In August 1914 the Newfoundland Assembly declared war on the Central Powers. This decision was supported by the population of about 250,000 and during the war over 6,500 men served in the Newfoundland Regiment. The men saw action at Gallipoli and on the Western Front, suffering over 2,000 fatalities. On the 1st July, 1916, at the Battle of the Somme, the Newfoundland Regiment lost 600 out of the 800 troops that took part that day.