The Great Wars - St. John's, Newfoundland
Posted by: 
elyob
N 47° 33.700 W 052° 42.495
22T E 371498 N 5268997
This sign can be visited along the Harbourside Walk North.
Waymark Code: WMT0A7
Location: Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Date Posted: 09/02/2016
Views: 2
There are shops and restaurants nearby.
WWI
During the Great War Newfoundland was determined to contribute to the British war effort. The country raised its own regiment at heavy cost - in both men and money. While the Newfoundland Regiment was favoured by recruits from St. John's, outport recruits tended to favour the Navy Reserve.
There were relatively few casualties until the opening day of the Battle of the Somme (July 1, 1916), when the destructive capabilities of modern warfare became abundantly clear at Beaumont Hamel. More than 700 Newfoundlanders lost their lives on this day. Since Confederation, this day has been both celebrated as Canada Day and commemorated as Memorial Day, as it is referred to here, with wreath-laying ceremonies being held at all local war memorial monuments.
WWII
During World War II Newfoundland's geographic position - as a stepping-stone between North America and Europe and as a key to North America's forward defence - made for "unprecedented congestion" in St. John's habour.
The harbour was the home of the Newfoundland Escort Force - the principal western base and turn-around point for escort ships on convoy duty. During the height of the Battle of the Atlantic (1941-1943), the Canadian and Americans totally revamped the harbour's wharves, dockyards and ship repair facilities. The American dock was located at the northeast end of the harbour (Maggoty Cove) to supply Fort Pepperrell, and the Royal Canadian Navy dock on the Southside. St. John's harbour was ringed with barracks for naval personnel and a network of anti-submarine and anti-aircraft batteries - while the streets teemed with crews from visiting vessels on shore leave.