I'm surprised when reading the Wikipedia entry for Anzac Day to see that April 25 is commemorated in St. John's, Newfoundland. It's not common knowledge outside Newfoundland that the Royal Newfoundland Regiment was the only North American unit to see active duty in Gallipoli.Though the casualties and deaths the Regiment suffered at Gallipoli pale
beside those of the Australians and New Zealanders they were not so fortunate at the Battle of the Somme: 801 men went into battle on July 1, 1916, the following morning only 64 men answered morning roll call.The figures from that day [57,470 casualties, 19,240 dead on the British side alone] are stomach turning: so much was lost so little gained.
Plus ça change!
2 comments:
WOOHOO!
ANZAC DAY! ANOTHER REASON TO RAISE A PINT OR TWO!
oh ... btw ...
GO SENS GO!
GO SENS GO!
2 dogs
Battle of the Somme: 801 men went into battle on July 1, 1916, the following morning only 64 men answered morning roll call.
good god. what a horror. my daddy, happily, missed out on the battle of the bulge because he was too thin. nearly everyone died there in wwII. it was also a horror as is all war and for what? mostly money and politics and power. a terrible, terrible shame.
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