Please note... Allan Hawco was kind enough to acknowledge me on Twitter even though I deleted the tweets raising some of the issues below. He stated no disrespect was intended towards the Allies at Gallipoli and this story was primarily about the Newfoundland Regiment. I appreciated his response.
Due to the popularity of the post I published on the making of On The Trail Of The Caribou documentary I have decided to repost it. I have also written a brief review of my interpretation of the Gallipoli segment for the first 20 minutes. I have not watched the Beaumont-Hamel section.
On The Trail Of The Caribou…The making of a documentary on social media published on 2 July, 2015.
Allan Hawco@allanhawco Today is Canada Day for most but July 1st is a day of Remembrance at home. Dates back to the Dominion of Newfoundland days. #trailofthecaribou
Due to the popularity of the post I published on the making of On The Trail Of The Caribou documentary I have decided to repost it. I have also written a brief review of my interpretation of the Gallipoli segment for the first 20 minutes. I have not watched the Beaumont-Hamel section.
I would like to thank CBC Canada for placing this documentary on
YouTube, allowing viewers from around the world to see this well made, yet
extremely biased and non-inclusive history documentary.
While I recognise this documentary is about Newfoundland and
Newfoundlanders during World War 1, they were part of Allied Forces and as a
consequence the story of the Allied Forces should have been really included.
Providing an inclusive history of the Allied Force's role at Gallipoli, would
not have taken away from the contribution and sacrifice made by Newfoundland
and provided useful background knowledge viewers may not be familiar with the
history and significance of Gallipoli.
Allan Hawco (or the editors and researchers) failed to
mention many facts about Gallipoli for example, the landing date. The landing at
Gallipoli had begun 5 months prior the arrival of the Newfoundlanders in
September 1915, on the 25 April, 1915. He also failed to mention who the Allied
Forces included Great Britain and Ireland, France, India, Australia and
New Zealand.
Allan Hawco (or the editors and
researchers) mentioned the Newfoundlanders joined the British forces and in
particular the 29 th Division in September, 1915. Research from Canadian
official war history pages state the Australians were there as well and were
instrumental in preparing the Newfoundlanders for the battle at Gallipoli.
Allan Hawco states that “when
the Allied Forces had to evacuate the Newfoundland Regiment was the last to
leave this beach.” After checking resources, the Newfoundland Regiment was in
fact part of a collection of Allied Forces who were the last to leave.
Only the 12 Newfoundlanders
buried at one of the cemeteries in Turkey were mentioned by country of origin. Over 11
000 of our boys (Australians and New Zealanders) died on the Gallipoli
campaign. Australians and New Zealanders remember their fallen and others who
fought in other’s wars on the 25 April or ANZAC Day every year. Representatives from Newfoundland
are included in that recognition and march with Australians and others on April
25 every year.
As an Australian I was pretty
gutted not to have our boys recognised in this story of Gallipoli as it is a
significant and celebrated event in our history and that of New Zealand or the
ANZACs (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps).
Allan Hawco@allanhawco Today is Canada Day for most but July 1st is a day of Remembrance at home. Dates back to the Dominion of Newfoundland days. #trailofthecaribou
As Allan Hawco fans know, he and fellow Newfoundlander comedian Mark Critch have been making a documentary called the ‘Trail of the Caribou’ following in the footsteps of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment and their campaigns throughout Europe during World War 1. Next year, 2016 will the 100 th anniversary of those campaigns (I circulated an article from CBC Canada about the making of the documentary and interviews with Allan Hawco and Mark Critch on my Google + page). Recently they were joined by their friend and fellow Newfoundlander Alan Doyle for part of the tour.
Allan, Mark and Alan have been recording their amazing journey for fans by generously sharing their thoughts, photos and selfies of significant events on social media. These events have inspired me to find out more about the role of Newfoundlanders and the bravery and sacrifices of their young men during the various campaigns. While I don’t think this blog is an appropriate place to discuss these events, I just wanted to briefly mention their importance in relationship to the events posted on social media and the making of this documentary.
I began with an excellent book I bought when I was in Newfoundland called “A Short History of Newfoundland and Labrador” compiled by The Newfoundland Historical Society. In a chapter called ‘The Twentieth Century’ the authors provide a brief overview of the significance of the events and in particular the campaign at Beaumont Hamel for Newfoundlanders. The Newfoundland Regiment was the only North American regiment to fight along aside the British and ANZACS (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) at Gallipoli in 1915.
