In St. John’s, dignitaries and elected officials are among the participants in a ceremony to mark the centenary of the Newfoundland National War Memorial.
July 1, known as Memorial Day in Newfoundland and Labrador, is the anniversary of the 1916 battle of Beaumont-Hamel, in which the Newfoundland Regiment sustained catastrophic losses on one of the deadliest days of the entire First World War. It is also the anniversary of the 1924 unveiling of the national war memorial in St. John’s, recognizing Newfoundland’s sacrifice in that war.
This year’s ceremony, on the occasion of the memorial’s centenary, includes the burial of the remains of an unknown Newfoundland First World War solider repatriated from northern France.
Governor General Mary Simon, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey are among those in attendance at this event.