Newfoundland in the World Wars - St John's cemetery, Canada

On land, in the air and at sea, the men and women of Newfoundland and Labrador played an important role in both world wars. Read on to discover more about Newfoundland in the world wars and the commemoration of its war dead. 

Newfoundland in the First World War

Newfoundland was a self-governing Dominion of the British Empire in 1914, and raised a force of volunteers which would become the 1st Battalion Newfoundland Regiment. 

Given its location on the Atlantic coast, Newfoundland has a rich maritime heritage, and so it was only natural that many Newfoundlanders would serve with the navy or on the merchant ships that provided a vital supply link between North America and Europe. 

Some Newfoundlanders, such as Bertha Bartlett, would volunteer for medical duties. In 1916, aged 21, Bertha volunteered with the Canadian Military Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD). VAD’s were civilian organisations established to provide nursing and patient care to the armed forces of the British Empire. 

Bertha arrived in England in 1916 and worked throughout the war, first at the 4th Northern General Hospital in Lincoln, and then at The Bermondsey institute in London. She died in November 1918 while treating victims of the Spanish Flu Pandemic after contracting the illness herself. She was buried in Wandsworth (Earlsfield) Cemetery in London, alongside 17 other Newfoundlanders. 

Newfoundland soldiers of the First World War

More than 8,000 enlisted in the Newfoundland Regiment, the Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve and the Newfoundland Forestry Corps during the course of the war. 

Many others served at sea, as part of the Royal Naval Reserve and in the merchant navy, or in the air, often with Canadian or British formations. An estimated 35 percent of all men of military age served in the conflict.

Newfoundland and Labrador forces served with distinction during the war. Winston Churchill, in his position as First Lord of the Admiralty dubbed them “the hardiest and most skilful boatmen in rough seas who exist”. 

Two Newfoundlanders were awarded Victoria Crosses during the war - the highest honour one could achieve in the British Empire forces. 

Aged just 17, Tommy Ricketts was awarded his VC while serving for the Royal Newfoundland Regiment in Belgium in 1918. His citation reads that “By his presence of mind in anticipating the enemy intention and his utter disregard for personal safety” Ricketts made a dangerous run across the battlefield to resupply his platoon with ammunition, leading to the capture of four field guns, four machine guns and eight prisoners. 

Originally from Newfoundland, John Bernard Croak, volunteered for the Canadian army in 1915. He was awarded his VC for his actions during the 1918 Battle of Amiens, where, after being injured while attacking an enemy machine gun emplacement, he led the charge against a strongly fortified section of the line, capturing three machine guns and killing or capturing the entire garrison. His citation reads: “The perseverance and valour of this gallant soldier, who was again severely wounded, and died of his wounds, were an inspiring example to all.”

He is commemorated at the CWGC’s Hangard Wood British Cemetery near Amiens, France. 

World War 1 Newfoundland regiment

After initial training in Britain and then Egypt, the formation served at Gallipoli before being sent to France. 

On 1 July 1916, the opening day of the Battle of the Somme, the Newfoundlanders suffered devastating casualties at Beaumont-Hamel. 

It remains the Newfoundlanders most well known action of the war, owing to the huge number lost by the regiment that day. Every officer of the regiment was either killed or injured during the battle, and from an original strength of 800, only 68 men were able to answer roll call the following morning - the rest were killed, injured or missing. 

Such was the measure of the sacrifice made here by the Newfoundland Regiment, that the battlefield of Beaumont Hamel was chosen as the site for a memorial to all those Newfoundlanders who died during the First World War, including from the Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve and Newfoundland Mercantile Marine, and who have no known grave. 

After a period of rest, they returned to fight at Gueudecourt in October 1916 and continued to serve on the Western Front for the duration of the war. 

In recognition of the regiment’s service it was granted a 'Royal' prefix, becoming the Royal Newfoundland Regiment in January 1918.

Newfoundland in World War 2

Unlike the First World War, Newfoundland did not raise its own overseas regiment, instead around 22,000 Newfoundland volunteers joined other Commonwealth armed forces. 

Nearly 3,000 Newfoundlanders joined the British Royal Navy, serving at sea across all theatres of war, with another 10,000 serving with the merchant navy, a role as vital as it was dangerous, for these supply convoys were under constant threat from German U-boats. 

Close to 2,400 Newfoundland volunteers served in the British Royal Artillery, forming the The 166th (Newfoundland) Field Regiment, which served in Britain, North Africa and Italy, and the 59th (Newfoundland) Heavy Regiment, which was based in Britain before seeing action in Western Europe later in the war. Around 3,600 members of the Newfoundland Overseas Forestry Unit worked in forests across the UK, felling vital timber for the war effort. 

Just over 700 volunteers joined the Royal Air Force, as aircrew and ground staff, some of which formed the No. 125 (Newfoundland) Squadron, formed in 1941 following a war loan from the Newfoundland Commission of Government. 125 Squadron operated predominantly as night fighters, and were later a part of Operation Overlord - the invasion of Normandy - flying protective patrols over the beaches, and later were used to combat the infamous V1 Flying bomb.

