Hundreds gather for Memorial Day ceremony in St. John’s

Crowds lined the streets of downtown St. John’s on Saturday morning to remember the county’s fallen soldiers in World War I.

While the rest of the country celebrates July 1 as Canada Day, Newfoundland and Labrador also recognize the date as Memorial Day in honor of the anniversary of the Battle of Beaumont-Hamel.

The battle is regarded as one of the most profound moments for both the Royal Newfoundland Regiment and Newfoundland and Labrador as a whole. On July 1, 1916, more than 700 soldiers of the Newfoundland Regiment were killed or wounded.

Saturday’s event included marching bands, speeches and wreaths laid by descendants of soldiers. Veterans and fallen soldiers of other wars were also honored in the annual ceremony at the National War Memorial.

A number of military officials attended, including current U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, whose great-grandfather served in the Newfoundland Regiment during their time in Galipoli. Milley is considered America’s top military officer and the chief military adviser to the President, Secretary of Defense and National Security Council.

For many of those present, it is a day of great personal significance.

“All those people who died in Beaumont-Hamel, I think of them,” said Neil Harvey, whose father was serving in the regiment at the time and narrowly missed going to Beaumont-Hamel due to illness.

“That could easily have been my father.”

Harvey also served in the regiment for 18 years, reaching the rank of colonel.

“I have a great-uncle who died in the First World War,” said Dawn Pollard, one of many people gathered along Water Street for the ceremony.

“He is buried somewhere in Belgium and I often wonder if they will ever find his remains and bring them back to Newfoundland.”

She said it’s important for people to think about wars in a contemporary context as well.

“People should not only think about World War I, but what is happening today, the war in Ukraine,” she said.

“July 1 is a day of sadness in Newfoundland, but it’s also a holiday in Canada,” Pollard said. “How lucky we are to be in Canada and have the freedom that we have.”

Veteran David Moore shared a similar sentiment.

“Truly, how lucky are we to live in this country and have the freedoms we have, to do the things we do and to enjoy our lives the way we live them, thanks to those people,” he said .

Moore served a total of 30 years and his father was also a veteran of two wars.

Karl Snow, a representative of The Royal Oak Orange Lodge in St. John’s, said it is also important to remember the other soldiers who died during the Somme offensive.

“It’s very important as Newfoundlanders to come out today to respect what they’ve done for us.”

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