During the First World War, Beaumont-Hamel was close to the front line.
The Battle of the Somme was the regiment's first major engagement, and during an assault that lasted approximately 30 minutes the regiment was all but wiped out.
On 1 July 1916, 780 men who went forward. Only about 110 survived, of whom only 68 were available for roll call the following day. There was a casualty rate of approximately 80%.
Newfoundland commemorates this event as Memorial Day on 1 July each year.