The Battle of Beaumont-Hamel
By: Destiny
On July 1st, 1916 at the village of Beaumont-Hamel, the first Newfoundland Regiment suffered catastrophic losses. Newfoundland was not apart of Canada when WW1 was declared, they were part of the British Empire.
Allied commanders repeatedly bombarded the German lines with artillery attacks hoping they would do severe damage. At 9:15 a.m. the Newfoundlanders were ordered to attack from their trench behind the front line. When soldiers went over the top they had to carry backpacks that weighed 30 kg.
After 30 minutes in the battle of Beaumont-Hamel 90% of the soldiers had died. July 1st is now known as Memorial Day in Newfoundland, but Canada Day in the rest of Canada.
Of the 801 soldiers who went into battle that day, 68 survived, 700 died and some were missing in action.
That's when the deadliest day in history began.