The Royal Newfoundland Regiment is one of the oldest regiments in North America. Originally raised in the late 1700's as a Fencible unit (a regular as opposed to militia unit, but limited to serving on the continent it was raised on, either North America or Europe)
During the late 18th and early 19th centuries the Regiment was disbanded and reraised several times. For the most part this was at the end of hostilities, although once it was for "Fenian sympathies" as basically the whole Bn it appeared was full of Irish rebels (big surprise considering it was recruited from a colony full of Irish settlers).
It left Atlantic Canada in the early 1800's to garrison first Lower and then Upper Canada. When the War of 1812 broke out it was one of the most experience regular units available for the defence of Upper Canada. Detachments of company size served in almost every major engagement in the theatre of operations; including the battles of Detroit River Raisin, Ogdensburg, York, Miami, Sacket's Harbor, Fort George, Lake Erie, defence of Mackinac
After hostilities ended the regiment returned to Newfoundland and eventually was reduced to nil strength in the late 1800's
It was raised again in 1914. The initial 500 volunteers were known as the first 500 or the Blue Puttees. After training they joined the 29th British Division and were the only non pre war regular battalion in that formation. They landed at Sulva Bay Gallipoli in September 1915 and fought there until the end of that campaign.
1 July 1916 was the first day of what later became known as the Battle of the Somme. The battle lasted until November, but the first day set the record for most casualties in a single day. The British Army lost 20,000 killed and 40,000 wounded in the space of 24 hours.
The Newfoundland Regiment had it especially bad with the most casualties of any unit on July 1st 1916. The front line trenches were so choked with dead, they couldn't move up to the start line so they had to go over the top from behind their front line trenches. 800 men left their trenches, and within 15 minutes or so over 700 of them were hit. None made it beyond the friendly barbed wire. Only 65 men answered roll call that evening. Not one community on the small island was without a loss that day.
The unit was rebuilt and went on to serve throughout the war transferring in 1918 to the 40th Division.
The Newfoundland Regiment was actually granted their Royal Prefix in 1917 for their actions at Cambrai by King George V. The only Empire and/or Commonwealth Regiment to be so honoured in this manner while still engaged in hostilities. Usually a regiment receives the honorific after hostilities have ended in recognition of their achievements in a particular battle, campaign, war etc.
BTW it's not the first time the regiment has been "Royal" During the 18th and 19th centuries it was the Royal Newfoundland Regiment and/or the Royal Newfoundland Fencibles during it's earlier incarnations. For some reason when the unit was reconstituted in 1914 the "Royal" was not retained.
Battle honours earned: GALLIPOLI, 1915-16, Egypt 1915-16, YPRES 1917-18
LANGEMARK 1917, France and Flanders 1916-18, POELCAPELLE, ALBERT (BEAUMONT HAMEL) 1916, CAMBRAI 1917 Somme 1916, LYS, LE TRANSLOV, BAILEUL, Arras 1917, Kemmel, Scarpe 1917, COURTRAI (The ones in caps on Regimental Colours)
VC won by Pte Thomas Ricketts Oct 14, 1918 (Incidentally at age 17 one of the youngest recipients ever awarded this honour) In addtition 3 DSOs 8 OBEs, 9 MBEs, 30 MCs, 6 bars to MCs, 31 DCMs and 108 MMs were awarded to member sof the Regiment from 1915-1918
The last time it was disbanded and the Colours laid up was at the end of WWI. The request to the British to reactivate the regiment for service in WW2 was denied, and two regiments of Royal Artillery were raised instead. It was then reconstituted again in 1949 in its present form.
Zartan I would be very interested in your sources re the units youn mentioned especially the deployment to Gibraltar as I've come across it.
Grandfather 
