Monday 24th June 1918
1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment today moved back from the front line near Merville to reserve at Villorba Camp. Normally this would be a cause for celebration. Today, however, the men might be forgiven for wishing themselves back in the front line, where, in the last few days, things have been much quieter than of late.
As the battalion reached the camp the enemy shelled it with gas shells. The Brigadier of 15th Brigade and his staff captain both received a good dose of the gas as well as many other ranks.
The cadre of 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, training the American 120th Infantry Regiment reports a great shortage of American officers. Given this fact the Americans are likely to seek leadership advice from British soldiers, experienced from long years of this war.
Sources: X550/2/5; X550/7/1
Wednesday 19th June 1918
The adjutant of the training cadre of the 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment let us know today that an important point in the training of the 3rd Battalion, American 120th Infantry Regiment has been reached. The American instructors, on whom the Bedfords have been expending the majority of their time, have been deemed sufficiently competent to pass on their knowledge to their fellows.
Source: X550/7/1
Tuesday 4th June 1918
The 120th Infantry Regiment has finally arrived with the training cadre of 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. An American Infantry Regiment consists of three battalions, each of four companies for a theoretical strength of 3,720 and so is the strength of a British Brigade. This is a lot of men for a training cadre of just over fifty men to deal with. The Bedfords will train two battalions (1st and 2nd) with just twenty men with each battalion. To make matters a little more challenging the Americans are not all at Nielles, nearArdres (itself near Calais) where the Bedfords are based: 1st battalion is a Zutkerque, about two miles east and 2nd Battalion at la Montoire (half way between the two).
Source: X550/7/1
Saturday 1st June 1918
The 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, like the 7th battalion, now reduced to a training cadre is now at Nielles, just outside Calais, waiting for the 120th American Regiment, which they will be training in the art of this war unlike any other(1).
Source: X550/7/1
(1) 120th Infantry Regiment is also known as the 3rd North Carolina Regiment, being part of the North Carolina National Guard. It was formed in 1917 and, with 119th Infantry Regiment (another North Carolina unit) and 114th Machine Gun Battalion, made up 60th Brigade in 30th Infantry Division known as the Old Hickory Division after President Andrew Jackson (1767-1845)
