World War I began in August 1914. The closest thing to a military force at the time in Newfoundland was a branch of the Royal Naval Reserve, the St. John’s Rifle Club and four church boys’ cadet corps. There were also branches of the Legion of Frontiersman. These were made up of veterans and men with woods and sea experience. It was decided that Newfoundland would support the British war effort by raising land and sea forces. The Newfoundland Regiment and naval reserve were expanded.
The Newfoundland Regiment fought the Turks in Gallipoli. On July 1st , 1916, the regiment advanced near Beaumont Hamel in France. The ground was pitted with shell craters and strewn with barbed wire. The Germans had trained their guns on this area. Of the 800 men sent into battle, 700 were killed, wounded or listed as missing. Many losses followed in October.
The number of new recruits could not keep pace with the losses. At that rate, it was feared that the Royal Newfoundland Regiment would cease to exist. In St. John’s, it was felt that the honour of the country was at stake. There was less support for the war in the outports. The fishery was healthy and required a supply of healthy young men. Poor recruiting also hampered the outport war effort. Newfoundlanders remained very patriotic. Great fundraising drives were held in aid of those at the front.