History - Topics & Posted Articles

A poignant return to Beaumont-Hamel.

June 26, 2016

By C. L. McNutt

July 1, 2016 marks the 100th anniversary of The Battle of Beaumont-Hamel. Coinciding with Canada’s national birthday, July 1 represents one of the bleakest days in Newfoundland history.

It was on this date in 1916, on the French battlefield at Beaumont-Hamel, that over 800 members of the Newfoundland Regiment left their trenches and were ordered ‘over the top’ toward German lines. Of those 800 men, only 68 answered roll call the following day.

The young men who fought at Beaumont-Hamel came from every corner of the Dominion of Newfoundland. In terms of population, the Dominion was small and as a result, few, if any families, were left untouched by this tragedy. For people growing up in Newfoundland, the fate of this regiment is a part of history that will never be forgotten. The beautiful forget-me-not has become the flower of remembrance for those who fought in this battle. Every year, on July 1, commemorative services are held across the province to honour these brave men. Interspersed with the celebratory mood of Canada Day, these memorials serve as a sad reminder of the sacrifices made by others for the privilege of the freedom our country enjoys today.

On July 7, 1925, a war memorial was set up in the exact location where the Newfoundland Regiment fought. Officially known as The Newfoundland Battlefield Memorial Park, it is often referred to as simply Newfoundland Park. The site features a life-size caribou which is the emblem of the Newfoundland Regiment. A brass plaque at the entrance to the park reads: “The park embraces the ground over which Newfoundlanders fought and was purchased from funds subscribed by the government and women of Newfoundland.”

This memorial site serves as a place of commemoration and remembrance for those who visit but to Dr. Karen Ewing, a family physician living in rural Nova Scotia, Newfoundland Park also became a place of inspiration. While there in 1999, to pay tribute to her great uncle Arthur Stanley Thomas, a member of the Newfoundland Regiment who fought in the Battle of Beaumont-Hamel, the experience proved to be life-changing. As described by Ewing, “We had come to The Western Front to visit war graves. I knew this, but I was not prepared. I stood surrounded by the wrenching epitaphs of hundreds of young Newfoundlanders, and looking out in every direction, more cemeteries, more Newfoundlanders. I realized only then the enormity of the sacrifice. Few experiences reach the level of the soul. I believe this did. It was at this moment that a path to the creation of the Veterans Memorial Park was established. An answer to the silent pleas of loved ones, written here in stone, and to the souls of men whispering, ‘Forget me not’.”

Upon her return to Canada, Dr. Ewing began her journey. After years of planning and acquiring government funding, The Cobequid Veterans Memorial Park, as it is officially known, was created. Designed by Ewing and with the help of the hard-working and dedicated members of the community, the park opened in 2008. This park is unique in its design, its purpose and its scope. Located in rural Nova Scotia, near the shores of the Bay of Fundy’s historic tides, the sculptured gardens of the park are a ‘living memorial’ to those who served and continue to serve in Canada’s Armed Forces. The gardens, which take the form of a Celtic flower, consist of three interlocking sections: The Garden of Sorrows designed as a WWI trench; The Garden of Remembrance, a heritage garden and The Garden of Hope, a colourful and vibrant garden with plants from all over the world. The Park’s mission is one of education, remembrance and peace.

The Veterans Memorial Park features monuments dedicated to members of the Canadian Military, Peacekeepers, Merchant Mariners, the Forgotten Heroes (animals of military and police service) and the most recent addition to the park, The Broken, a monument created to commemorate those suffering from PTSD and those who have gone on to suicide. Each year, the park hosts three services of remembrance: The Holocaust Memorial Service, The International Day of UN Peacekeeping and the Remembrance Day service.

Since its creation, the park has grown in stature and has gained a national reputation. In 2013, the park had the honour of being named the winner of the 2013 edition of the Gardens of Remembrance program by Communities in Bloom. In addition to this, the park’s creator has been given two prestigious awards. In 2015, Dr. Ewing was presented The Outstanding Service Award from the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association. This was the first time this award was given for commemoration and recognition. Also, in 2015, she received The Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation. For more about the park, visit www.veteranmemorialpark.com.

On July 1, 2016, Dr. Ewing will be returning to France to attend the 100th anniversary of The Battle of Beaumont-Hamel. She is extremely honoured to be part of the Canadian Delegation attending the service. At the reception prior to the ceremony, she will present a commemorative plaque to The Honourable Kent Hehr, Minister of Veterans Affairs, Canada. This plaque, entitled simply ‘Ours’, features a poppy; the red petals formed by the names of the members of the Newfoundland Regiment who were missing, injured or died in this battle; the black centre formed by the names of those who answered roll call the following day. It is a powerful image reflective of the sacrifices made on that day.

The return to Beaumont-Hamel will indeed be a poignant one for Dr. Ewing. At the entrance to Newfoundland Park , she will be met by the words of John Oxenham. These very same words now grace the entrance to the Veterans Memorial Park in Bass River.

“Tread softly here, go reverently and slow and let your soul go down upon its knees and with bowed head, and heart abased, strive hard to grasp the future gain in this sore loss”.

The message is profound. As Dr. Ewing so eloquently says, “These words can be spoken as loudly and as fervently today as they were 100 years ago. The sacrifices continue as humanity seems to choose the sanguineous path to peace. I will be there at Beaumont-Hamel on July 1 to remember the Newfoundlanders and all soldiers who fought in ‘the war to end all wars’ and to continue their work for peace. There is no voice louder calling for peace than that of the souls of these men if we choose to listen. We need to be there and we needto listen.”