinforcements regiment return full strength. 6 weeks later beating off german gas attack in flanders. subsequently, distinguished in number of battles: on somme @ gueudecourt in october 1916; , on 23 april 1917, @ monchy-le-preux during battle of arras, lost 485 men in day checked german attack. in flanders during third battle of ypres battalion attacked on 16 august @ battle of langemarck , on 9 october 1917 battalion formed left flank of 29th division s attack part of battle of poelcappelle. in november 1917 @ masnières-marcoing during battle of cambrai regiment stood ground although outflanked , in april 1918 stemmed german advance @ bailleul. following period out of line, providing guard force general headquarters @ montreuil, joined 28th brigade of 9th (scottish) division , in action again @ ledegem , beyond in advances of hundred days offensive during thomas ricketts became youngest soldier of war win victoria cross.

first world war honours

governor davidson felt newfoundland regiment deserved special recognition actions during battles of ypres , cambrai. request british government add prefix royal regiment s name granted , george v bestowed regiment prefix in december 1917. time during first world war honour given , third time in history of british army has been given during time of war.