The Fighting Newfoundlander: A History of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment

by G.W.L. Nicholson

When the First World War began, Newfoundland had been without any kind of military organisation for more than half a century. Public spirited citizens immediately formed themselves into a Patriotic Association and within sixty days had recruited, partially equipped and dispatched 537 officers and men overseas. "The Fighting Newfoundlander" is a vivid history of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment - the "Blue Puttees" - and its heroic contributions to the war effort. Gerald Nicholson details the harrowing experiences of the Newfoundland Regiment (the only Canadian unit) at Gallipoli and later at Beaumont Hamel where 710 of the 801 officers and men who took part in the assault died. He also follows them to the Third Battle of Ypres and Cambrai, for which they were granted the title "Royal" - the only army unit to receive such a distinction during World War I. Nicholson also places the regiment in a larger historical context through an exploration of the colonization of Newfoundland and its contributions to the War of 1812, the American War of Independence, and the American Civil War. "The Fighting Newfoundlanders" is an illuminating history of the Blue Puttees and their community.

658 pages, Hardcover

First published October 10, 2006

Reviews

[Roy]

The Fighting Newfoundlander is a vivid history of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment - the " the Blue Puttees " - its community , and its heroic contributions to the war effort. Gerald Nicholoson details the harrowing experience of the Newfoundland regiment at Gallopi and later at Beaumont Hamel , where 710 of the 801 officers and men who took part in the assault died . He follows them to the Third battle of Ypres and Cambrai, for which they were granted the title " Royal " - the only army unit to receive such a distinction during World War I . When World War I began , Newfoundland had been without any kind of military almost half a century , Public - spirited citizens immediately formed themselves into a patriotic Association and within sixty days had, partially equipped , and dispatched 537 officers and men overseas..This is a book about men trained to kill and avoid not to be killed .

[Ashleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book is a fantastic piece of writing about Newfoundland’s military history. I bought it last spring assuming it would be heavily focused on Beaumont Hamel, a topic of great interest to me, but it was so much more than that. The Fighting Newfoundlander takes you through the full Newfoundland military experience as a British colony. It's long book but it is full of a courageous history of a very proud people.