2nd Bedfords in Action at Givenchy

Wednesday 16th June 1915: 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, has certainly seen its share of action this year. Last evening, taking advantage of the long summer days, an attack was carried out by the division of which it forms part, 7th, in co-operation with 51st (Highland) Division, who were based in Bedford before their move to France and the Canadian Division around the small town of Givenchy-lès-la-Bassée.

The initial attack by 7th Division was undertaken by 2nd Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment and 2nd Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment at 6 pm. At 7.30 the Bedfords moved up in support of the Wiltshires. As they were moving the word came through that the Wiltshire attack had stalled and that they were to assemble in trenches called Scottish Trench and New Cut and prepare to take part in an attack with two other regiments at half past midnight.

Just before midnight the order was issued for B Company to attack a mine crater(1). This attack was subsequently cancelled and any aggressive move postponed until 5.30 this morning when it would be light. The Battalion relieved the Wiltshire Regiment in the front line and heard that the attack had, again, been postponed. Nevertheless, we understand from the adjutant that the Battalion fully expects to go into action today, perhaps attacking the crater in the enemy front line

Sources: X550/3/wd

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(1) Tunnels were dug from one side’s lines, under no-man’s-land to a spot under the enemy front line where explosives were piled up and exploded. The resulting mine crater was then rushed and captured as soon as possible as a way of getting a foothold in the enemy’s defences and forcing him back. Clearly this mine crater had been in existence for some time.