Officers

 Second Lieutenant C Shekury [X550/1/81]

Friday 30th March 1917 from our correspondent in the field

Two officers of the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, have been awarded the Military Cross for their actions in the recent advance from Agny to Mercatel and for patrols undertaken on 16th March. The two men concerned are Second Lieutenant A Stone and Second Lieutenant C Shekury(1).

Second Lieutenant A Stone [X550/1/81]

Over the last few days two more officers have joined 4th Bedfords. Second Lieutenant Bloodworth arrived on 28th and Second Lieutenant Scott arrived today.

Sources: X550/3/WD; X550/5/3

(1) Lieutenant Cecil Shekury MC would be killed on 16th April 1918, he is buried in Canada Farm Cemetery near Ypres. 

2nd Battalion Operations Come to an End

Wednesday 21st March 1917 from our correspondent in the field

At 12 midnight the 17th Battalion, Manchester Regiment commenced to relieve the 2nd Bedfords. The relief was complete by 6 am. The Battalion then returned to their old front line trenches near Agny, arriving about 7.30 am.

The adjutant remarked to me on the “blower” that: “A very noticeable point about these three days’ operations was the systematic way the enemy had destroyed everything which would be of any use to us. All dug-outs had been blown in, trees cut down, trenches wired in, and all stores removed. There is no doubt they had been preparing for this retirement for some months”.

Source: X550/3/WD

2nd Battalion Advances

Lieutenant de Buriatte [X550/1/81]

Sunday 18th March 1917 from our correspondent in the field

During last night and early this morning the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, at Agny south-west of Arras observed a number of fires behind the German lines and also loud explosions were heard. At 7.30 this morning they received information that the Brigade on their Right (175th Inf.Bde of 58th (2nd/1st London) Division) had advanced and occupied the German Trenches.

Second Lieutenant Methuen [X550/1/81]

At about 8 am orders were received from Brigade Headquarters to send over patrols to ascertain if the Germans in front of the Battalion had gone. One Platoon of A Company under Second Lieutenant T G Searle and one platoon of B Company under Second Lieutenant F T Matthews (both men recently promoted from the ranks) entered the German lines and found them unoccupied.

At about 9.30 A and B Companies under Lieutenant H de Buriatte and Second Lieutenant A P Methuen respectively advanced and occupied the German front and support line. During this occupation of the Battalion was subject to a little artillery fire, chiefly 77 mm and some 4.8 howitzers. Quite a number of traps were encountered, 2nd Lieutenant R H Hose, who only joined the battalion two days ago, and 21111 Private T.Pearson being both killed by bomb traps. The advance was continued and about 1 pm patrols were next pushed on to Malplaquet Trench, also unoccupied by the enemy.

Second Lieutenant R H Hose [X550/1/81]

At 5.45 pm one platoon of "D" Company under Second Lieutenant A W Joyce was ordered to reconnoitre towards Mercatel and ascertain if it was occupied. We have just heard from the adjutant that the village is occupied.

Source: X550/3/WD

Instructions for an Advance

Monday 5th March 1917 from our correspondent in the field

Major E S M Poyntz, temporarily in command of 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment at Agny, south-west of Arras, whilst his brother acts as brigadier, has issued orders for an possible advance. As he said in his preamble: “In view of the possibility of the Germans withdrawing from the front now held by this Brigade it is possible that the Battalion (if in the line) may be ordered to advance at extremely short notice”.

The method of advance is detailed as follows: “the Battalion will advance on a front of two companies. Each Company will push forward a strong patrol of one Platoon and a Lewis Gun whose duty will be to keep in touch with the retiring enemy, these strong patrols must push forward as vigorously as possible, and their commanders must realize that every time they are delayed by a small post it gives the enemy more time to effect a withdrawal and lessens our chance of causing him casualties”.

