Countdown begins to 100th anniversary of Beaumont Hamel

In a hundred days time, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians will mark the 100th anniversary of the deadly battle of Beaumont-Hamel.

On July 1, 1916, 324 men of the Newfoundland Regiment were killed within minutes during a failed advance near the Somme River in France, forever changing the course of Newfoundland's history.

Commemorations will be launched across the province over the coming weeks to remember the lives that were lost and families that were torn apart by the First World War tragedy a century ago.

The Rooms will hold a series of events counting down to its July 1 Memorial Day event, which will feature the opening of a permanent Royal Newfoundland Regiment Gallery.

Princess Anne will also visit the province on July 1.

On Wednesday, the CBC is launching its 16 for 16 project, which will ask residents across Newfoundland and Labrador for one word that describes, for them, the province's First World War experience.

Rooms CEO Dean Brinton and former chief of defence staff Rick Hillier will join CBC Newfoundland and Labrador's Executive Producer Peter Gullage on the St. John's Morning Show on Wednesday to preview the 100 days of commemoration.