Newfoundland Trail Of The Caribou - Beaumont Hamel 100 Years

This Friday, July 1, is Canada Day, our country's 149th birthday as a nation (a big one next year!).

But the day also marks the 100th anniversary of the First World War battle at Beaumont Hamel in France. On that day, July 1 1916, Newfoundland, then an independent country, experienced one of it's greatest losses of the Great War.
In the first two hours of the attack at Beaumont Hamel, 85% of Newfoundlands First Newfoundland Regiment became casualties (324 killed or missing, 386 wounded) in an enemy barrage.

The battle, according to a recent Maclean's magazine article, is believed to have spelled the beginning of the end of Newfoundland as a nation, 'that the loss of so many good men...sent the dominion down the road to economic and political ruin that led to it joining Canada.'

On January 2 1919 the Newfoundland Postal Department issued a 12 stamp commemorative set, the Trail of the Caribou, to honour the services and memory of the Newfoundland contingent in the war. The stamps are inscribed with various names of WWI battle fields, with the 2¢ Ubique representing all the sites.
The 4¢ stamp was issued to honour Beaumont Hamel.

After reading the article today, I thought I'd post its link along with an image of the stamp.

The link to the article is below.



http://www.macleans.ca/society/why-...-our-hearts/

Thanks for this, James.
You can find the Newfoundland memorial on Google Earth or Maps here: 50°04'25.60"N 2°38'54.00"E
The "Danger Tree" is here: 50°04'29.81"N 2°39'0.34"E

(Just cut-and-paste the co-ords into the search box.)

James

Thank you for posting this, and the link. A fine example of how stamp collecting can be the route to knowledge of many more important things.

Geoff

Agreed Geoff. In an era where a global perspective is popular, it is good to be reminded that our hobby is based upon nationalism. Countries evolved organically; their histories and cultures are reflected in the fascinating stamps that we collect.
Don

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CANADA

James

You may find this interesting - it was linked from the BBC site.

Geoff

http://www.heritage.nf.ca/first-wor...hamel-en.php

A few reflections on the Battle of the Somme and Beaumont Hamel. I have visited Beaumont Hamel - the sight of the Newfoundland and Canadian flags flying over the well-preserved battlefield and the bronze caribou still staring defiantly towards the German lines brings tears. From my extended family, six were lost in the "Great" War, one at Beaumont Hamel and another wounded there and killed in a later battle. Having studied some Newfoundland history, I might argue somewhat with the McLean's assertion that July 1, 1916 marked the beginning of the end for the Newfoundland nation. I believe Beaumont Hamel meant as much to Newfoundland as Vimy Ridge did for Canada as a whole and was a unifying event. The issues which caused Newfoundland to grudgingly accept unification with Canada in 1949 were long-standing and economic and had nothing to do with the disastrous British bungling and valorous Newfoundland sacrifice on July 1, 1916.

Back to stamps - I have a particular interest in this beautiful 1919 set; have mint and used singles, mint blocks and a few covers. Tommy has a better collection but I'm pleased with what I have. Hard to find the higher values on cover. If anyone sees them on line, please let me know.