More Awards for the 2nd Battalion

Acting Major J P Pitts [X550/1/82]

Saturday 8th June 1918

The 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, in support west of Albert had the good news today of three more awards for bravery during the recent German offensives. Acting Major J P Pitts has been awarded the Military Medal. The Distinguished Conduct Medal is a higher award (the other ranks version of the Distinguished Service Order) and has been awarded to both 9126 Sergeant A Cobbold and 8172 Sergeant L Hibbocks.

Source:
X550/3/wd

Minute Observations

Thursday 16th May 1918

The 1st/5th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment is near Jaffa in Palestine. This morning the adjutant was able to speak with me to tell me about the sort of patrol work they have been undertaking. On the night of 14th/15th, for example, whilst in no man's land, they spotted a patrol of ten Turkish cavalry and heard and saw Turkish picquets in their advanced posts along a railway line. These picquets seem to be eight strong and one was covering a working party of a dozen men who were cutting grass to enable a better view. Several wagons, each with six men, were seen coming forward to the front line. Three more cavalry patrols were seen. Such minute observations help to draw up a detailed picture of enemy positions and, over a number of nights, patterns of behaviour can be determined which may help in planning a raid. 

Captain R L V Doake [X550/1/82]

Meanwhile the 7th Battalion has been withdrawn from the reserve positions west of Albert to the village of Baizieux. They are pleased that Captain R L V Doake and Captain A B McBride have both been awarded the Military Cross, as has Captain Stevenson of the Royal Army Medical Corps, attached as Medical Officer. Captain McBride died on 24th April last(1). In addition Sergeant A Scott has been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal - all four awards for actions in the recent fighting.

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

(1) He is buried at Longueau British Cemetery; Sergeant Alexander Scott would die on 1st October - he is buried at Vendhuile Communal Cemetery)

Ninety First Day of the Third Battle of Ypres

Monday 29th October 1917

The 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment is about to enter the fray here at Ypres. The adjutant has wired to tell us that it moved up to the front line this afternoon, about a mile south-east of Poelcapelle and expects to attack at dawn.

2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, is at Chinese Wall, behind the lines near Ypres. Lieutenant-General Sir Aylmer Hunter Weston KCB, DOS, commander-in-chief of VIII Corps has presented medals at a parade just west of Wytschaete. Distinguished Conduct Medal ribbons were presented to Acting Sergeant F Selby and Sergeant P Compton while a Military Medal ribbon was presented to Private R Baggott(1)

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6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment is training at Westouter. Today one other rank was killed and four wounded when the enemy dropped a bomb from an aircraft. It exploded inside B Company Officers’ Mess and wounded Second Lieutenants B W Wright, A Waller, Artabor and J Blanksby.

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

(1) Percy Compton would be killed on 21st September 1918 as a Company Sergeant Major, having no known grave he is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial. 

Medals and Gassing

Tuesday 24th July 1917

The adjutant of the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, tells me that three officers and three other ranks have been decorated. Military Crosses have been allotted to Captain H A W Pearse, Second Lieutenant P D Sisley and Second Lieutenant A S Trotter. Meanwhile 8721 Sergeant R T C Lansbury and 10055 Sergeant Puddiphatt have been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and 28207 Sergeant Sinclair a bar to his Military Medal(1).

Captain Pearse [X550/1/81]

The adjutant of the 1st/5th Battalion has wired to say that “gongs” have been handed out there, too. Nineteen Military Medals have been given to members of the recent raiding party at Umbrella Hill, sixteen of them being members of the Bedfords.

Second Lieutenant Sisley [X550/1/82]

Yesterday the 6th Battalion, in the front line near Kemmel, was gassed. Today there have been five more gas casualties as well as one man wounded and one killed by other means. Three officers have arrived as reinfocrements.

Source: X550/2/5; X550/6/8; X550/7/1

(1) Company Sergeant Major R T Lansbury DCM, MM would be killed in action on 20th July 1918. Sergeant J Sinclair DCM, MM would die near Ypres on 12th November 1917.

