Six Months of War

Instruction in bayonet fighting [X550/1/195/1]

Thursday 4th February 1915: Six months ago today this country declared war on Germany. In the 185 days that have passed since then the local units have suffered many casualties. Of these men 453 have made the ultimate sacrifice. The great majority of these have been men of the 1st and 2nd Battalions who have been killed in action or died of wounds. However, men have also died from accidents and disease, including 21 from units which have not yet left for the front. These mens’ deaths are every bit as tragic as those falling in battle and we mourn them all.

The numbers break down as follows:

• 1st Battalion: 289
• 2nd Battalion: 140
• 4th Battalion: 2
• 5th Battalion: 7
• 6th Battalion: 1
• 7th Battalion: 7
• 8th Battalion: 1
• 10th Battalion: 1
• Bedfordshire Yeomanry: 2
• East Anglian Royal Engineers: 3

We estimate that between two and three times this number of men have been wounded, though these figures are much more difficult to garner. This suggests that around 1,500 men, a full battalion and a half in other words, have become casualties during the war so far.