The Advance Will Continue

Tuesday 20th August 1918

Word is that the great advance will begin again tomorrow, but it will be north of Albert and will be undertaken by Third Army. We understand that among the divisions taking part will 5th Division with 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment to the fore and 63rd (Royal Naval) Division with 4th Bedfords in the vanguard and 37th Division which contains 1st/1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment which has absorbed 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment.

Sources: X550/2/5; X550/5/3

Day Sixty Nine on the Somme

7th September 1916: From our Correspondent in the Field

This morning 56th (London) Division have finally taken over the line vacated by 5th Division. This includes Leuze Wood, which was captured unopposed on 5th and 6th.

Leading on from our concersation of yesterday, the Commanding Officer of 1st Bedfords, Colonel Allason, has sent me a copy of the recommendations he has made in the light of the recent attacks.

1. Orders were not always issued in sufficient time; thus the Order to attack Falfemont Farm at 6.30 p.m. on 3rd, was only received at 6 p.m.

2. Communication between Brigade Headquarters and the Battalion was bad. An Operation Order to make an immediate attack on Falfemont Farm, issued at 12.30 a.m. on the 5th only reached Battalion at 8.0 a.m., though the distance was under a mile. It was taken by a relay runner who lost his way.

Where relay runners are used they should be stationed at telephone test stations, so that the line can be followed. This is especially the case by night. If the shelling is very severe these test stations should be closer together and cover provided. An advanced "exchange" should be made where reports as to progress made, etc., can be duplicated and sent out to neighbouring units. Patrols can very rarely obtain this information.

3. When an important success has been gained, fresh troops should be available to take advantage of it before the enemy has time to re-organise, but where this is not so even tired troops can push on provided their flanks remain secure.

Some sort of signal, such as rockets or flares, visible from an Observation Post should be pre-arranged.

Both field and heavy guns should lift 800 yards or more according to the nature of the signal, and thus enable the advance of our Infantry to continue.

4. One or two Field Guns pushed well forward may be of great assistance in dealing with a counter attack.

5. The "P" Bomb for dug-outs and the arrangement of carrying 2 grenades per man proved invaluable.

6. A machine gun pushed into the front line safeguarded the left flank. Lewis guns were pushed up close behind the line of bombers (the ground was convex) and did excellent work at close range.

7. Military police stationed on main avenues of approach and close to the front line could send back into action cases of pseudo "shell shock" and also men not carrying back their full load.

7th Division made another unsuccessful attack on Delville Wood this afternoon.

Source: X550/2/5

Day Sixty Seven on the Somme

5th September 1916: From our Correspondent in the Field

The adjutant of 1st Bedfords tells me that things are now quiet around Falfemont Farm which was finally captured in the early hours of this morning. A great triumph. Tersely he told me: “We buried all our dead”. These amounted to 17 officers and men on 3rd September and 45 yesterday. Local fatalities came from Biggleswade, Bletsoe, Clifton, Houghton Regis, Luton, Maulden, Toddington, Woburn Sands and Wootton.

Lieutenant Addison Howard

The name most recognised will be that of Lieutenant Addison James Howard, of Kempston Grange, who only joined the battalion a few days ago. He was just 23. I was told that his cousin, Second Lieutenant Douglas Howard, who was alongside him, reported that he was killed instantaneously by one of our own shells yesterday morning(1). Second Lieutenant Douglas Howard himself was wounded a few hours later by a bullet to the chest and two more in a shoulder and is now in hospital at Abbeville.

Second Lieutenant Douglas Howard

Lieutenant Addison Howard was born in April 1893 at Kempston Grange. He was educated at Bedford Grammar School, 1901-1911, where he was in the Officer's Training Corps. Subsequently he went to King's College, Cambridge and there took a Second Class Honours degree in the Mechanical Science Tripos in 1914. Immediately before the close of the term at Cambridge he was seized with illness and had to undergo a serious operation. During his convalescence he was in charge of munition work in his father's works and showed great skill as a mechanician and engineer. He was named after his two grandfathers Mr James Howard MP and Colonel Addison Potter CB and we can only lament that a career which was commenced under such distinguished auspices has been abruptly terminated. His colonel told me: "He was temporarily commanding a company. No one could have handled the men better during an attack the Battalion made on September 3rd, over 1,000 yards under machine gun and shell fire. He had them well together, consolidated, pushed out patrols, took a German prisoner and sent in a series of model reports. He was a first-rate officer and is a very great loss to the Battalion. I need hardly say he was very popular among all ranks".