6th Battalion News

Saturday 30th June 1917

6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, is currently the battalion in divisional reserve at Kemmel south of Ypres. During the month their strength has been augmented significantly, from 709 other ranks to 935. The reinforcements make good the casualties suffered in April at Monchy-le-Preux and Greenland Hill when the regiment was reduced to less than sixty unwounded men

During the past month a number of decorations have been received. Five Military Crosses, two Distinguished Conduct Medals, one bar to a Military Medal and twenty-one Military Medals all attest to the gallantry shown in the attacks in April and the raid on 26th May. As June has been spent resting and training there have been no casualties.  

Source: X550/7/1

Decorations from the Somme

Captain Oakley [X550/1/81]

Saturday 9th June 1917

Today the battle at Messines Ridge has gone quiet.  It is fair to say that strong German counter-attacks were expected ere now and their failure to materialise must owe much to the stunning success of the first attack.

The adjutant of 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, tells me that they are about to be relieved in the front line, the exchange taking place as soon as it is dark. They will then move back to Poperinghe. News has been received that the following awards had been made for gallantry on 12th October, 1916 in the unsuccessful and bloody attack on Gird Trench: Captain R E Oakley has received a Military Cross, 10016 Sergeant A Howard and 9578 Sergeant A Mason have both received Distinguished Conduct Medals.

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The Battalion’s total casualties for this most recent period in the trenches were: eleven other ranks killed; three other ranks died of wounds; two officers and sixty-six other ranks wounded; one other rank gassed and two other ranks suffering from shell shock.

Source: X550/3/WD

Where is Montenegro?

Second Lieutenant Norrish

Sunday 17th December 1916: From our Correspondent in the Field

One of our allies in this war is the little known Kingdom of Montegenro in the Balkans(1). Little known it may be but it knows of our struggles in France. The adjutant of the 1st Battalion told me on the telephone this morning that a number of Montenegran orders and medals were dished out to deserving cases at a Church Parade in the Municipal Theatre at Béthune by General-Officer-Commanding 1st Army, Sir Henry Horne. Brigadier-General M Turner CB, commanding 15th Infantry Brigade received the Order of Danilo 2nd Class.

Perhaps of more interest to the Battalion was the issue of the Distinguished Service Medal to Private H W Fish, late of the 7th Bedfords and of the Military Cross to Second Lieutenant S Norrish. In addition the Miliary Medal has been given to Corporal McHugh and Private Cross.

Source: X550/2/5

Decorations for the Seventh Bedfords

Thursday 30th November 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

Captain Bridcutt tells me that some offciers and men of the 7th Bedfords have received decorations for their actions on the Somme. The following officers have received the Military Cross:

• Captain L H Keep
• Captain W J W Colley
• Lieut. D S H Keep
• Captain J W Turner of the Royal Army Medical Corps, the Battalion’s Medical Officer
• Second Lieutenant H A Reaney

These men have received the Distinguished Conduct Medal:

• 3/8402 Regimental Sergeant Major F Antliffe
• 16176 Company Sergeant Major R M Brand
• 6466 Company Sergeant Major Charles Hall
• 43340 Sergeant A Wyatt
• 15080 Lance Corporal W Harris
• 16540 Private G Goldhawk

The following men have received the Military Medal:

• 14626 Lance Sergeant A Turville
• 15318 Private A Pratt
• 17423 Private W Crawley

Source: X550/8/1

Day One Hundred and Twenty Nine on the Somme

Monday 6th November 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

The 2nd Bedfords, now back at Pommier, have received a draft of 25 men today. They have also received a new officer. Readers may remember that Company Sergeant Major Charles Hall of the 7th Battalion was recommended to receive the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his untiring work during the assault on Thiepval on 28th September. He has now been promoted to Second Lieutenant and has been posted to the 2nd Battalion.

Even though behind the lines the Germans have shelled Pommier for a short time today. Three other ranks have been wounded as a result.

