Final Caribou Monument Installed in Gallipoli

The Trail of the Caribou is now complete. The sixth and final caribou was installed in Gallipoli, Turkey Tuesday.

After nearly a decade of collective efforts, a sixth bronze caribou monument has been installed in Gallipoli, Turkey, thereby finally completing the Trail of the Caribou.

The project cost $245,000.

This monument honours the Royal Newfoundland Regiment’s involvement in the Gallipoli Campaign. The Gallipoli campaign occurred in World War I and took place on the Gallipoli peninsula, from February 17, 1915, to January 9, 1916. The Gallipoli campaign was intended to force Germany's ally, Turkey, out of the war.

The bronze caribou weighs approximately 1,500 pounds and measures approximately 10 feet from the nose to the back and approximately eight feet from top to bottom. It has been placed 25 metres northwest of the Hill 10 Cemetery in Gallipoli, which is the resting place for eight Royal Newfoundland Regiment soldiers, including Private Hugh McWhirter of Humbermouth, Bay of Islands, the Regiment’s first casualty at Gallipoli.

The Trail of the Caribou extends throughout northern France, Belgium, and Turkey Bronze caribou monuments are established at Beaumont-Hamel, Masnières, Gueudecourt, Monchy-le-Preux, Kortrijk and now, Gallipoli, to signify the Regiment’s contributions and sacrifices near these communities.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, an unveiling event did not occur in Gallipoli but an event is planned for whenever travel restrictions ease.

First Picture: Wreaths were laid at the site on behalf of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Royal Newfoundland Regiment Advisory Council, in commemoration of the installation. (GOV NL)

Second Picture: Foundry workers from EFES Bronze Foundry were on site to install the caribou, with assistance from SITULA Contracting company. (GOV NL)