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

Out of the Frying Pan ...

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 

Instructing the Instructors

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

Ten Days in the Life of the 4th Battalion

Tuesday 18th June 1918

The 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment has been building up its strength in the last few weeks as 63rd (Royal Naval) Division prepares to retake Albert, as surely one day in the next few months, our army will. In the last ten days the following things have happened.

8 June 1918: two other ranks joined.

9 June 1918: 56 other ranks joined, along with Second Lieutenants W. W. Dainty and F. W. Bellamy.

10 June 1918: eighteen other ranks joined

11 June 1918: one other rank joined

1 O.R. joined.

12 June 1918: two other ranks joined

13 June 1918: two other ranks joined

14 June 1918: five other tanks joined

15 June 1918: one other rank joined

16 June 1918: one other rank joined, Brigade Horse Show.

17 June 1918: one other rank joined; one other rank wounded

18 June 1918: five other ranks joined and Captain J. K. Batten joined from 7th Battalion cadre

Source: X550/7/1

Barrage Demonstration

British 6 inch howitzer at Imperial War Museum, Duxford

Sunday 16th June 1918

In yesterday's report you correspondent described how enemy shelling of the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment was brought to a swift close by retaliation by our guns. Today the adjutant of the training cadre which is all that remains of 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, told me of a demonstration by the Royal Artillery watched by the men of the American 30th Division. This was intended to show them, the power and accuracy of modern gunnery and to to demonstrate how a creeping barrage works, acting as a both a screen and a neutralising curtain for the infantry as they go forward, sending the enemy into their dugouts and preventing them firing on the advancing infantry. It will likely not be long before the Doughboys, as the Americans are nick-named, advance for real behind such barrages.

Source: X550/7/1

6th Battalion's Americans Arrive

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

Waiting for the Americans

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) 

Another Battalion Bows Out

Saturday 25 May 1918

The 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment was disbanded in January and the 6th Battalion was absorbed into the 1st/1st Battalion, Herfordshire Regiment three days ago. Today it has been announced that it is to be the turn of that extraordinarily successful unit, the 7th Battalion. The 2nd Battalion has been so reduced in strength by the gruelling retreat in March and then by the German attacks south-east of Ypres that the decision has been made for it to join the much larger 7th Battalion as part of 18th (Eastern) Division, though, naturally, the new battalion will be numbered as the 2nd. 

It is a measure of the casualties inflicted by this war that since 1916 the Bedfordshire Regiment has had seven battalions in the field but now only has four.

Lieutenant-Colonel R O Wynne [X550/1/81]

As with the 6th Battalion, a training cadre will continue to be known as the 7th Battalion and will be bust training Americans. This cadre will be commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel R O Wynne DSO with Major J T Coe as adjutant. The company commanders are Captains J K Batten, F Everitt, S E Cline and R E Oakley MC. The Lewis Gun Officer is Second Lieutenant J Kerr, the Scout Officer Second Lieutenant W Ashton and the Signalling Officer is Second Lieutenant H Flavell(1). There are fifty other ranks. 

The cadre will leave at 6.30 tomorrow morning and head by train to Chipy-Valines andwill be billeted at Rogeant about six miles south-west of Abbeville. They will come under the aegis of 30th Division, from whence came the 2nd Battalion.

Sources: X550/3/wd; X550/8/1

(1) Joseph Keith Batten, from Peterborough, would die on 27th September serving with 4th Battalion, aged 26, he is buried at Moeuvres Communal Cemetery Extension; 

Moving Divisions

Wednesday 22nd May 1918

The bulk of the officers and men of the 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment have now been absorbed by 1st/1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment, which has left 39th Division for 37th Division, the home of the 6th Bedfords. The training cadre of officers and men took a train to Audruicq, roughly half way between Calais and Saint-Omer. They then marched to Nielles and any feelings of apprehension were assuaged by the welcome they received from 39th Division - the band of the 13th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment accompanying them on their march and playing them in with style.The adjutant noted that they had been "very cordially received" and have "very comfortable billets"

