Canada, Dominion. A Victory Medal to Pte Brent, Royal Newfoundland Regiment, Killed at Beaumont Hamel, 1916

A First War Victory Medal, in bronze gilt, full size, rim impressed 1794 PTE. D. BRENT. R.NEWF'D R., worn on an original ribbon, light wear and spotted areas of gilt loss/ discolouration, minor contact marks, suspension mark slightly misshapen, an extremely rare victory medal to a Royal Newfoundland Regiment soldier, in very fine condition. 

Accompanied by a printed photo copy of Pte. Brent. 

Footnote: Private David Brent served with the Royal Newfoundland Regiment at the age of 23 during the First World War. He was killed on the first of July, 1916 during the advance of Beaumont Hamel, the first day of the Battle of the Somme. 

Prior to the war, he worked as a lumberman in Botwood, Newfoundland. He enlisted on August 27, 1915, and embarked for Southampton on June 14, 1916, with the Newfoundland Regiment. 

Brent was reported ‘missing’ prior to being reported ‘killed in action' early July 1916. His relatives were informed that he was missing on July 31st via telegraph, and later that he was reported killed on October 7, 1916. 

A letter in his file, written by Reverend J. T. Newman on behalf of Mrs. John Brent, dated September 25 1916, states: 

"Dear sir; 

On Saturday night last, Mrs Brent, mother of Private David Brent No. 1794, who is reported missing since July 1st, brought a letter that she had received from a young woman in Scotland who knew her son. The young woman states that a wounded soldier who was in the drive of July 1st, reports that David Brent was first slightly wounded in the arm & afterwards was shot through the body & killed. 

I answered the mother that no official report had been sent. Of course, the parents are very anxious to know the truth about their son & they have written to the young woman asking for the name of the wounded soldier. I thought it best to report the matter to you. 
I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient Servant, Rev. T Newman.” 

One year after Brent was killed, his family received notice about his belongings and the balance of $20.40 on his estate. On April 13, 1919, a cheque for $850.00 was sent to the family as the amount paid in continuance of this soldier’s allotment. 

During the First War, the Newfoundland regiment was the only North American unit to fight in the Gallipoli campaign in 1915. On July 1, 1916, the regiment was nearly wiped out at Beaumont Hamel, on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. Of the approximate 800 soldiers, a total of 324 men were killed, with 386 wounded and a mere 68 of the regiment surviving the battle. It was one of the deadliest days of the First War, as a total of 19,240 British and Commonwealth soldiers lost their lives, and over 38,000 were wounded. Approximately 8000 German soldiers suffered casualties. 

The regiment was later rebuilt and continued to serve throughout France and Belgium. In December 1917, King George V bestowed the regiment with the right to use the prefix “Royal” before its name. It was the only military unit to receive this honour during the war. When the armistice was signed in 1918, 6,241 men had served in the Royal Newfoundland Regiment. Of those, 1,304 were killed. 

Private David Brent is commemorated at the Beaumont-Hamel (Newfoundland) Memorial, Somme, France. Tribute is paid to the soldiers at  Beaumont Hamel Memorial Park, by way of a large bronze caribou statue, the emblem of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, overlooking St John’s Road. The statue’s base has three bronze tablets which carry the names of the over 800 members of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, the Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve, and the Mercantile Marine, who gave their lives in the First World War and have no known grave. Private Brent is among them.