Arlesey Boys Behind Barbed Wire

Arlesey High Street [Z1306/2/5/1]

Wednesday 17th May 1916: We have had postcards from two Arlesey boys held as prisoners-of-war in Germany. Private Percy Papworth of the Bedfordshire Regiment is at Schneidmühl in Prussia(1). Albatross aircraft are made for the German air force in the town and the camp is largely made up of Russian prisoners. He is receiving parcels “quite safe weekly” and seems to be held in reasonable conditions as he says of the parcels: “Pleased to say everything is safe and in good condition and just we things we require” so evidently the guards are not resorting to theft.

Private Bowskill, also in the Bedfords, is being held at Neuhammer, also in Prussia(2). Again the camp is largely full of Russians. He, too, reports that the parcels are “very good and coming in good condition”.

Source: Biggleswade Chronicle 26th May 1916

(1) Today called Piła and part of Poland.

(2) Today another Polish town, called Świętoszów

The Bedfords and Poisoned Gas

Arlesey Station [Z1306-2-14-1]

Saturday 22nd May 1915: Mrs. Bland of Railway Tavern, Arlesey has received the following letter from her son, Private G. H. Bland, 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment(1). His father is now serving with the 5th Battalion, currently stationed at Newmarket. The son, writing on 7th May said: “Dear Mother – just a few lines hoping you are all well, as it leaves me in a rather queer state, after the gas, which the brutes sent over to us on the 3rd and the 5th – the first we have had since the taking of Hill 60, which we are still holding, but we had to retire owing to gas(2). The Devons were forced to let them break through, but the good old Bedfords stopped them. We have had a rather hard time since Hill 60; only been out of the trenches three days, but we were relieved by the Irish Rifles on 7th, when we came back for a short rest. Our casualties are as great as Hill 60, but gas used in shells there had not half the effect of this which they pumped out of the bottom of their trench. I myselfam wearing a silver ring on my little finger which the gas cankered, but we gave them a horrible job to get that, which the Devons had to leave. Not a man could stand owing to the terrible stuff which streamed from their trench to ours, but the breeze changed and drove it back into their trench. Then our machine-guns got onto them, so they were forced to retire from their own trench. Then we laughed, you can bet”.

“We have named them “The Old Gas Bags” on Hill 60. They prayed for mercy but the boys all say “never no more”. Well I am sorry to say my old mate Harry Cox (Captain Gledstanes’ servant) who lived in Queen’s-street, Stotfold, was killed by one of our own shells that dropped short on the 5th during the recent battle(3). If possible, let Mrs. Cox know(4). I felt quite downhearted over it. I must draw my letter to a close but they tell me the 1st Rifles have regained the lost trenches on other side of Hill 60 (not losing the hill). Good-bye mother and all brothers and sisters. I omitted to say that Captain Gledstanes got wounded later in the day of Harry’s death(5). Good-bye mother. I will write more next time, Harry. P. S. I received letter and parcel. I hope you got my pc(6)”.

Source: Bedfordshire Times 14th May 1915

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(1) 3/7450 Private George Henry Bland died with the 1st Battalion on 4th October 1917, he was just 20 and is buried at Hooge Crater Cemetery

(2) In fact the hill was lost on 6th May.

(3) He is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial

(4) Like many women, she soon remarried

(5) He died of wounds on 9th May and is buried in Bailleul Communal Cemetery

(6) Postcard.

Patrolling

Thursday 10th December 1914: Patrolling is a dangerous but necessary task, as we stated on 26th November 1914. The commander of the 1st Battalion reports to us today that he has lost five more men, two killed and three wounded, whilst on patrol.

The patrol made their way into no man’s land under cover of darkness to see what could be learned of the state of the German trenches and to see if any prisoners could be taken. Men take as little equipment as possible on such patrols as stealth and speed of movement are the essence. They rub their faces with boot blacking or mud to prevent themselves being seen and will take small, easily handled weapons such as revolvers, or silent weapons such bayonets, knives or even clubs, perhaps augmented with a twist or two of barbed wire, rather than the more cumbersome rifles.

Unfortunately the Germans were vigilant. Some movement was seen or some small noise was heard. They fired on our men with the result mentioned above. The two dead men – Private Albert Crawley from Arlesey and Corporal Frederick Laird from Bower Street, Bedford were left where they fell and it is likely they will go unburied for some time, indeed, they will probably never receive a proper burial but simply rot into the surface of no man’s land, or be buried or their remains scattered by the action of a shell during some future bombardment.

We are sorry to be so graphic with the above description, but feel that people at home need to understand exactly the conditions our brave boys at the front are up against. It is to be hoped that those who go unburied in this war will be commemorated in some way when the final victory comes. [1]

Source: X550/2/5

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[1] Both Private Crawley and Corporal Laird are, indeed, commemorated on the Menin Gate.

A Dear Return to Arlesey

Arlesey High Street [Z49/489]

Tuesday 24th November 1914: Private Ernest Dear, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, arrived home in Arlesey this evening, and a large number of people welcomed him with enthusiasm. Private Dear went out to Belgium on September 18th and was engaged in several battles. He was wounded in the hand at Ypres on October 29th while they were advancing, but he fired several shots afterwards, and marched about eight miles to get to a temporary hospital. Afterwards he was brought to Exeter Hospital where he received every attention. He had seen Sidney Papworth, another Arlesey soldier, who was wounded in the arm. He saw the Scotch Guards fetch down a German aeroplane. He saw sixty of the Black Watch marching into a wood at Ypres, and every one of them was blown to pieces by "Jack Johnsons".[1] The Scotch Guards, the Warwicks and the Wiltshires suffered severely at this place. On one occasion forty of the Bedfords went into action and only four of them returned. The destruction of buildings in towns and villages was appalling. Four German prisoners came over on the same boat to Southampton and they were apparently very young.[2] Private Dear is looking well, and found a new baby at home to welcome him. He has only a fortnight's leave. He thinks we are bound to be victorious and that the German soldiers are sorry to be at war.[3]

Source: Bedfordshire Times 27th November 1914

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[1] Jack Johnson was a black American boxer who was World Heavyweight Champion from 1908 to 1915. This particular type of German shell exploded with a good deal of black smoke.
[2] The Germans called the 22nd October the Kindermord or Death of Children due to the youth of many of the soldiers (around a third of them) killed that day.
[3] Forty year old Private Ernest Dear was killed in action with the 1st Battalion on 11th July 1915 when the Germans blew up two mines near the Bedfords' trenches at Hill 60 near Ypres. He has no known grave. His wife Rose remarried.