The End of the Caribou Trail

 When my sister and I were in France and Belgium in 2019, we visited Beaumont-Hamel which is one of the WWI battlegrounds where the Newfoundland regiments fought.  There are five sites in France and Belgium where memorials commemorate their accomplishments.  At each site, there is a statue of a caribou which was the representative animal for Newfoundland.  There is a statue in Bowring Park in St. John's which represents the end of this "trail".  At this site, are plaques listing the names of soldiers, sailors and seamen from Newfoundland who lost their lives in that war for whom there is no known grave.  It was quite something to see it, particularly as we had already seen two of the five in Europe.  




Later, we found out there is also another park here with details of the sites in Europe.  It is called The Trail of the Caribou Memorial Park and it is on Quidi Vidi Lake across from the Legion near the military base there.  I am not sure what I was expecting there but it was smaller than I thought it would be.  Still, it provides detailed information about the Caribou Trail.  As well, in 2020, one more site has been added to the Caribou Trail and it is located in Gallipoli, Turkey, where again Newfoundland regiments made a significant contribution to the war.  There is plenty of info on the Internet detailing each site and why they are important in the Allied victory in the First World war.  One site that is particularly helpful is:  The Long, Long Trail.  These photos are some of the many info plaques at the memorial park.











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