An Example of Daily Orders

Saturday 19th January 1918

The adjutant of 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, Captain H Seys-Phillips, has sent me a copy of yesterday’s daily orders, thinking that it might be of interest to readers to see the sort of thing involved in administering a battalion on active service. I attach it below, with the difference that abbreviations (for example Lance Corporal for L/Cpl) have been rendered in full

1. DUTIES: Battalion Orderly Officer Second Lieutenant H W Haward, D Company.

2. INCREASES: Second Lieutenant Ernest James Scott, embarked 31/12/17, joined Battalion for duty 11/1/18, is taken on strength accordingly. The undermentioned having joined the Battalion on dates stated are taken on strength and posted to companies as under.

Joined 9/1/18

23591 Lance Corporal Brunt, W, D Company

43153 Private Stott, R, A Company

12730 Private Cooper, F, C Company

Joined 11/1/18

271066 Lance Corporal Brown, F, A Company

33643 Private Judge, W, D Company

21842 Private Stratford, H, D Company

Rejoined 11/1/18

21546 Private Bawden, R, A Company

6936 Private G Waldock, B Company

31404 Private Shortland, W, B Company

33769 Private Shailer, S, C Company(1)

13416 Private Crossman, A, C Company

23639 Private Richardson, P, D Company

3. CASUALTIES DECREASES: The Commanding Officer regrets to announce the following casualty.

KILLED IN ACTION

43355 Lance Corporal Spinks, C, B Company, 11/1/18(2)

17010 Private Ferris, A, C Company, accidentally wounded 13/1/18(3)

41357 Private Hemsley, E, C Company, wounded (self-inflicted) 12/1/18

The undermentioned  having been evacuated on dates stated are struck off strength accordingly

16201 Private Tyler, B, A Company 6/1/18

12860 Private Goss, W, A Company  8/1/18

31069 Private Burnham, H, A Company 12/1/18

43153 Private Stott, R, A Company 13/1/18.

4. NEW YEAR'S HONOURS: His Majesty the KING has been pleased to award the undermentioned Officers the following Decoration in recognition of their valuable Services rendered with the armies in the field during the present war

THE MILITARY CROSS

Temporary Lieutenant E W Benson (attached.Signal Company)

Temporary Second Lieutenant C A Lawrence(4)

(Authoity: Divisional Routine Order No.367 d/9:1:18)

5. PROMOTION: Temporary Lieutenant C A Lawrence is hereby authorised to wear the Badges of the higher rank of Captain pending confirmation by superior authority. (Authority: 18th Division Number 19.353 "A" dated 10/1/18. 54th Infantry Brigade Number A/273/3 dated 12/1/18).

6. LEAVE: The undermentioned have been granted leave as per dates specified below.

11/1/18-25/1/18

20030 Cpl Ely, R, A Company

15156 Lance Corporal Swain, H, B Company

31338 Private Phillips, A, B Company(5)

30930 Private Sains, A, B Company

7876 Private Cooper, A, D Company

12/1/18-26/1/18

17234 Lance Corporal Abrams, T, C Company

15130 Lance Corporal Sturgeon, H, B Company

14535 Private Haines, G, B Company

37079 Drummer Field, A, B Company

14/1/18-28/1/18

23070 Lance Corporal Weeks, R, B Company

26470 Private Collins, W., B Company(6)

15/1/18-29/1/18

202387 Private Cross, A, A Company(7)

200339 Private Wordley, W, A Company

14237 Private Favell, J, B Company

16/1/18-30/1/18

23648 Private Walker, J, A Company

43306 Private Hudson, G (attached Trench Mortar Battery)

7. HOT COCOA BAR: (Extract D.R.O. Number 306 dated 8/1/18)

A Bar for the sale of hot cocoa and biscuits has been erected at the Divisional Baths ELVERDINGE CHATEAU. Cocoa will be on sale to all men after they have bathed.

(Extract D.R.O. No.368 dated 11/1/18)

Owing to the continual pilfering of enamelled mugs Officers.Commanding Units are requested to instruct all bathing parties who wish to purchase cocoa to bring canteens with them.

(18th Division Number /286 "Q")

Source: X550/8/1

(1) Private S T Shailer, from Hertfordshire, would die on 2nd October as a prisoner-of-war and is buried in Berlin South-Western Cemetery

(2) He is buried in Artillery Wood Cemetery, north of Ypres

(3) Albert Ferris would be killed in action on 18 September and is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial

(4) Captain Charles Alfred Lawrence MC would be killed in action at Cachy on 24th April and he is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial

(5) Lance Corporal Arthur Phillips would also be killed at Cachy and be commemorated on the Pozieres Memoria

(6) Private Collins, from Northampton, would die on 23rd October and is buried in le Cateau Military Cemetery

(7) Albert Cross would also be killed at Cachy on 24th April and be commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial