On July 1, 1916, a generation of Newfoundlanders died in one brief battle
"Millions are celebrating Canada's 157th birthday this year -- as they do every year -- with fireworks, food and family. In Newfoundlandand Labrador, it is a day of mourning for one of the bloodiest battles of the First World War...
The Dominion of Newfoundland – as it was called at the time – had some 800 men fight on the fields of Beaumont Hamel, in France, on July 1, 1916.
In just over half an hour of battle, 324 soldiers died and 386 were wounded. The next day, only 68 answered the roll call.
"One fellow who was there that day said you could smell the blood," said military historian Frank Gogos, who has spent his life researching Newfoundland and Labrador's contribution to The Great War.
"There was no battle. It was just a massacre. Thirty minutes."
"I don't think it's an exaggeration to think that not one man who got up that day didn't think they were going to be dead by the end of it," ... "It was an order. They had to do it. But there was also a sense of pride that you were not going to let your buddies down."[/QUOTE
Our great grandfathers were tougher than boot leather , I hope we still have enough of that DNA left for whatever's coming next
