16 for 16: How school kids see the Battle of Beaumont-Hamel

When CBC Newfoundland and Labrador put a call out for words to describe one of the most iconic battles of the First World War, we never imagined the most moving answers would come from a group of 10-year-olds.

• 16 for 16: What's your one word to describe Beaumont-Hamel?

Cindy Sullivan's Grade 5 class at Rennie's River Elementary in St. John's have been studying the Battle of Beaumont-Hamel.

When they saw CBC's call for 16 words to commemorate the battle in 1916, the students submitted words that came to their minds.

"When the soldiers [went] to war, they had hope that they would win."

"I picked the word faith because the soldiers who fought, had a lot of faith to go to war, risk their lives and leave their families behind."

"The people who went to war had to leave their family behind. They must have been so sad."

"This word describes the war perfectly. It was horrible, tragic, and scary. No one ever felt safe."

"I picked this word because the soldiers must have been scared and nervous.  They were so afraid they might die or be injured."

"In order for the soldiers to go into war, they needed to work together and be a team."

"I choose this word because it is depressing to think about how many Newfoundlanders died so quickly."

"It was scary for the families at home wondering if their son/husband/father would make it back. It was also so scary for the soldiers because they could die."

"This is a good word to describe the war because it was a bloody and dreadful battle."

"It was a tragic moment because hundreds of Newfoundland soldiers died in battle."

"Everything was getting destroyed, so many people were dying."

"I choose this word because there is no reason this war had to happen. It was a pointless event."

"Beaumont-Hamel was a disaster because men were dying, the land was being destroyed and the families at home were worried for their loved ones."

"It is unnecessary to have to fight over something like this. It should never have happened."

"I picked this word because of how terrible it must have been."

"The battle must have been very intense.  Bombs exploding, guns being fired and men screaming."

"The soldiers were brave to go to war and the families were brave at home to let them go."

"It is sad that families had to lose a father, a son or a brother in war."

"Soldiers put their own life on the line for others."