Source: X550/7/1

The Trainers for the Americans

Tuesday 21st May 1918

Today we learned the officers of the 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment comprising the training staff for the Americans. Lieutenant-Colonel F. H. Edwards M.C. will be commanding officer.His staff will comprise Acting Captain D.M.Saunders (adjutant) Captain J. A. M. Hislop (Quartermaster), Captain A. W. Elliott M. C., Acting Captain O. E. Hobson, Lieutenants D. J. Greig (Lewis Gun Officer), and C. C. Clifford (Intelligence Officer) and Second Lieutenants W. Johnson, A. E. Iliffe  E. E. Ashby, (Signals Officer) as well as Regimental Sergeant Major, four Company Sergeant Majors, a Company Quartermaster Sergeant and forty eight other ranks. They proceeded to Mondricourt and caught a train to Audruicq.

Source: X550/7/1

Bedfordshire Becomes Hertfordshire

Monday 20th May 1918

This evening the officers of the 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment are to have a farewell dinner. No speeches are planned. Tomorrow a proportion of the officers and most of the men will travel to be absorbed by 1st/1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment whilst a few officers and men will form a small cadre, still known as 6th Bedfords, to train American units new to France

Source: X550/7/1

Training Americans

Saturday 18th May 1918

A few days ago we heard that 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, was to be disbanded and the personnel transferred to 1st/1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment. Now it seems a small number of men is to be kept on forming what is called, in military parlance, a cadre. This cadre will be training one of the American battalions newly arrived in France.

Source: X550/7/1

Spies

Thursday 9th May 1918

Last night the French and the composite battalion formed by 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment and 2nd Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment launched a counter-attack on the enemy which had dislodged them from the front line west of Vierstraat. Sadly they were not strong enough to succeed and the front line remains the original support line. Early this morning the battalion retired to Saint Lawrence Camp west of Dickebusch.

In the last few days the 1st/5th Battalion, near Jaffa in Palestine, has been on the alert for Turkish agents and spies. As the adjutant explained over a crackling telephone line: "The intelligence system of the enemy has improved lately to a considerable degree, and there is no doubt that a number of his agents are passing backwards and forwards through our lines conveying information to the enemy as to our dispositions. This indicates the necessity of being much more strict as regards the movements of inhabitants in areas near the front line".  They have fixed a line east of which "no Natives or Jews except those employed by the Egyptian Expeditionary Force  are to be allowed".It is understood that many of these agents pose as orange sellers.

A sad piece of news has just been received. The army continues to be much under-strength and battalions are being disbanded to make up the numbers of other battalions. Such was the fate of the 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment in the early part of this year. The 6th Battalion, we understand, are now to be disbanded and the officers and men transferred to 1st/1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment, which currently forms a composite battalion with 11th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. We believe that, as the majority of men (3 officers and 650 other ranks) will be from the Bedfords, the Hertfordshire men will transfer from 39th Division to 37th Division.

Source: X550/3/wd; X550/6/8; X550/7/1

6th Battalion at Rettermoy Farm

Tuesday 7th May 1918

We have not heard much for a while about 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. The adjutant tells us that today it relieved the 13th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers in the front line south-west of Bucquoy between Gommecourt and Achiet-le-Grand north of Albert. Battalion Headquarters is at Rettermoy Farm (in the top left-hand corner of the map above). The line is reported as "very quiet", nevertheless four other ranks were wounded during the relief and a German prisoner was captured! An officer from the American army has been attached to the battalion for three days of instruction(1)

Source: X550/7/1

(1) Not surprisingly the Americans had a steep learning curve, especially given the tiny size of their pre-war army. It was said in some quarters that the US troops preferred to listen to British or French non-commissioned officers if posted adjacent to them, rather than their own officers, whom they considered ignorant, but this may be exaggerated.

