The Government of Canada announced yesterday it will contribute $1 million to The Rooms — Newfoundland and Labrador’s most important cultural institution — to create “Where Once They Stood We Stand,” a comprehensive project that includes an onsite exhibit, a centennial commemorative event on July 1, and an online exhibit.
July 1 in Newfoundland and Labrador 1 is more than a day of celebration. Every year, before the Canada Day festivities begin, the people of Newfoundland and Labrador gather to remember and honour the soldiers of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment killed in the Battle of Beaumont-Hamel in France on July 1, 1916. The province, which at that time was not part of Confederation, took part in Beaumont-Hamel as a member of the British Empire.
July 1, 1916, Beaumont-Hamel. Remember the Royal Newfoundland Regiment at The Rooms, July 1, 2016. Image from The Rooms website.
The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, said, “Thanks to this initiative of The Rooms, all Canadians will have the opportunity to learn more about the valour and courage displayed by the young men of Newfoundland and Labrador at the Battle of Beaumont-Hamel in the First World War. Commemorations such as these, and the upcoming anniversary of Vimy Ridge next year, honour the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.”
The Rooms opened in 2005 and includes the provincial archives, museum and art gallery. The Rooms Corporation of Newfoundland and Labrador is also responsible for the Colonial Building and regional museums located across the province.
Military records
I encourage you to visit The Rooms website to look at the Military Service Files section and search for records. Since Newfoundland was part of Britain until 1949, these records are different from the Canadian Expeditionary Service files. The 88-page service file of Private Albert Ash, a 19-year-old fisherman from Battle Harbour, Labrador, is one among many worth looking at.
Virtual exhibit
To learn more about Newfoundland and Labrador’s role in WWI, visit the virtual exhibit on The Rooms website.