Second Lieutenant Douglas Howard of the 3rd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, is the only son of Mr and Mrs John Howard Howard of Clapham Park. He was given his commission in October 1915 after leaving Harrow in the previous July. He was a member of the Harrow School OTC for about four years. Mr Douglas Howard did all his training at Landguard Camp, Felixstowe and went to the Front about a fortnight before he was wounded.

Today more attacks have been launched at Devil’s Wood under covering fire from field artillery at fairly close quarters. We understand that two companies have managed to dig-in on the eastern edge.

This afternoon 5th Division, though not 1st Bedfords, have launched an attack on Leuze Wood (generally known as Lousy Wood by Tommy Atkins) and the high ground south and east of Ginchy, particularly around the Ginchy Telegraph, on the highest point of the ridge. There seem to be no Germans in the wood so this attack may do well.

Source: X550/2/5; Bedfordshire Times

(1) He is buried in Guillemont Road Cemetery.

Day Sixty Six on the Somme

Monday 4th September 1916: From our Correspondent in the Field

Readers will recall that last night’s despatch was sent as the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, was attacking Falfemont Farm. Their area of attack lay between this farm and Wedge Wood (which lies to the north-west)with 1st Battalion, Cheshire Regiment on their right flank. The attack actually got under way, the adjutant tells me, at 6.15 pm last evening and their objective lay across one thousand yards of open ground. Unfortunately the artillery barrage, behind which they were supposed to advance, had gone a long way forward by the time they started. 

In fact the attack veered a little to the left and they occupied a position between Wedge Wood, which had been taken, and a sunken lane running along its western edge, thus, by mistake, occupying part of the objective of the neighbouring 95th Brigade. By extending the line the Bedfords linked up with the Cheshires west of Falfemont Farm, each battalion holding a very long frontage of 1,200 yards each. Strong patrols were then pushed forward after dark and one managed to entrench about thirty yards from the enemy front line “in a very creditable manner” as the adjutant remarked to me. Two other patrols captured four prisoners between them. No patrols suffered any casualties.

Sadly this was not true of the bulk of the Battalion. All morning its positions were shelled by our own artillery, despite requests to desist. As the adjutant told me, with some anger “Finally two of the forward trenches had to be evacuated as the men were all being buried. In doing so the enemy opened with machine guns on them and there were several casualties. Quite apart from its morale effect some thirty men were will or wounded by our own guns”.

Misfortune also befell the enemy as the battalion continued its attack of yesterday: “In one instance a bomb set fire to a German bomb store. A whole company was sheltering in a dug-out with three entrances, according to the statements of two survivors: not many escaped”. The Bedfords captured 3 officers, 128 other ranks and 4 machine guns this morning and, in all reckon to have captured around 160. The final line reached and consolidated stretches from the northern corner of Falfemont Farm for 300 yards north-west across a plateau towards Wedge Wood. Thus the Bedfords succeeded in taking north corner of the farm and the west corner was also taken. Unfortunately other attacks failed to capture the bulk of the farm itself. Nevertheless, this is a significant achievement by the battalion, as the Germans only cede ground very unwillingly, as the intense fighting around Mouquet Farm in the last few weeks shows. The Australians have still failed to take it. So, despite severe casualties, satisfaction is felt by the survivors.

Elsewhere 20th (Light) Division occupied most of Leuze Wood and 7th Division attacked Ginchy without success

Source: X550/2/5

Day Sixty Five on the Somme

Sunday 3rd September 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

Today has been one of great activity here on the Somme with attacks across a front of five miles or more. There have been separate attacks in the Ancre Valley and on the Thiepval Ridge, at Mouquet Farm, at High Wood, at Guillemont and at Ginchy. We will begin this left to right progress, so to speak, in the Ancre Valley.

The 49th Division made an attack which began at the road from Hamel to Thiepval (known as Mill Road and Thiepval Road) and headed north towards Saint-Pierre-Divion. However, weather has been poor today, with drizzle reducing visibility and the attackers were caught by machine gun fire from the Schwaben Redoubt on their right flank. Some men did penetrate the enemy front line but were forced to evacuate it for lack of ammunition and reinforcements and by mid-morning it became clear that the attack had failed with no ground gained. This attack has made it clear that the whole Thiepval Ridge will need to be cleared of the enemy if any progress is to be made in the Ancre Valley.

To the south-east of the village of Thiepval the Australians have again attacked the remains of Mouquet Farm. They succeeded in capturing most of the rubble and the nearby trenches but have been driven out again by the Germans. All this fighting, both on the surface, in trenches and underground in bunkers has been of the most bestial hand-to-hand variety. The Germans are well aware that if Mouquet Farm falls the back door to Thiepval will be open.

