Beaumont-Hamel 'Freedom 100 Tour' personal journey for N.L. travel agent, clients

A St. John's travel agent whose family has a deep military history has spent three years planning a group trip to Beaumont-Hamel for the 100th anniversary, and so far, 145 people have signed on.

"A lot of them have had some family connection to the 801 members of the [Royal Newfoundland] Regiment," said Derek Winsor. "Others just have a keen interest as Newfoundlanders to be there to commemorate the fallen soldiers and what they sacrificed for us to be free today."

For Winsor, it's more than business. It's personal. His father fought in Korea, and his grandfather was a veteran of the First World War. 

"Dad was one of the first Canadians to sign up for the Korean conflict and it was always on his bucket list to attend the 100th anniversary (of Beaumont-Hamel)," said Winsor. 

When his father passed away five years ago, Winsor decided he would use his travel company and contacts to plan the special trip for others.

Wartime scars

Winsor grew up hearing stories about the war.

Harold Winsor signed up to go to Korea the day after his 19th birthday. He worked as a cook in the mess hall, and spent time feeding starving Korean children. Winsor says the experience left his father with post-traumatic stress disorder. 

"He [saw] a lot of things a lot of people probably should never have seen," said Winsor. "He dealt with it in a lot of personal ways, alcohol was a big issue ... but luckily when I was young he found a way to battle that demon."

Winsor said his father stayed sober for 40 years, and he's grateful for support from Veterans Affairs.

But the war left a scar on his family, and he feels the hundreds of lives lost during the battle of Beaumont-Hamel did the same to the province. 

"Can you imagine if [all of] those 801 Newfoundlanders returned back to Newfoundland? Who's to say how votes in elections would have taken place, and the size of families, the number of people, it changed the entire course of our history." 

'What my dad would want'

The journey to France and Belgium this summer is '90 per cent emotion" for Winsor.

The 10-day "Freedom 100 Tour" will make several stops including Dieppe, Juno Beach, Vimy Ridge, and Beaumont-Hamel.

Those who signed on paid $3,350 each, plus airfare and will be among nearly 1,200 people attending the commemoration ceremony on July 1.

Winsor said when his four motorcoaches leave the memorial park, he hopes the passengers will sing the Ode to Newfoundland.

"I think the Ode is a very personal thing to Newfoundlanders, and I think that it's a very personal thing to leave for the soldiers who sacrificed their life for us."

Winsor says when the tour returns from France he plans to make a cash donation to the Royal Canadian Legion's Poppy Fund. 

"I hope that through this experience I will be able to continue and support the community with the business and do other things in the community to support individuals as well. I think that's what my dad would want."

His company, E&B Travel Services, plans to offer smaller-scale travel packages and guided tours to Beaumont-Hamel for the next five years.