Source: X550/3/wd

Day Sixty Two on the Somme

Thursday 31st August 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

Around 1 pm this afternoon there was a massive German attack on British positions in Delville Wood and Longeval. It was preceded by an intense artillery barrage and much activity by German aeroplanes. There has been hand-to-hand fighting with 7th Division and 24th Division east of the wood. The Germans also attacked British positions along the road from Ginchy to Longueval but seem to have been held. The Germans appear to have penetrated the northern outskirts of Longueval.

On a happier note, the new adjutant of 1st Bedfords, now in reserve at Billon Farm near Bray-sur-Somme, tells me that this morning General Horne, commander of XV Corps presented medals for gallantry at Longueval. Acting Company Sergeant Major Afford was given the Distiguished Conduct Medal whilst Lance Corporal Pettengell and Private J King received the Military Medal. The adjutant is now Major N W Lawder because Captain H Williams has been evacuated as sick(1)

Major Noel Lawder

As I write these lines another German attack seems to be developing, probably on the east side of Delville Wood where, so far, they have achieved little. There is considerable noise of artillery, including the dreaded “whizz-bangs”, and I seem to be able to hear rifle fire too.

Source: X550/2/5

(1) Major Noel Wilfred Lawder would be killed on 4th September. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. 

Casualties Whilst Practising

Lieutenant-Colonel Poyntz as a captain [X550/1/82]

Wednesday 21st June 1916: Raids and attacks need to be practised and, to be realistic, live ammunition is often used. We understand that 2nd Battalion has suffered two casualties whilst practising for a forthcoming raid. Lieutenant-Colonel Poyntz and the adjutant Lieutenant J W Hurrell had gone to Bray to supervise the training for a raid and witnessed Corporal W Eade killed by an exploding grenade. This man was an exceptional soldier, having been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallantry. Lance Corporal W Tyrrell was wounded in the same explosion.

By contrast with the tragic death of Corporal Eade, Corporal F Johnson, perhaps partly seeking to emulate the example of Private Chambers, whose death was reported yesterday, wounded himself in the left foot. He had only been with the Battalion for three days, having joined with a draft on 18th.

Source: X550/3/wd

(1) Corporal Eade, from Islington, is buried at Chipilly Communal Cemetery Extension. Self-inflicted wounds were a serious offence, carrying a maximum sentence of a lengthy period of imprisonment. Over 3,800 men were sentenced for this offence during the war. 

Honours for the Gallant Bedfords

Second Lieutenant Fleming [X550/1/82]

Thursday 8th June 1916: Among the honours recently awarded to our County Regiment are the following.

Military Cross – Temporary 2nd Lieutenant A M Fleming, 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment: he laid and repaired telephone wires under continuous and heavy shell fire, thus maintaining communications

Distinguished Conduct Medal – 14753 Lance-Sergeant W F Mills, 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment: for conspicuous gallantry when leading a party in a successful raid on the enemy’s trenches(1). His party bombed five large enemy dug-outs and accounted for many of the enemy. Much of the success of this raid was due to his cool bravery. 17463 Private A Simons, 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment: during an intense bombardment by the enemy(2) he coolly continue to work his machine-gun, and by his cool example greatly encouraged his comrades. Later, when the enemy attacked he caught them in a deadly cross-fire, greatly assisting in holding the trench.

Source: Biggleswade Chronicle 9th June 1916

(1) Probably the raid of 27th April 1916.

(2) Probably that of 19th April 1916.