The Next Onslaught is Coming

Monday 8th April 1918

We have had confirmation today that the enemy has been laying down a heavy bombardment on the front line between Armentieres and Festubert (see sketch map above showing the front line); so it seems certain that the next attack will take place here. Unlike the front line round Saint-Quentin this one is of long-standing, having been in place largely since the end of the fighting in 1915. To penetrate this line, held by determined British soldiers, will require a good deal of force and luck.Hence everyone seem to feel that the enemy will fail.

Our county regiment has no battalions in the neighbourhood of this attack. The nearest battalion is the 2nd Battalion near Ypres but it seems unlikely the enemy will attempt a breakthrough here. The 1st Battalion arrived back at the Western Front today, their two trains pulling into Frevent, north of Doullens and west of Arras. 

The 6th Battalion is still being pounded in the front line at Bucquoy, north of Albert. Today two officers, Second Lieutenants Ambridge and Binns have been killed, along with seven other ranks. One man has died of wounds this evening and one officer and nine other ranks have been wounded.

A draft of 52 men has joined the 7th Battalion today, at Gentelles, south-east of Amiens. The adjutant informed me that they seemed to be of good physique; a goof number more will be needed to bring the battalion up to anywhere near full strength.

Sources: X550/2/5; X550/7/1; X550/8/1

Quiet?

Saturday 6th April 1918

Here in France it has been, once more, a largely quiet day. No such luck in the sector held by 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment which has, once more, had,three companies (A, C and D) in the front line at Bucquoy, north of Albert. B Company is in support. Today they captured a prisoner, found out on his own in No Man's Land. However, shelling and gas have accounted for sixteen other ranks killed (including three died of wounds), 29 have been wounded and one officer and 23 other ranks have been gassed. 

It is well that this battalion has not seen severe action against the enemy, unlike, 2nd, 4th and 7th Battalions. had it done so, the loss of over fifty casualties in a day would be an even more serious matter given the numbers lost by these other three battalions during the ten day retreat.

Sources: X550/7/1

Friday 5th April 1918

As we continue to "mark time" here in France, waiting for the enemy's next move, your correspondent spent a little time this evening with 6th Battalion at Couin. The adjutant tersely described the last few days as "a bad time in the line" at Bucquoy. From five until nine this morning the rear areas were heavily shelled, killing a cook, wounding a mule and wrecking a mobile cooker. One officer and twenty seven other ranks have been badly affected by gas whilst in the line at Bucquoy and one man has died a horrible death from the effects of this vile gas.

The 7th Battalion is now in billets but moved up again during the day to support 6th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment at Gentelles. Again, they were not needed, returning to their billets this evening, where, we heard a few minutes ago, they have been promptly shelled.

Lieutenant-General Sir Herbert Watts, General Officer Commanding XIX Corps, has sent the following message to 18th Division, of which the 7th Bedfords for a part: "Please accept on your behalf and that of all ranks of the 18th Division my heartiest congratulations on the splendid work done by the Division since joining the Nineteenth Corps. The results achieved by the fine fighting spirit and powers of endurance displayed have been of the greatest importance and I am most grateful to all concerned:

Sources: X550/7/1; X550/8/1

When or If?

Thursday 4th April 1918

With the seeming expiration of the great enemy thrust towards Amiens everyone at the front feels as if they are marking time. Will the Germans try to inject new life into their offensive? Or will they try their luck somewhere else along the Western Front? very few think they will now simply dig in. For a few brief weeks they still have an advantage in manpower and material before the Americans arrive en masse. Surely they must seek to exploit this? Common opinion is that if they do not their prospects of winning this war are finished.

The 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, is still in northern Italy but is making its way to France. They marched to Tavernelle today and the first train heading for Amiens will leave tonight. There are five British divisions currently in Italy, along with a greater number of French divisions. The Bedfords are part of 5th Division, we understand that, for the moment, the other four will remain in Italy.

