House of Assembly
March 10, 2016
Legislature to Commemorate the First World War and the Battle of Beaumont Hamel
The Speaker of the House of Assembly, the Honourable Tom Osborne, announced that today the House of Assembly will acknowledge and honour those from the Dominion of Newfoundland, now Newfoundland and Labrador, who lost their lives in the First World War.
2014 to 2018 marks the Centennial of the First World War and this year marks the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Beaumont Hamel. The sons and daughters of the Dominion of Newfoundland sacrificed and served bravely in:
- The Royal Newfoundland Regiment;
- The Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve;
- The Newfoundland Mercantile Marine;
- The Newfoundland Forestry Corps;
- Members of the Nursing Sisters and the Volunteer Aid Detachments; as well as other units of the Allied War Effort.
“I believe it is incumbent upon this House, and all of us as Members and representatives of the people of our province, to give due recognition to those who lost their lives during the First World War. The debt owed to the heroes of that war, both the fallen and those we welcomed home, is immeasurable. May our generation and those who follow always remember the brave men and women who purchased for us the freedom we enjoy today.”
- Honourable Tom Osborne, Speaker of the House of Assembly
To honour our fallen heroes from the First World War, on each regular sitting day a different Member will rise to read 40 names from the list of over 1,600 from the Dominion of Newfoundland who paid the ultimate sacrifice. The names are compiled from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission records, which are believed to be the most accurate and complete listings available. The tribute will continue until all have been rightfully honoured in the House of Assembly.
To begin the Legislature’s commemoration of the First World War, the Speaker, the Premier, the Leader of the Official Opposition and the Member for St. John’s East – Quidi Vidi will each read 40 names into the record today followed by a moment of silence.
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Media contact:
Marie Keefe
Policy and Communications Officer
House of Assembly
709-729-6943
mariekeefe@gov.nl.ca
2016 03 10 12:15 p.m.