Tuesday 11th
December 1917
The 1st
Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment are off on holiday! At least that is how the
adjutant wryly described their current mission to me on the blower this
afternoon. Their parent unit, 5th Division, is one of five British divisions
being sent from the Western Front to Italy, some have already gone, others are
on the way now. This British force will be commanded by General Plumer, who
has, reluctantly it is understood, handed over command of Second Army at Ypres
to Sir Henry Rawlinson.The British divisions will be formed into two Corps,
they comprise 5th, 7th, 23rd, 41st and 48th (South Midland) Divisions. Six
French divisions are also being sent to Italy.
The reason
for sending over 130,000 allied soldiers from France and Flanders is that Italy
is in crisis. The Austrians, bolstered by German troops no longer needed to
fight the Russians following that country’s collapse into anarchy, launched an
attack at Caporetto on 24th October. In a battle which lasted until early
November they smashed the Italian 2nd Army and threatened Venice. Fortunately
the Italians managed to stabilise the front but they are dreadfully weakened in
what a military friend of mine calls the 3 Ms - material, morale and men. It is
hoped that the British and French troops will provide the sort of help to the
Italians that the Germans did for the Austrians - well-trained, well-equipped
and battle-hardened units around which the Italians can rebuild their strength.
Today the 1st
Bedfords went to Anvin and have boarded trains for their long journey south.
They are, in fact, on two separate trains. The first, commanded by the
commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel P R Worrall consists of B Company and D
Company. Major Chirnside commands the second train containing A Company and C
Company. The transport and quartermaster’s stores have been divided equally
between the two trains. They are expected to arrive at their destination on
Sunday.
In far-off
Palestine we understand that General Sir Edmund Allenby has made his official
entry into Jerusalem. Unwilling for any comparison with his Saviour he chose to
walk rather than ride in triumph.
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