St. Bon’s Moving Tribute to the Boys of Beaumont Hamel

At 4:45 am, on July 1st, 1916, while most Newfoundlanders were sleeping, it was 9:15 am in France and the Newfoundland Regiment were leaving their trenches.  The next few minutes changed Newfoundland forever.

On July 1st, St. Bonaventure’s College held a public commemorative event, Beaumont Hamel 100: Honouring Our Boys, to honour the brave and courageous Newfoundlanders that died at Beaumont Hamel exactly one hundred years ago.  This event that started at 4:30 am to signify the time that lives were changed for so many families in Newfoundland and Labrador.

To mark the exact time 100 years ago when the Newfoundland Regiment left their trenches and entered the battlefield at Beaumont Hamel, a Minute of Silence and Last Post was observed at at 4:45 am.

The solemn event also included a prayer, music and brief readings about seven members of the Newfoundland Regiment that attended St. Bonaventure’s College and later died on July 1st. 1916.  These readings were based on records maintained by the school and the Rooms.

This event commemorated and honoured the 324 Newfoundlanders that died and the 386 that were wounded on the tragic morning that changed Newfoundland forever.