Prince Charles honours regiment at Beaumont-Hamel ceremony in France

Princes Charles and his wife Camilla were among thousands taking in the 100thanniversary commemoration ceremony in Beaumont-Hamel, France,on Friday.

• Trail of the Caribou: Watch our full documentary online
• Beaumont-Hamel: What happened, and what went wrong

"This magnificent and moving monument which we find ourselvesgathered today reminds us of the sacrifices of the sons of Newfoundland and Labrador," said Charles.

It was one of several stopsfor the Prince of Wales throughout the dayto mark the centennial of the start of theBattle of the Somme.

Charlesofferedsome words about the Newfoundland Regiment's role in the Great War.

"The caribou bears solemn witness to their heroic action, of all the battles fought by the Royal Newfoundland Regiment during the First World War, none was as devastating or defining as the first day of the Battle of the Somme."

Charles, whose great-grandfather KingGeorge Vgave the Regiment the royaldistinction a year after Beaumont-Hamel, said the the men who died that day shared the same values as other in the commonwealth who died during the FirstWorld War and other wars thatfollowed.

"We said then, and since that we will never forget, and we never have," he said. "Courage and determination to stand up for what we believe, whatever the odds and whatever the cost."

Sing You Home

8 years ago

Duration 4:35

Jason Whelan and Allison Walsh perform the Ennis Sisters song "Sing You Home" at Beaumont-Hamel, France.

Many of the thousands of people who flocked to the memorial had travelled from Newfoundland and Labrador, which marks July 1 each year as Memorial Day, as well as Canada Day.

"They gave without reserve and we pay homage to them, those who literally made Canada," Charles said.

"Together with all Canadians we remember those lives cut short and in so doing rededicate ourselvesto their eternal and living memory as an example to current generations and to generations yet unborn.

"We will not forget them."

Beaumont-Hamel remembered 100 years later

8 years ago

Duration 3:34

Some Canadians travelled to Beaumont-Hamel in France, where 100 years ago, hundreds of Newfoundlanders were killed in one of the bloodiest battles of human history