DCM by Post

Tuesday 7th March 1916: A supplement to the London Gazette for 14th January briefly announced that His Majesty had approved the awarding of a Distinguished Conduct Medal to Private Arthur Webb of 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, in recognition of services on the Western Front. Nothing further was heard in the Biggleswade district until last week, when Private Webb’s wife, who resides at Ickwell-road, Upper Caldecote, received the following letter from the 9th District Infantry Record Office, Warley. It was dated 1st March and was as follows – “Madam – In accordance with the request of 8411 Private A Webb, 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, I am forwarding you herewith his Distinguished Conduct Medal – Yours faithfully G Fitzgerald, Captain, for Officer Commanding Records, 9th District”. Private Webb is well-known in the Biggleswade district and is the son of Mr and Mrs Webb of Common Gate Cottage and his many friends are pleased to know that his services in the field have been recognised. He was in the Reserve when war was declared and was formerly employed by Messrs Wells and Winch Limited at the brewery(1). He went to France with the first Expeditionary Force and fought at Mons and in practically all the big engagements. He went through all of these unharmed and when he came home on a week’s leave with a comrade, Private C Butcher, who also went to France in August 1914, both men looked in perfect trim. The Biggleswade DCM has a brother on active service, Lance Corporal Webb of the Norfolk Regiment. The latter went from India to the Persian Gulf Expeditionary Force and was wounded some time ago. He had a very narrow escape then of being killed, for a bullet pierced the front of his tunic and but for a book which he had in his pocket, he must have been killed. Lance Corporal Webb has had his tunic, book and the bullet photographed, and only last week he sent home a copy from India where he has been recuperating after his injury.

The act that won Private Webb the DCM was for his conveyance of rations to the trenches. We are informed that owing to the fierce bombardment by the enemy of the British trenches and the district round it was almost impossible for two days to get through with food transport. On the day in question the officer thought it impossible to get through, but Webb undertook the task and set off with his van across the shell swept zone. It was a most perilous journey but Webb accomplished it safely and reached the given point with the food supply for his comrades of the “Brave Bedfords”. It was, however, a journey fraught with grave danger and some idea of it may be gathered when we state that one of Webb’s horses was hit by shrapnel bullets eighteen times. For the accomplishment of this task he won the coveted honour and we heartily congratulate him in gaining this well merited reward.

Source: Bedfordshire Standard 17th March 1916

(1) The brewery was in Biggleswade and the firm was taken over by Suffolk brewers Greene King in 1961.

First Award to the 1st/5th Bedfords

Monday 24th January 1916: Private R Bell has received the Distinguished Conduct Medal, second only to the Victoria Cross, and was included in the list published this morning, the official record stating that it was awarded: “for conspicuous gallantry and determination during operations at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli Peninsula, on many occasions, notably the following: On August 15th 1915, he organised and led a party of men when their officers had become casualties. On August 16th he went out under a very heavy fire, dressed and brought in a wounded officer. On August 17th he made a valuable reconnaissance of a Turkish position”.

While he was only a private in August, when his gallantry earned him this decoration, he has now been advanced to the rank of Company Quarter Master Sergeant. He has recently been in the Fern Hill Auxiliary Hospital, Bacup [Lancashire] to which he went from a Manchester hospital after a lengthy stay in Saint Elmo hospital, Malta. Last week he was discharged from hospital and arrived at Bedford.

Writing recently about some of his experiences Company Quarter Master Sergeant Bell said: “Suddenly the lieutenant gave a little gasp and exclaimed ‘They got me that time’. I helped him to a bit safer cover a few yards away and found he was hit through the leg just above the knee. The bullet had gone right through his leg and out the other side. I made a few suggestions as to his safety, but the lieutenant said he would crawl back and tell one of the men to come down and give me a hand when it was dusk. I didn’t like letting him go, but after he had left me I looked round and saw a lot more heaps of khaki lying about. I found seven men and one officer all dead. They looked as if they had been dead a couple of days. I began to get anxious about Lieutenant R(1), as we had pre-arranged that he should give a certain signal. Glancing to my right, I saw him creeping along in the wrong direction. He had evidently lost his way and was getting nearer the enemy’s lines. I yelled to him to stop where he was and I would come. I got to him and had to bandage his leg, as the dressing had slipped through his crawling among the bushes”.

