Sixty Eighth Day of the Third Battle of Ypres

Saturday 6th October 1917

Although there has been little to write about today at Ypres we have again heard from the 1st/5th Battalion in Palestine. Yesterday in the front line near Gaza passed without incident. But at six o’clock in the evening patrols were again sent out, commanded by Second Lieutenants Dennis, Phillips and Sowden. They had the same objectives as the previous night, to lure the enemy into a trap. In the event Second Lieutenant Dennis’ patrol had to withdraw under heavy fire and on arrival back at the trench he and Sergeant Clifford were found to be missing. The other two patrols did a lot of shooting at bodies of Turkish infantry, but it is not known with what result(1).

Source: X550/6/8

(1) Sergeant Clifford is listed as killed on 5th October and he is buried in Gaza War Cemetery. Lieutenant Dennis is not listed on the Commonwealth War Graves site and so was probably taken prisoner.

Sixty Seventh Day of the Third Battle of Ypres

Friday 5th October 1917

Today has seen little fighting and we now enter the customary lull after a major assault, consolidating against counter-attacks and preparing for the next heave. Today the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment have entered the front line for the first time in this battle relieving the 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment south of Veldhoek and looking towards Gheluvelt, scene of the blooding of the 2nd Bedfords in October 1914.

The 2nd Battalion is also in the line not far away near Hollebeke. A stray shell, we hear, has killed Captain L A L Fink MC, who joined in March last year as a subaltern and fought with them through all the Somme campaign.  

6th Battalion is now in support to 111th Brigade south of the Menin Road. The new adjutant told me that they relieved three other battalions and that there was rather heavy shelling round the support company’s trenches and Battalion Headquarters. Second Lieutenant A R Jones and W B Collins have been wounded, two other ranks killed and eight wounded. He commented: “This relief was extremely difficult, and was much impeded by practice barrages”. Their position is now only a few hundred yards from the 1st Battalion as will be seen from the map above.

Today we have heard from the 1st/5th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, in the front line at Gaza in Palestine. The adjutant informed us that the enemy fired heavily on the position and Lieutenant E C B Woodhouse was fatally wounded with as many as sixty other ranks also receiving wounds of differing seriousness. The Turks then attacked the battalion’s position and it is thought that some loss was inflicted on the enemy as they were prevented from coming to close quarters by the battalion’s rifle and Lewis gun fire. The day otherwise passed without incident.

At 6 o’clock last night three patrols left the front line at Subket Post. The first patrol's object was to advance into Fisher’s Orchard and draw the Turks to follow them back on to a line held by the second patrol. The Third patrol was to lie up and try to ambush patrols of Turks who might come along. The first patrol under the command of Second Lieutenant Dennis found the enemy and succeeded in drawing them towards the second patrol commanded by Second Lieutenant Gurney. Here the Turks discovered the trap and withdrew, followed by a heavy fire from the patrols’ Lewis gun and rifles. The third patrol, commanded by Second Lieutenant Mander did not encounter any enemy

Sources: X550/2/5; X550/3/wd; X550/6/8; X550/7/1

In the Balkans

Biggleswade High Street [Z1130/16/21]

Wednesday 12th April 1916: Private Albert Bygraves, formerly machine gunner in the 2nd Bedfords, who was wounded at Ypres and is now in the Balkans(1) writes home to his mother at Langford. “I joined this regiment in November 1915 and we were called upon to relieve a regiment at a position 3,500 feet above sea level. We endured terrible hardships owing to the intense cold and lost a great number of men through frostbite. In December we were attacked by the Bulgars and owing to their overwhelming numbers had to retire after inflicting heavy losses on them(2). Our machine gun, which I was serving, played an active part in checking the enemy. Our casualties were two men and our Machine Gun Officer, whom we all adored. After expending all our ammunition we were successful in getting our gun and tripod out of action(3). We endured some strenuous marching and hardships. We were glad to get water from pools on the march as drinking water was not available. I must say myself and Privates J. Dennis and H. Day have undergone some terrible struggles between life and death during this campaign. It would be a lesson to those who have not taken part in the great struggle to see how we British boys endure hardships without complaining. We are always laughing and joking, no matter under what circumstances we are placed. The sooner all available young men come along and help us the quicker the end of this crisis will come”(4)

Source: Bedfordshire Times 21st April 1916

(1) Three British divisions were stationed in the Balkans, no battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment served on the front where disease was rife.

(2) The Battle of Kosturino, in Serbia, from  6th to 12th December 1916 where the Bulgarian 2nd Army attacked the 10th (Irish) Division. The Irish lost 1,500 men and 8 guns and retreated into Greece.

(3) the Vickers 0.303 machine gun was on top of a tripod

(4) The Register of Absent Voters for 1918 tells us that Albert John Byrgaves, of Langford Road, Biggleswade, was a private in 5th Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers, part of 29th Brigade of 10th Division.

Fatal Accident at Felixstowe

Thursday 17th December 1914: We are sad to report an accident to a soldier of the Bedfordshire Regiment in Felixstowe. Private Thomas Stanley Dennis from Clerkenwell in London was knocked down and run over by a motor car at Landguard Camp. He was taken to the De Sterne Home temporary hospital in a serious condition but died this evening.

The deceased was a soldier of the 2nd Battalion and had also seen service with the 1st Battalion in India and Aden. He went to Belgium with the 2nd Battalion in September and was wounded in the fighting around Ypres in October. He had rejoined the colours at Landguard after a short sick leave. He had only been there a few days when the unfortunate accident happened.

Source: Bedfordshire Standard, 1st January 1915