ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — A solemn crowd still grieving the loss of a generation of young men a century ago lined the streets of downtown St. John's, N.L., on Friday morning as the province marked the milestone anniversary of the disastrous start to the Somme campaign in the First World War.
Under blue skies as the St. John's harbour sparkled behind them, people came together at the National War Memorial more than an hour before a ceremony marking the battle of Beaumont-Hamel was set to begin.
The battle, which took place in France on July 1, 1916 forever scarred the province, where those losses are mourned to this day.
About 800 members of the Newfoundland Regiment, armed only with rifles and bayonets, were ordered to face German machine gun fire. Just 68 answered roll call the next morning.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau paid tribute to the fallen soldiers from Ottawa before heading to Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill.
"July 1, 1916, marked a pivotal moment in time, a moment that has since entrenched itself in Newfoundland and Labrador identity and history. And as we gather here, we take firm pause to remember this sombre event and recognize its importance in shaping and defining the Newfoundland of today," he said.
"This would become the bloodiest battle of the war. Our men rose with courage, fought like lions and died as heroes. The deaths touched many families across the dominion of Newfoundland, a generation of young men lost."
Princess Anne, commander-in-chief of what's now known as the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, laid a wreath of remembrance during Friday's ceremony in St. John's.
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends," said Rev. Ian Wishart as thousands of people lined nearby streets or watched from windows and even rooftops.
"We remember the casualties of World War l in Gallipoli, France and Belgium," he said. "We remember the veterans of the forces, many of them on parade this day."
As the princess mingled with veterans, many said they hadn't seen a bigger public turnout in years.
"God love them," said Doug England, 85, who served with the Royal Canadian Engineers in the Korean War.
"That's something isn't it," he said as he gazed at the lines of onlookers stretched far past where they could actually see the ceremony.
Some of those gathered Friday sang "It's a Long Road to Tipperary" and applauded as the parades of infantry, naval, air, police, and medical forces marched in.
They said they came to show their respects, to mark an astounding tragedy and to grieve what might have been.
"It was that profound sacrifice and the way it hit people," said Colin Cox, whose two great uncles fought in the First World War.
"They didn't think they were going to die in some foreign land. They thought they were going to come home," he said, fighting tears.
"None of them ever thought that was going to be their final destination."
Cox, who retired from the Canadian Air Force in 2011, had two sons marching Friday with the Royal Newfoundland Regiment.
I was deeply moved to commemorate 100 years since Beaumont Hamel and the Battle of the Somme. We will never forget. pic.twitter.com/09weI3hLST
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) July 1, 2016
His wife, Helen, also cried talking about how much the day means. They drove about 45 minutes from their home in Avondale to be in St. John's.
"I'm just so proud of my husband and my two sons," she said. "They're following in the footsteps of their forefathers, making them proud as well."
The awful toll of July 1, 1916 is difficult to comprehend, she said.
"For so many people to lose their lives, and then their families had to continue on without them."
The staggering numbers of dead and wounded affected families across the island of Newfoundland, then a British dominion with a population of about 240,000.
Charles Furey, 71, of St. John's, struggled Friday to walk to the War Memorial. But he wouldn't have missed honouring the men who laid down their lives, he said.
"The poor boys. They were so young. They shouldn't have been over there in the first place."
Furey said he never misses the memorial services that start each Canada Day in the province before the mood shifts to celebration.
"As long as I can walk, I'm coming down here."