“After this was done, I found out I was in the same boat as himself – I could not tell just which direction to make for. We arranged that I should make my way back to our trenches and ask the others to hang something over the parapet as a guide. I started off and, after a few minutes dodging about the bushes and rocks I noticed a khaki helmet ‘bob up’ for a second or so. When I succeeded in getting to the trench I went and reported the circumstances to Lieutenant N. He and R being personal friends, he was much cut up. He offered to hold up the periscope above the parapet as a guide for me to bring in the wounded lieutenant. Well, I needed to have a charmed life that day; the Turks could not hit me beyond riddling my water bottle and helmet, while a bullet went through my boot, skinning a couple of toes. However, by difficult bursts of crawling I succeeded in getting the lieutenant back and subsequently went back to endeavour to reach a wounded Londoner. I got to him and tried to lift him, but he was in too much pain and the firing so heavy that I had to abandon the task. He was too badly wounded to get in without a stretcher, so I made him as comfortable as I could, gave him some water and promised to come down again for him with s stretcher. However, things so turned out that I did not get the chance to go again myself”.

Source: Luton News 27th January 1916

(1) This may be Lieutenant Rawlings, mentioned as being with 3rd/5th Bedfords in the article on 20th January - he would have gone home with his wound and then been posted to a second or third line battalion for recuperation.

Death of a Particularly Brave Bedford

Friday 14th January 1916: the adjutant of the 1st Battalion, currently at Bray-sur-Somme tells us that Sergeant Albert Higgins from West Ham in Essex was killed about two o’clock this morning whilst out repairing barbed wire in no man’s land. This is, sadly, a relatively common occurrence but Sergeant Higgins’ death is made more poignant by the fact that he did not quite live a see his name in the newspapers, for having been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for bravery – an award second only to the Victoria Cross(1).

Source: X550/2/5

(1) He is buried in Carnoy Military Cemetery – his death is given erroneously as 13th January on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website and in Soldiers Died in the Great War.

Two Brave Bedfords

Ribbons for DCM (left) and MC

Sunday  9th January 1916: Those who assisted in the usual farewell lunch to wounded Bedfords on Saturday, had the pleasure of meeting two of the bravest of the Brave Bedfords, the thrice decorated Sergeant-Major Stringer and Sergeant-Major Flint (1). When the former won his second decoration he was still Corporal Stringer, and consequently it was again a Distinguished Conduct Medal which fell to him, but as Sergeant-Major Flint then held warrant officer rank, he received the Military Cross for his gallant deed. Since then promotion has come rapidly for the Bedfords’ double DCM and he now most deservedly holds warrant rank. The Czar has been pleased to grant him also the Order of Saint George, 2nd Class, and he is expecting the Medaille Militaire. Both men are being recommended for further gallantry honours, and both have been thrice wounded, Sergeant-Major Flint having been in Leicester Hospital thirteen weeks with a bullet wound through the lungs.

Source: Bedfordshire Times 14th January 1916

(1) Both served with the 2nd Battalion and happily both seem to have survived the war.

Croix de Guerre for Private Jackson

Monday 8th November 1915: Yesterday General Haig, commanding 1st Army yesterday presented 4/6722 Pte W Jackson with the French decoration, the Croix de Guerre. This man was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for the following act of gallantry. On the night of 30th September, near Hulluch, when the enemy had gained a footing in Gun Trench he continued firing his machine guns although attacked on three sides. On his gun failing he picked it up and retired across the open for 50 yards with the Germans at his heels and succeeded in regaining our trench(1).

Source: X550/3/wd

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(1) Sadly Lance Corporal Walter Jackson, as he became, died of wounds on 3rd July 1916. He was from Hertfordshire and is buried in Dive Copse British Cemetery, Sailly-le-Sec.

Private Medlock’s Distinguished Conduct Medal

Monday 14th June 1915: In the latest list of men to whom the Distinguished Conduct Medal has been awarded a few days ago, there appeared the name of Private W. Medlock, 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment.

Private Medlock was a reservist, who was called up in August last from the works of the Skefco Ball Bearing Company Limited(1), Leagrave Road, Luton and his experience of fighting at the Front goes back to the Battle of Mons. He is one of many Skefco men who are doing fine work with the Colours – one has laid down his life – and the special deed for which he has been awarded this coveted medal is told in the official record in a few words. At Neuve-Chapelle, Private Medlock crawled from the trenches to a farmhouse occupied by about 50 Germans, bombed the enemy’s shelter and enabled our troops to take possession of an important tactical position.