The fight still goes on amongst the splinters of High Wood. 1st Brigade of 1st Division attacked here, again using flame-throwers and Livens Projectors, despite these weapons’ failure on 18th August. To assist the attack a mine containing 3,000 lb of high explosive was detonated under the eastern corner of the wood less than a minute before the troops moved into the attack, giving the Germans no time to recover. Unfortunately the Livens Projectors caused more harm to our men than to the Germans when a stray trench mortar shell exploded the oil drums they were supposed to use against the enemy prematurely. Thus the whole attack failed. This evening, about an hour ago fresh attacks have pierced the remains of the wood.

5th Division was given the task of finally taking the fortress village of Guillemont. This was carried out in combination with the French 127th Regiment. Unfortunately the French were pinned down in Combles Ravine, leaving our men to attack alone. 13th Brigade attacked Falfemont Farm whilst 95th Brigade attacked the spur of ground between Falfemont Farm and Guillemont. The attacks began just before nine o’clock this morning and succeeded in capturing the German front line. 

The second line, from Wedge Wood to the south-eastern tip of the village, fell just before one o’clock. A 13th Brigade attack on Wedge Wood was stopped short of its objective.

The 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, has been caught up in the fighting. Just before two o’clock this afternoon the battalion moved forward from Silesian Trenches just north of Maricourt. They reached the vicinity of Maltz Horn Farm about half an hour later and at three o’clock was ordered to move to trenches south of Angle Wood. They advanced in company with 16th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment into Angle Wood under heavy shelling which caused ten casualties. An hour ago, about six o’clock they began their attack on Falfemont Farm, as yet I have heard nothing of their progress.

20th (Light) Division attacked Guillemont from trenches to the west and south-west of the village. These were successful and the village was finally taken. This has led to German counter-attacks this afternoon and this evening but, as far as I can determine, British troops still hold the village, or what remains of it. 

7th Division attacked the village of Ginchy, north-east of Guillemont. Unfortunately, Delville Wood, with its German defenders, has a line of sight over the ground over which the division attacked, being able to fire on the left flank of the attack from the north. Men from 7th and 24th Divisions, thus, were given the task of taking Delville Wood and the trenches leading east from it, but did not manage to achieve their task. They succeeded in taking the eastern edge of the wood but plenty of Germans remained in adjacent trenches to fire at the attack on Ginchy.

7th Division attacked Ginchy from the west, from around Waterlot Farm (shown as "Sugar Refinery" on the map above), thus by-passing Guillemont which lies to the south. Their objective is the site of a telegraph tower, on a prominence east of the village. They were duly struck in their left by fire from the Germans in trenches east of Delville Wood, particularly from a trench called Ale Alley (all the trenches in this sector have been given names relating to beer by our men). I understand that the attack got into Ginchy but, due to the drizzle and murky conditions, could not be seen by headquarters. The Germans then counterattacked and drove the men of 7th Division out of Ginchy again. About 5.30 this evening another attack was launched but it seems to have come for nothing. It took over a month to finally capture Guillemont, everyone hopes, most profoundly, that it will not take another month to capture its sister village of Ginchy.

Source: X550/2/5

Best in Show

Saturday 27th May 1916: The adjutant of the 1st Battalion, now out of the line at Agnez-les-Duisans reports that the Battalion Transport took first place in the 15th Brigade Horse Show, which entitles it to compete in the 5th Division Horse Show. The Battalion also beat the 124th Battery, Royal Field Artillery in the 5th Division Football Competition.

Source: X550/2/5

Things to Do with Rabbit Wire

Wednesday 7th April 1915: The adjutant of 1st Bedfords tells us that the enemy shelled Ypres at about 8.30 a.m. The first howitzer shell smashed up house next to the Battalion Headquarters, the second smashed a house on other side of the headquarters, breaking the H. Q.'s windows and other shells broke up houses in the neighbourhood causing considerable casualties. He also tells us that they have just received word they are to move today from 28th Division back to 5th Division command, moving back to Reningelst, to the south-west of Ypres.

Meanwhile we have heard that Brigadier-General H. E. Watts, commanding 21st Infantry Brigade wishes experiments carried out on the lines set out below and the men practised in the use of wire netting to get over barbed wire entanglements. The system of crossing barbed wire entanglements by means of rabbit wire is as follows: - rolls of wire netting are thrown across the obstacle and form a species of bridge over which the men following can cross. Experiments go to show that it is quite easy for men to cross in this way. The wire netting forms a convenient bridge over the space between the strands, on which the men can place their feet. To obtain the best result it is advisable that the wire should not be cut at all. It does not matter whether the wire is taut or slack.