“The Newfoundland Regiment fought with distinction at Gallipoli before being transferred to France. Its sacrifice in the Battle of the Somme stood out in particular. Near the village of Beaumont Hamel, on 1 July 1916 , 753 men marched into the German machine gun fire, leaving only sixty-eight able to answer roll call the next day. About one-third of the Regiment had been held in reserve in Great Britain, and, once reinforced with more recruits, it went on to fight in several more significant battles including Monchy-le-Preaux, Ypres and Cambri. In recognition of its role in these later two battles, the Regiment was awarded the title “Royal” the only regiment given this honor during the First World War.”
There are many other online sites where those interested can find out information about these events. The Rooms in St. John’s, Newfoundland have a wonderful online site containing information and videos about Newfoundland’s roll in World War 1 and The Veterans Canada page has wonderful information about the role Newfoundland soldiers played at all the sites visited by this documentary team.
I have included a couple of comments and photos circulated on Twitter about the significance of some places and events and the filming of the documentary for future references. Those thoughts, photos and selfies, and the thoughts and photos of others can be found on the official social media accounts of Allan, Mark and Alan and by searching the associated hashtags. There is a wonderful collection of photos and selfies on their official Instagram accounts.
(NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED)
Singing the Ode on Memorial Day in Beaumont Hamel…
Allan Hawco…(from the official accounts on Twitter and Instagram)
Allan Hawco @allanhawco #lastpostandchorus #trailofthecaribou #beaumonthamel 1 July 2015 (posted on Instagram a short video and circulated via Twitter)
Allan Hawco @allanhawco Wow. I got to sing the Ode to Newfoundland with @markcritch @alanthomasdoyle at #BeaumontHamel today. WHAT AN HONOUR 1 July 2015 (photo on Twitter)
Allan Hawco @allanhawco Preparing for the #beaumonthamel #trailofthecaribou Pass it on (four beautiful photos on Instagram) 1 July 2015
Allan Hawco@allanhawco Today is Canada Day for most but July 1st is a day of Remembrance at home. Dates back to the Dominion of Newfoundland days. #trailofthecaribou 1 July 2015
Mark Critch…(from the official account on Twitter)
Mark Critch @markcritch Beaumont Hamel #trailofthecaribou #BeaumontHamel 1 July 2015 (one photo on Twitter)
Mark Critch @markcritch NL Regiment tie, Poppy and Forget Me Not. All ready to pay tribute at Beaumont Hamel #trailorthecarbou 1 July 2015 (one photo from Twitter)
Alan Doyle...(from the official accounts on Twitter and Instagram)
Alan Doyle @alanthomasdoyle Been quite a July 1 for me as a Newfoundlander. Very grateful for it all. Would love to say good night with a Happy Canada Day to all. 1 July 2015
Darin King@king_darin Spectacular job by @alanthomasdoyle @allanhawco and @markcrtich on Ode to NL. Tks for being here @LegionNLCA @GovNL 1 July 2015 (photo on Twitter) (retweeted on Twitter by @allanhawco and @markcrtich)
Reply from Alan Doyle Thanks to @allanhawco and @markcritch for the help. 1 July 2015
Alan Doyle@alanthomasdoyle Honoured to be in Beaumont Hamel on this day. Singing the Ode at the Memorial Day Service on the very site where so many gave so much. 1 July 2015
Alan Doyle@alanthomasdoyle Lest We Forget 1 July 2015 (one photo on Twitter)
Tommy Rickets memorial in Belgium…
Alan Doyle...(from the official accounts on Twitter and Instagram)
Alan Doyle@alanthomasdoyle At the Tommy Rickets monument on the very farm in Rural Belgium where his bravery would later earn the Victoria Cross. 30 June 2015 (one photo on Twitter)
Mark Critch…(from the official account on Twitter )
Mark Critch…(from the official account on Twitter )
Mark Critch@markcritch This Belgium family put up a monument to Tommy Rickets in thanks to NL Regiment. @alanthomasdoyle sings for them 30 June 2015 (three photos on Twitter)
At the Somme…
Alan Doyle...(from the official accounts on Twitter and Instagram)
