A few questions about Beaumont-Hamel

[Sly 1916]

Hello dear members,

I have some questions about Beaumont-Hamel and I hope you could help me, I'm sure !

first, I would like to know exactly how many men were in the 1st Newfoundland regiment on the attack of 1st July: it seems that only 68 of them were still there on the evening but how many just before the attack because I have differents versions: 758 men and 22 officiers, 752 men, 802 men or more (for example Jay Winter said they were about 950!)?

My second question is about Hawthorn mine, the place is exactly on the Hawthorn cemetery n°2 for the both explosions ? (1st July and 13th november)

The famous video of the explosion was really the Hawthorn mine, the first or the second?... or was it a reconstitution as the most of the pictures and videos of the Great War ?

Thank you for your answer, I am sorry about my english not very good... and I hope you understand me!

Sly

[Jack Sheldon]

Sly

The numbers of Newfoundlanders who went over the top is 'about 800'. The exact figures is not known to the nearest handful. Of these, during 1 July 1916, (i.e. not all were killed or wounded during the attack in the morning): Officers 11 killed, 12 wounded, 2 died of wounds 1 missing. Total 26. OR killed 66, wounded 362, died of wounds 21, missing (believed killed) 209. Total 658. Regimental total 684. These figures are the outcome of very detailed recent analysis.

The nearest lip of Hawthorn Ridge mine crater is located 100 metres NNE of the cemetery. The film is genuine and shows the explosion at 7.20 am 1 July 1916.

Jack

[delta]

Sly

I can't help on the Newfoundlanders but I am sure some-one will soon pick up the thread

Re the hawthorn mine - the mine is not within the Memorial Park; it is about 450 metres to the north east of Hawthorn No 2 cemetery overlooking the Auchonvillers to Beaumont Hamel road. The film was taken on 1st Jul 1916 (the first explosion)

Stephen

[Sly 1916]

Thanks a lot for your complete answer,

This forum is really great !

Sly

[ypresman]

Hi

The official line that came from the day and indeed the visitor centre, is as quoted..." On the 1st July 1916 the 1st Battalion of the Newfoundland Regiment suffered 684 casualties (70% of its full strength), most of these casualties being from the 780 or so men who heroically advanced to the attack that morning".

After they went in ,after the first wave, the attack only lasted roughly half an hour. Every officer who went forward was either killed or wounded and it is stated 'out of the 801 men who went into battle only 68 came back'.

Only (I think) the 10th West Yorks at Fricourt suffered heavier casualties of the day.

If you work out the % its roughly the same..... though the figures are in dispute. Even at the musuem in Peronne they quote a figure of roughly 920, but this has to take into account of the non-combatants within the Regiment.

Cheers

Marc.