When he knew he was to receive the medal for this gallant deed he sent a postcard to one of his mates telling him there was a surprise in store, and put on the card the letters D. C. M. But, with that reserve which is a well-known characteristic, he said nothing about what he had done.

Source: Luton News 10th June 1915

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(1) Now SKF.

A Letter From the East Anglian Royal Engineers

Saturday 10th April 1915: Sapper F. Parker, East Anglian Royal Engineers, writing to Mr. Stock, foreman at the Queen's Works, Bedford, said: "I am doing guard tonight and have two hours to spare before my turn on. I hope you are enjoying good health, both myself and Arthur are quite well. I am following my trade in the Headquarters Section and haven't been down to the trenches only on one or two occasions, and then the Germans were shelling the road we passed along. It was quite hot in some places, as they were trying to find one of our batteries. It makes one nervous for a time when the bullets start whistling by, but you soon get used to it. There have been some lively times recently away on our left as no doubt you have seen in the papers(1), but it has been rather quiet in our part for a week or more. Can hear a few shots while I am writing, but no big guns on the go. One cannot describe an engagement when at its height only that it's one continual roar and crackle of guns and rifles and the rush of shells through the air. The artillery always lets loose on the German trenches for half an hour or so before our infantry make a charge and I give you my word there isn’t much of a trench left, or Germans, by then. It's awful, especially our lyddite shells. It's also a fine sight on a dark night to witness the flash of guns and the illuminating rockets, which are thrown up at intervals all through the night and then is the time for a working party of engineers to bob down flat. If not, the snipers have got you. It's very risky work is barbed wire entanglements, and sometimes only fifty or sixty yards separate one from the enemy's trench. All hammers or mallets are muffled to deaden noise".

"Our reinforcements have arrived here from England and we needed them, as with sickness and casualties we were short of full strength. Our company have made a good name for themselves with the work they have, and have been praised by the officers commanding the Division(2). One of our fellows has been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and an officer the Military Cross for exceptional bravery".

"We have just had a splendid gift from Messrs Vickers, consisting of a writing pad with French dictionary and writing materials, quite a useful thing. I have been engaged lately on a new job. Am making hand grenades, or bombs, just behind the firing line. One has to be careful in the handling of explosives, as we shouldn't have a second chance if anything went wrong. I hope Kaiser Bill won't drop one of his pills among us. I will close by wishing you good health and luck and I hope soon to be back in the old shop again".

Sources: Bedfordshire Times 16th April 1915

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(1) A reference to the Battle of Neuve Chapelle

(2) 2nd Division

3rd Bedfords' Easter Parade

Easter Sunday 4th April 1915: This Easter Sunday the 3rd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Ampthill GCSI, GCIE, paraded to witness the presentation of medals for Distinguished and Gallant Conduct in the Field to Sergeant A. Cooper and Private W. Falla. Brigadier-General M. C. Curry, CB, DSO commanding at Landguard Camp [Suffolk] made a short speech to the regiment and pinned the coveted decoration on the breasts of the two gallant soldiers, who have added to the good name and reputation for deeds of valour of the county regiment.

The following extract from the regimental Orders is of interest: “The Commanding Officer has great pleasure in informing all ranks that the last two drafts for the Expeditionary Force furnished by this Battalion, have established a record by arriving at the overseas base absolutely complete as regards clothing, equipment and necessaries etc. He understands that no draft from any other regiment has done equally well. This satisfactory achievement was very creditable, not only to men of the drafts, but also to the Company officers and NCOs who supervised their equipment. It is a fitting complement to the high reputation for gallantry and efficiency which the Bedfordshire Regiment has attained at the Front, and the Commanding Officer hopes that he present and all succeeding drafts will make it a point of honour to do equally well.

Source: Bedfordshire Times 16th April 1915