Field Notes - The First Pages

St. John’s, Newfoundland

Weather: Damp air from the harbour. A light wind carrying the smell of salt.

Hello b’ys,

Before the trenches, there was the island.

Places like this. Where the sea shapes your days. Where everyone knows your name. Where life feels small, but full.

That’s where we come from.

The Caribou Trail begins here, in Newfoundland.

A place of fishermen, workers, families. A place where stories are shared over a drink, a laugh, or a long night by the water.

And then, one day, men leave.

- Fisher

Presenting Newfoundland

Our story begins in Newfoundland, an island off the easternmost coast of Canada, known for its rugged coastline, fishing traditions, and tight-knit communities.

Life there is shaped by the sea. Generations of families have lived off fishing, mining, and maritime work. But more than anything, Newfoundlanders are known for their warmth, humor, and deep connection to one another. These are humble, resilient people who gather around a pint, a laugh, and a good story.

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A Personal Discovery

Our CEO, Christopher Chancey, was born and raised in Newfoundland. He still returns every summer to visit family and unwind.

A couple of years ago, during one of those trips, he visited "The Rooms" (a museum in St. John’s) and came across something unexpected: an exhibit on a Newfoundland regiment that fought in World War I.

As he read on, he discovered that his great-great-uncle, Patrick Noftell, had served and died in battle in Belgium. The man is still buried there. That personal connection was the spark that inspired this project.

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The Story of the Caribou Regiment

The Royal Newfoundland Regiment, often called the Caribou Regiment after the emblem on their blazers, played a remarkable role in the Great War. They began their journey in Gallipoli, Turkey, enduring brutal trench warfare in the campaign that now serves as the backdrop for our game. From there, they moved to the Western Front, pushing through some of the war’s most grueling battles. Despite their small numbers, they liberated four cities across France and Belgium.

They remain the only regiment in the British Empire to be granted the title “Royal” during the war. Statues of caribou still stand in each city they freed, all facing toward Newfoundland in a lasting gesture of thanks.

A Story Rooted in History

Our work on War Stories: The Caribou Trail began with a powerful piece of non-fiction: The Fighting Newfoundlander: A History of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment by G.W.L. Nicholson.

This book is a vivid and detailed chronicle of the "Blue Puttees", the soldiers of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, and their extraordinary contribution to World War I. It traces their journey from a tiny, unarmed colony with no standing army, to one of the most decorated and respected units in the British Empire.

Our game focuses on Gallipoli, the Regiment’s first major campaign : a brutal, chaotic, and often overlooked chapter of WWI history

Through a human, grounded lens, we explore what it meant for young men from a small island to be thrown into the heart of a global conflict.

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Like Hobbits in Mordor

To Chris, the idea of a Newfoundlander fighting in the First World War felt surreal, like a Hobbit walking into Mordor. It didn’t make sense… at first. These were simple men from an isolated island, suddenly thrust into one of the most horrific conflicts in history.

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And yet, they showed extraordinary courage, camaraderie, and sacrifice. Their story is one