AJAs 2024 Finalists
Someone's Son: Repatriating Newfoundland's Unknown Soldier
| Slug/Label | Unknown Soldier Documentary |
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| Date Aired or Published | June 27, 2024 |
| Media outlet where first aired or published: | CBC Newfoundland and Labrador |
| Name of Program: | Here and Now |
| If co-produced, list partner: | |
| Location: | St. John's |
| List awards, grants: | |
| Running time (TV/Radio): | 29:59 |
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Short explanation of the story and how it developed: Newfoundland paid a devastating sacrifice during the First World War. The loss of a generation of young men after the Battle of Beaumont Hamel still leaves a deep scar on the province. The Royal Canadian Legion was upgrading the National War Memorial in St. John's ahead of the monument's centennial and wanted to add a jewel to the crown of the memorial - a tomb of the unknown soldier. At first, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission turned down the legion's request to repatriate an unknown soldier from the Royal Newfoundland Regiment. But Navy veteran Frank Sullivan persevered. This is the story of how the tomb came to be and how the unknown soldier was repatriated from the battlefield cemeteries of France back to Newfoundland soil. It also explores the connections the Royal Newfoundland Regiment today has with the past, and explores how a soldier's grave was selected. |
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Resources of the newsroom (money and time) available to complete the story: One reporter, a video producer and an editor worked on this story. It took about six weeks to produce - from lining up interviews with the main guests in St. John's to writing and editing the the final product. It took one week to write and about two and a half weeks to edit. Reporter and video producer travelled to France for 3 days in late May with a Canadian/Newfoundland delegation. While in France we gathered for the documentary and filed for regular news programs at the same time. In all it cost about $5000 for two people to travel to France, including hotels, transportation, meals and overtime. We used existing news resources as well. |
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