Perspectives On The Front

Charles Taylor was a cooper – one of the largest trades in St. John’s at the time. Like many other men in the city Taylor responded to Governor Walter Davidson’s Proclamation on 21st August, 1914, for those between 19 and 35 years old to answer the Country’s call. He made his way to the Church Lads Brigade Armoury where he enlisted on 9th September. 

Charles followed his younger cousin Victor Taylor, also of Southside, who had enlisted a week earlier. Victor survived the war – he was in Brigade Headquarters on the morning of 1 July, 1916.  

On Saturday, October 3, 1914, the First 500 left the camp at Pleasantville, marched up Quidi Vidi, Kings Bridge, and boarded the S.S. Florizel. The Florizel joined the Canadian Contingent off Cape Race for the ten day journey to Plymouth.  

From Plymouth, Charles Taylor  experienced the adventures and indignities of Cairo, and the death and suffering of Suvla Bay. After three months in Gallipoli the Regiment departed Helles under heavy enemy shelling, setting sail for Mudros and Alexandria, arriving in Suez in January, 1916. Two months later the Regiment left for Marseilles, arriving in late March and entraining for the Somme.

The Newfoundland Regiment’s experience at Beaumont Hamel is well documented. Their advance was made over the open from the rear trenches known as St. Johns Road and Clonmel Avenue. Despite heavy losses the survivors steadily advanced until close to the enemy’s wire – but by then, few remained. Against the withering fire men tucked their chins into their shoulders as if facing a blizzard of sleet and snow.

Y Ravine Cemetery – in the location that was the target of the Newfoundlanders attack on 1 July, 1916 – lies a short distance from the Danger Tree, the farthest advance of the Regime