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 studentssubmitted words that came to their minds.

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

"I picked the word faith because the soldiers who fought, hada lot of faith to go to war, risk their lives and leave theirfamilies 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 beenscared and nervous. They were so afraid they might die or beinjured."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"It is unnecessary to have to fight over something like this. Itshould 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 werebrave at home to let them go."

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

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