Raid Practice and a Solemn Dinner

Friday 27th July 1917

The adjutant of the 1st/5th Battalion has wired with news of practise for the next raid on Umbrella Hill. He noted that, profiting by the first raid the dug-outs were on ground unregistered by enemy artillery - as evidenced by no shell holes being about. They are also smaller and fitted with overhead cover to a depth of about 4 feet 3 inches of sand. The dump for supplies, too, has been made unostentatious and concealed by sand bags.

Captain Oliver Kingdon [X550/1/82]

The adjutant of 7th Battalion, Captain Colley, notes that today is the second anniversary of the Battalion’s arrival in France. A celebratory dinner is to be held in Steenvoorde and which the following, who landed with the Battalion in 1915 will be present: Brigadier-General G D Price (the former commanding officer, now commanding 55th Brigade, in the same Division as 7th Bedfords), Lieutenant-Colonel G P Mills, now commanding 7th Bedfords, Major J H Bridcutt (as a guest), Major A E Percival, Captain W W Colley, Captain H Driver, Captain O Kingdon, Captain H Ramsbotham, Lieutenant S R Chapman, Lieutenant and Quarter Master F Corner. Captain L H Keep will not attend, so soon after the death of his brother, which will cast something of a pall over proceedings.

Sources: X550/6/8; X550/8/1

Men and Horses

Wednesday 3rd January 1917

The 2nd Battalion received fifty men as reinforcements on the 1st of this month, today the 6th Battalion has received the same number. There are rumours here (there are always more rumours in an army than men in the army, it seems) that High Command are looking to re-open the Somme offensive as soon as they can this year, having been forced to abandon it in the filthy weather of November. These reinforcements will add more grist to this rumour mill.

The adjutant of the Bedfordshire Yeomanry, not far from Calais, tells us that their horses have been inspected by the veterinary officer today. An intelligence course is being held at divisional headquarters whilst a number of officers and men - Captain Holmes, Captain Proby, Lieutenant Foster, Sergeant Andrew, Sergeant Ekins and Sergeant Chapman have been sent on courses at the divisional school.

Sources: X550/3/wd; WW1/WD2

Bedford Athletes at the Front

Sunday 4th July: The above snapshot of seven well-known Bedford athletes, now serving at the Front with the East Anglian Royal Engineers, was taken “somewhere in France” whilst the little party known as “the lucky seven” were enjoying a stroll not far from the firing line during a respite from the trenches. The names are as follows: Sapper Chapman, well-known  to all local followers of Association football as “Napper” Chapman, the redoubtable forward of the Eagles Football Club; Corporal Young, christened by his comrades “the old man” by reason of his long service in the East Anglian Royal Engineers, a staunch supporter of Bedford AFC; Sapper “Biscay” Burton, one of the Biddenham Football Club’s most enthusiastic followers; Sapper “Curley” Sharpe, butcher of the regiment, renowned in local cricket circles as a dashing batsman, who has done good service for the Bedford Wasps; Corporal Wildman, who has been awarded the soubriquet of “Borneo” and played many dashing games at outside right for Bedford United; Sergeant Ames, who has performed with distinction at outside-left for the now famous EARE Football Club and Corporal “Whisperer” Redman, than whom Bedford Town FC has no more devoted and enthusiastic supporter.

Source: Bedfordshire Standard 6th August 1915