The length of netting will vary according to the width of the obstacle to be crossed, and is limited by the amount one man can conveniently carry. Thirty feet has been found by experiment to be the maximum an average man can carry and throw into position. This length would enable a depth of eight yards to nine yards to be bridged. Each length or roll has a wooden post or stay at each end to which the wire is fastened. The wire is then rolled tight thus placing one stay in the centre and one at the outside. The most suitable netting is the standard size of two feet six inches or three feet wide, with a one inch mesh.

On reaching the obstacle, the man carrying the roll holds it with both hands - with one hand he holds the outer stay and with the other, with a motion somewhat similar to "putting the shot" or "bowling" heaves the roll over the obstacle. By holding the outer stay the roll is thus caused to unwind as it flies through the air. The actual throwing requires a certain amount of practice in order to ensure its unfolding completely and reaching the other side. The wire must be thrown between the posts. Once it has fallen on to the entanglement it will not be possible in the heat of action to alter its position owing to the barbs on the entanglement. Men must, therefore, be well practised in order that they can ensure throwing it accurately at the first attempt.

Its chief use appears to me to be crossing of secondary lines of entanglements behind the first line of trenches which may be encountered by the further advance, and against which an accurate artillery fire cannot be brought to bear. It would also be most useful in crossing the first line, should the artillery fail to cut this.

Source: X550/3/wd

Swapping Divisions

Wednesday 3rd March 1915: The adjutant of the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment tells us that today they proceeded with remainder of 15th Brigade by march route to Ouderdom to form part of the 28th Division south-east of Ypres. The 83rd Brigade of 28th Division, consisting of battalions of King's Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment, East Yorkshire Regiment and the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry has been moved to become part of 5th Division.

The 28th Division, along with 27th and 29th Divisions consists largely of regular troops which had been stationed overseas in parts of the Empire but have been brought to France to see active service, their place as garrison troops having been taken by Territorial Army units. The Division has been in France since January.

The adjutant tells us that serving in a division is a bit like being in a large school, so for the 1st Bedfords to have to get used to a new headmaster (major-general), vice master (brigadier-general), monitors (staff officers) and many new faces amongst the other boys (84th and 85th Brigades) will be difficult at first.

Source: X550/2/5

The 1st Bedfords Move to the Front

Sunday 11th October 1914: The 1st Bedfords have marched a further sixteen miles north-east from la Thieuloye, through the town of Béthune to a place called Essars. Our man with the battalion reports: “Blankets being distributed as we left and there were piles of varie-coloured ones at the side of the road all fresh out from home”.

The adjutant tells us that Béthune is filled with French soldiers leaving no room for the British Expeditionary Force. Our man adds: “We heard that twelve German cavalry divisions are advancing against us and are engaged with seven allied cavalry divisions to the east of the town”. Accordingly it has been decided to send the Bedfords and their brigade to help defend the village of Essars across the Canal d’Aire from Béthune and about a mile out of town. Our source reveals: “Our division had been hastily sent for to take over the defence of the town of Béthune from the French Territorials who were very shaky and old. The French commander had stated that he could not trust the place to them and had asked for the nearest English division to come at once and they (the French Terriers) seemed very relieved when we (the 5th Division) did arrive”.

“We had a great reception marching through the town and arrived at Essars at 3 pm and found it occupied by the 153rd Regiment of French Territorials. B and D Companies were ordered to take up a position with outpost from le Hamel to le Croix du Fere and we fixed our company headquarters at la Mottée”.

“I was sent off to find the French commander and went off to the left flank and on the way out with an orderly was nearly shot by a Zouave sentry who was half asleep at the side of the road. He was so frightened when he saw us coming that he nearly fired – it was the first time that any of them had seen khaki and they really did not know what we were!”

“I picked up a very capable French NCO who was less in a blue funk than the others and he showed me round and told me where I might find the commandant. I eventually found him and a few others and had a great consultation and tried to make him understand that the CO wanted to see him. The CO eventually came along but they all knew nothing and seemed most anxious to get out of the place as quickly as they could. They were all digging trenches in the most impossible places with the idea of defending the canal and the bridges and after a great deal  of discussion the Dorsets came along and took all the sector over from them and they cleared out”.

This evening our contact reported: “A long way in front we can hear a fight going on and can see flashes of guns”.

Sources: Z550/2/5; X550/2/7