The 2nd Battalion has now crossed the Belgian border at a place called Roesbrugge-Haringe, which it reached by train this evening. This village is a few miles north-west of Poperinge, some miles west of Ypres.

The 4th Battalion is having to rebuild after its magnificent work on Bouzincourt ridge a few days ago. Seven new officers - Lieutenants H P McConway and H R Gledstanes along with Second Lieutenants R B Ruddock, N W Miln, J Jenkins, C Lovatt and T J Waller joined today, along with seventeen other ranks from 26th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (Tyneside Irish)(1).

The 6th Battalion is in support at Bucquoy. It, too, has received a new officer, Captain Carthew.

The 7th Battalion remains at Gentelles near Amiens. It has again been shelled during the day and A and D companies were moved up to support 6ht Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment in the front line but did not go into action, returning to their billets a short while ago. The shelling has accounted for seven men killed and ten wounded, losses the battalion, much reduced in strength, can scarcely sustain.

Sources: X550/2/5; X550/3/wd; X550/5/3; X550/7/1; X550/8/1

(1) R B Ruddock of 5th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, attached to 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment would be killed two days later and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial; Charles W Lovatt, formerly of 26th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, would be killed on 12th April and is buried at Aveluy Wood Cemetery. Thomas Jenkinson Waller, formerly of 3rd Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, would die on 28th September and is buried at Sunken Road Cemetery, Boisleux-Saint-Marc.

Action in Palestine

Monday 1st April 1918

Once again today all is quiet on the Western Front. The 2nd Battalion remains in billets at Catigny-Arrest and has been training under Major R O Wynne, who has assumed command in the absence of Lieutenant-Colonel Poyntz who is in hospital. The 7th Battalion remains in billets at Gentelles but as dusk gathers they are on their way to the front line at Hangard.

6th Battalion is in the front line at Rossignol Wood near Couin. Given the numbers of our men who have been captured by the speed of the German advance it was with some satisfaction that the battalion bagged two of the enemy, caught out in no man's land. They have been sent to Brigade Headquarters for questioning.

In far away Palestine we have heard that yesterday 1st/5th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment came under attack yesterday at dusk. About 150 Turks in three waves crossed the crest of a hill and advanced down the slope towards the Bedfords' posts at Kurnet el Haramiyeh. They were immediately engaged by Lewis guns and eventually took up a line halfway down the hill.

From this position as darkness fell the Turks opened heavy fire on the Bedfords' post. Under cover of this fire a party of fifteen or twenty Turks crossed a wadi, or dry gully, and advanced against two of the battalion's sangars, defences of stones constructed above the surface of the ground as its rocky nature makes the digging of trenches impossible. Some sangars were bombed but the Turks were dispersed by a listening post, a few of remainder reached the battalion's barbed wire, but were bombed out. Patrols who immediately searched the slopes in front of the wire could find no trace of enemy dead.

Sources: X550/3/wd; X550/6/8; X550/7/1; X550/8/1

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday 31st March 1918

Once again today, Easter Sunday, the tired men of the Fifth Army have had respite with no major German attacks. The 2nd Battalion did not linger long by the sea, sadly, in the early hours of this morning they marched to Catigny-Arrest, six or seven miles south of Saint-Valery-sur-Somme where they rested. In conversation with the adjutant, who has finally had time to do some administration, I learned that he reckons the battalion has lost 15 officers and 554 other ranks killed, wounded and missing since 21st March - more than half its strength.

The 6th Battalion moved into the front line today, the transport remaining at Couin. Meanwhile, 7th Battalion came closest to seeing action during the day. At 8.30 this morning they marched to Gentelles, immediately east of Boves and ten miles south-east of Amiens, in support to the front line. About four this afternoon they were marshalled to move off and stem an enemy attack. However, this attack did not materialise and the men are now thankfully moving back to their billets.

Sources: X550/3/wd; X550/7/1; X550/8/1