Alan Doyle@alanthomasdoyle Sunrise on the Somme. @allanhawco @markcritch 29 June 2015 (photo on Twitter) (retweeted by Allan Hawco and Mark Critch on Twitter)
Alan Doyle @alanthomasdoyle Very Early Rise to shoot with @allanhawco and @markcritch on the Somme. 29 June 2015
Beaumont Hamel…
Alan Doyle...(from the official accounts on Twitter and Instagram)
Alan Doyle @alanthomasdoyle With allanhawco and markcritch at Beaumont Hamel. Singing the Ode here July 1st, 2015. 99 years (photo on Instagram)
Alan Doyle @alanthomasdoyle With two of Newfoundland’s Finest @allanhawco @markcritch telling a story that has to be told from Beaumont Hamel. 29 June 2015 (photo on Twitter) (Retweeted on Twitter by Allan Hawco and Mark Critch)
Alan Doyle @alanthomasdoyle The Gents @allanhawco and @markcritch at Beaumont Hamel. 29 June 2015 (photo on Twitter)
Mark Critch...(from the official accounts on Twitter )
Mark Critch @markcritch In the trenches of Beaumont Hamel with @alanthomasdoyle #trailofthecaribou 29 June 2015
Alan Doyle arrives in France…
Alan Doyle...(from the official accounts on Twitter and Instagram)
Alan Doyle @alanthomasdoyle Early rise here in France. Off filming with @allanhawco and @markcritch following the path of NL’s WW1 Soldiers. So grateful for this chance 28 June 2015
Monchy-le-Preaux
Allan Hawco...(from the official accounts on Twitter and Instagram)
Allan Hawco @allanhawco #Monchylepreaux #trailofthecaribou 28 June 2015 (four beautiful photos on Instagram circulated on Twitter)
Mark Critch...(from the official accounts on Twitter)
Mark Critch @markcritch Monchy le Preaux – 9 Newfoundland soldiers held off 300 Germans here #trailofthecaribou 28 June 2015 (one photo on Twitter)
Kortrijk
Allan Hawco...(from the official accounts on Twitter and Instagram)
Allan Hawco@allanhawco #Kortrijk or as it was once known as #courtrai. My first time at this one. Beautiful 30 June 2015 (Four beautiful photos on Instagram circulated on Twitter)
Gueudecourt
Allan Hawco...(from the official accounts on Twitter and Instagram)
Allan Hawco @allanhawco #Gueudecourt 27 June 2015 (One photo on Instagram circulated on Twitter)
Allan Hawco @allanhawco #trailofthecaribou 27 June 2015 Gueudecourt Caribou Memorial in France. Breathtaking. (four photos on Instagram circulated on Twitter)
Mark Critch...(from the official account on Twitter)
Mark Critch @markcritch Gueudecort, France – memorial to the NL Regiment #trailofthecaribou 27 June 2015 (one photo on Twitter)
Turkey
Allan Hawco...(from the official accounts on Twitter and Instagram)
Allan Hawco@allanhawco Good bye Turkey, thank you for the beautiful hospitality. Such an enlightening experience tracking the steps of our NFLD Regiment took in WW1 26 June 2015.
Allan Hawco@allanhawco What all the fuss was about #Dananelles #trailofthecaribou 24 June 2015 (one photo on Instagram circulated on Twitter)
Allan Hawco @allanhawco Caribou Hill in Gallipoli, Turkey. The farthest the Allied Forces advance in Turkey during WW1. Named after the Newfoundland Regiment. It was a brutal campaign. 24 June 2015 (one photo on Instagram circulated on Twitter)
Allan Hawco @allanhawco Good times being had as well on this solum pilgrimage. #trailofthecaribou (one photo on Instagram with Mark Critch and circulated on Twitter)
Allan Hawco @allanhawco Kangaroo Beach – where the NFLD regiment saw it’s first action in WW1 1915 #trailofthecaribou 22 June 2015 (one photo on Instagram and circulated on Twitter)
Mark Critch...(from the official account on Twitter)
Rod Etheridge @rodethridge @allanhawco @markcritch at beach NLers evacuated when Allies left Gallipoli Peninsula @CBCNL #trailofthecarbou 23 June 2015 (one photo retweeted by Mark Critch on Twitter)
Rod Etheridge @rodethridge @allanhawco @markcritch @CBNL #trailof thecaribou 23 June 2015 (one photo retweeted by Mark Critch on Twitter)
Mark Critch @markcritch Mayo Lind wrote home to Newfoundland from these fields #trailofthecarbou 23 June 2015 (one photo on Twitter)
Rod Etheridge @rodethridge Caribou Hill in Gallipoli w/ @allanhawco @markcritch #trailof thecaribou @CBNL 23 June 2015 (one photo retweeted by Mark Critch on Twitter)
