This is a reminder that, whatever else it might mean good or bad to other people in Canada, July 1 has a poignant aspect in Newfoundland and Labrador.
That was the day the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, nicknamed the "Blue Puttees" for the unusual colour of their uniforms' puttees (leg wrappings) suffered more than 700 casualties
in an attempt to seize the village of Beaumont-Harnel from the Germans. The Regiment's
casualty rate was a horrifying 90%, but in spite of this the Regiment continued to serve loyally, such as at the Third Battle of Ypres and the Battle of Cambrai.
It's fitting that these gentlemen received this treatment on July 1, in memory of their predecessors' courage. Great Big Sea paid tribute to the Blue Puttees in their song "Recruiting Sergeant":
CKA Moderator 