Closer to home, 1,100 volunteers joined the Canadian armed forces, with a further 500 women also serving in the women’s branches. 1,600 men also served in Newfoundland itself, forming the Newfoundland Militia, a home defence force, guarding strategic areas of the region against possible attack.

Image: Newfoundland armourers at work on the squadrons aircraft (standing on the wing) A/C Bill Rogers of Marystown; in turret A/C Eric Calver of St. Johns; and LAC "Hank" Ploughman of Port Rexton. © IWM (CH 4606)

How was Canada involved in the World Wars?

Canada was called to war in 1914 and her men soon earned distinction on the battlefields of the western front as an effective fighting force, displaying courage, resilience and tenacity in some of the defining battles of the war. 

The Canadian Corps defining moment came with the capture of Vimy Ridge in 1917 but the Canadian troops played vital roles in both France and Belgium, in particular at the Third Battle of Ypres. 

In no small part through her actions during the war, Canada was being a major player on the world stage, having their own signature on the Treaty of Versailles at the end of the war, becoming an independent member of the League of Nations and becoming self-governing dominion. 

When war returned to Europe and spread across the globe, Canada again took up arms. Canadians fought at sea and in the air, and played a key role in the European theatre, especially in Italy, France and the Low Countries. 

How many war graves are in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada?

The CWGC commemorates close to 500 casualties of the war in the Canadian province. 

Around 200 of these burials are split between two cemeteries, St. John’s (Mount Pleasant) Cemetery and Gander War Cemetery, both on the island of Newfoundland. Most of the rest of the burials on the island are smaller sites, often individual burials in local cemeteries. 

Our largest site in the province of Labrador is the Goose Bay Joint Services Cemetery, a short distance from Goose Bay Airport, which started life as a Royal Air Force base used for the transport of aircraft to England by the RAF Ferry Command. 32 casualties are buried here, predominantly aircrew who lost their lives when their aircraft crashed in the area. 

Remembering Newfoundland war dead

First World War dead in Newfoundland

Many of the Newfoundland and Labrador war dead of World War One are buried and commemorated at the cemeteries and on the memorials of Gallipoli and the Western Front. 

However, 132 Newfoundland casualties of the war are commemorated at home in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. 

Most of these casualties died in 1918 and in the years immediately after the war - it is highly likely that these deaths were caused by the Spanish Flu pandemic, an incredibly fatal, worldwide influenza outbreak that killed millions of people around the world. 

At least one more World War One casualty will soon be buried in Newfoundland. To mark the 100 year anniversary of the National War Memorial in St John’s, an unknown Newfoundland  soldier will be repatriated from the battlefields of France to be interred at the memorial to honour the lives lost by all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who lost their lives in service to their country. 

Second World War casualties in Newfoundland

Even before the war, Newfoundland had an important role in the development of flight. As the most easterly point on the west coast of the Atlantic. Opened in 1938, Newfoundland Airport (later Gander Airport) was a vital refuelling point for trans-Atlantic flights, particularly between London and New York. 

Throughout the war, American and Canadian factories churned out an incredible number of aircraft. Instead of sailing them across the Atlantic, where German U-boats were constantly hunting for fresh prey, planes destined for Europe were often flown across the Atlantic, via Gander and a Canadian air force base at Goose Bay, Labrador. 

Nearly 350 Commonwealth war dead are commemorated in Newfoundland and Labrador, almost half of whom served in either the Royal Air Force or the Royal Canadian Air Force, and were based at these vital airfields, or who flew in and out, transporting planes or providing vital anti-submarine patrols over the North Atlantic. 

One of the biggest losses of life on a single day in Newfoundland during World War Two was the result of a fire at The Knights of Columbus Hostel in St. John’s, on 12 December 1942, during an event attended by a large number of military personnel. 

More than 70 Commonwealth casualties from that day are buried at cemeteries in St. Johns, including at St. John’s (Mount Pleasant) Cemetery. 

Remembering the fallen at St John's (Mount Pleasant) Newfoundland cemetery

The capital of the Newfoundland and Labrador region of Canada, St. Johns, is home to the largest CWGC site in the province. Thanks to its harbour, which was easily defensible due to its narrow entrance, St. John’s was a hive of military activity throughout the war as the British and Canadian navies used it as a base of operations for anti-submarine warfare in the Atlantic ocean. 

St. John’s (Mount Pleasant) Cemetery is home to more than 100 Commonwealth war dead of the two world wars. Most of the casualties commemorated here are of World War Two, predominantly men of the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve and the Royal Newfoundland Regiment who died in a hotel fire in 1942. 

The cemetery also contains a screen wall memorial which commemorates Commonwealth casualties of both wars whose graves are in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador but cannot be maintained. 

Visit the CWGC in Canada

Commonwealth war dead of both world wars are commemorated across Newfoundland and Labrador and the rest of Canada. You can use our website to discover Canadian war records, sites across Canada that you might never have known about, or learn more about the cemeteries and memorials across the world where Canadian soldiers are commemorated. 

The population of Newfoundland may be relatively small, but alongside their Canadian brethren and the rest of the Commonwealth, their contribution and sacrifice was enormous. We will continue to care for their memory in perpetuity and hope that you will pay a visit to their graves and memorials near you.