WW1 Newfoundland Regiment bronzed cap badge

Rare cap badge in excellent condition.

The Regiment
At the outbreak of war in 1914, Newfoundland was not yet part of Canada (it remained a self-governing Dominion until 1949), so the regiment was raised independently by the Newfoundland government. Around 500 men volunteered almost immediately, forming the 1st Newfoundland Regiment, which was later granted the “Royal” prefix by King George V in recognition of its exceptional service.

The Western Front and Gallipoli
The regiment saw action at Gallipoli in 1915-16, suffering significant casualties in that brutal campaign. They then transferred to the Western Front.

The Somme - 1st July 1916
This is the defining moment in the regiment’s history, and one of the most devastating single-day losses suffered by any unit in the entire British Empire during the war.
At Beaumont-Hamel on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, the regiment was ordered to attack across open ground. The preceding units had already been cut down, which meant the Newfoundlanders had to cross not only No Man’s Land but also their own trenches to reach the front. German machine guns had a completely clear field of fire.
Within approximately 30 minutes, the regiment was effectively destroyed as a fighting force:
∙ Roughly 800 men went into the attack
∙ Around 710 were killed, wounded, or missing
∙ Only 68 men answered roll call the following morning
∙ Every single officer who went over the top was either killed or wounded
The following day, the regimental commander sent a one-line report to headquarters: “I have no battalion.”