“As soon as these patrols have occupied a position company commanders should immediately warn Battalion Headquarters who will give the order to push up their men and consolidate their position while the patrols will continue to push forward. The Battalion in support will be used to occupy and continue the consolidation of captured positions, when the leading battalion advances further”.

“Two signallers will move forward with the scouts and keep in constant communication with the fighting patrol who will relay to Company Headquarters. The greatest attention should be given to nettoyage(1), the men selected for this must be instructed not to leave any dugout unsearched or on any account whatsoever overlook any likely place of concealment for the sniper or machine gun”.

“After the front line of enemy trenches has been occupied, company commanders may find it advisable to push out stronger patrols. It is of paramount importance that patrols should keep in touch with their flanks. The importance of this cannot possibly be exaggerated”.

“It should be impressed on all officers, non-commissioned officers and men, that what appear to be small matters to them may be of vital importance to the higher authorities, so they should be warned to report anything of consequence”.

“One Lewis gun will proceed with each fighting patrol and one with each leading platoon. The support and reserve companies will each have three Lewis guns with them. This will leave four guns in reserve at Battalion Headquarters (providing we are issued with the extra two guns to make us up to sixteen)”.

Source: X550/3/WD

(1) French for cleaning up, British parlance was “mopping up”, applied to dealing with isolated enemy personnel and positions left in the rear of a British advance.

Enemy Still Near Arras

Second Lieutenant E E Bath [X550/1/81]

Tuesday 27th February 1917 from our correspondent in the field

For all that the Germans have pulled back quite some way on the Somme it seems that around Arras they have not gone very far. Second Lieutenant G A Anstee spoke with me this afternoon to tell me that from their positions at Agny, south-west of the city, they could hear and observe our artillery active throughout the day on enemy’s lines. Lieutenant-Colonel H S Poyntz has returned from leave and once more taken command. A new officer has also joined the Battalion, Second Lieutenant E E Bath.

Source: X550/3/WD

The Extent of the Retreat

Sunday 25th February 1917 from our correspondent in the field

Whilst the extent of the German retreat is, as yet, unclear, it seems not to be confined to the Somme area. The 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, are at Agny south of Arras. We have heard from the acting adjutant, Second Lieutenant G A Anstee this afternoon who told us: “Information has been received that we are pushing forward fast down south and that the enemy were abandoning their positions. The division on our right was given orders to send out strong patrols to see what was happening on their front. We also sent out patrols for the same object and have had no casualties.

The 4th Battalion, north of Grandcourt continued to patrol last night. At 9 pm all these patrols reached their respective objectives without opposition and touch was gained between them and communication established with 7th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers on their left. An hour later a further reconnaissance was made in the direction of a trench system which was subsequently occupied. Around midnight a patrol was sent into Miraumont and reported that the town had been evacuated by hostile troops. At 9 am this morning the Battalion is holding the line just west of Miraumont.

Sources: X550/3/WD; X550/5/3

Results of the 4th Battalion Attack

Monday 12th February 1917 from our correspondent in the field

We hear that the attack made by 4th Battalion yesterday night north of Beaucourt-sur-Ancre was a complete success. Two companies made the attack with one in support and one in reserve acting as a carrying party for ammunition for consolidating the line gained. At 9.05 pm the line advanced. The left company was temporarily held up by enemy wire and heavy machine-gun fire and the Company in Support was then pushed forward and the objectives gained by 3 am this morning. Twenty one men were killed during these operations and many more wounded.

The 2nd Battalion today moved into the front line south of Agny, which is, itself, south of Arras. They occupy the line shown in red on the map above. The adjutant opined that they are being introduced to this new area in time to become acquainted with it prior to an attack, but we will have to wait and see.

Meanwhile, in the deserts of the Sinai the 1st/5th Battalion yesterday marched to Bir el Abd where it bivouacked. The adjutant wired that there was “brilliant lightning and some thunder later during the night but especially about 2300 there was heavy rain and some hail”. Not the weather one expects in a desert.

Sources: X550/3/WD; X550/5/3; X550/6/8