A Soldier Writes to the Duke of Bedford

Ampthill Camp [Z1306/1/34/2]

Thursday 2nd December 1915: Lance Corporal G E Peters of 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment wrote to the Duke of Bedford, Commandant of the Ampthill Training Camp known colloquially as the Duke of Bedford’s Regiment, on 28th November as follows: “I hope you will pardon the liberty I am taking in writing these lines to you, but I am acting on the invitation given to us by you when we left the training camp for France. We left Ampthill on July 27th with our commanding officer, Lieutenant Deacon. We remained at the base for a week and then, with several other details attached to the 4th Entrenching Battalion, we were made up of drafts from different regiments. Our work of four hours a day trench digging proved interesting for a week or two, then it came to tree-falling, rivetting, barb-wiring etc. for eight hours daily with a few fatigues thrown in. The boys all worked with a will although there were many difficulties. We were billeted in a wood, twelve men occupying a bell tent. At times we could get little or no water. Although everywhere was sodden with rain in August, and we were about knee-deep in mud, that was not very comfortable considering the billets we had come from, but we remembered your words – “Don’t grumble””(1).

“We afterwards removed to various villages, repairing old French trenches. Of course during these first three months we were a good way from the firing line. Then came the order for 25 of our party to join our own unit. I, with Corporal Ayres, went with them. Since then we have several times been in the trenches. We are in a fairly quiet position but think everything points to there being an active time coming. We all recognise we have a very clever enemy to contend with but that doesn’t disconcert us in the least. We are quite prepared for a smack at Fritz and he will have to be up early in the morning to catch the Ampthill boys asleep”.

“The life gets a bit monotonous at times but we remember we are out to win. We will keep smiling and happy and remember your splendid motto “Don’t grumble”. Thanks to our splendid training we can hold our own with any draft we have seen and we have more than once been complimented on our smartness”(2).

Source: Bedfordshire Times 24th December 1915

(1) Base Camps were notoriously harsh, a short-lived mutiny broke out at the worst one, The Bull Ring at Étaples in August 1916.

(2) Sergeant George Edward Peters, from Baldock [Hertfordshire] was killed in action at Arras on 23rd April 1917, aged 21. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.

Bedfordshire Training Depot

Ampthill Camp [Z1306/1/34/2]

Saturday 20th November 1915: To accommodate the recruits who have joined during the present month two large structures have been provided at Ampthill Park. The Wesleyan Church Council of Ampthill have most patriotically placed the large room of their Institute at the disposal of the Commanding Officer of the Training Depot for the accommodation of some of the men, and His Grace has gratefully accepted their kind offer. A similar offer was made by the Committee of the English Church Schools, but unfortunately it was found that the proffered accommodation was not quite suited to the purpose.

On Wednesday a visit was paid to Ampthill Camp by a number of staff officers of the 59th (North Midland) Division(1), who were anxious to see the various facilities for training that exist at the Depot. The squads under instruction at Machine Gun Drill (Maxim and Colt) were first inspected. Then the two rifles fitted with telescopic sights (the Aldis Telescope and the Gibbs Magnifier) were examined and aroused much interest, especially the latter, which, at a third the cost of the Aldis Telescope, appears to have equally satisfactory results. The staff officers next witnessed recruits at drill and physical training and then passed on to the Miniature Range, the Rapid Loading and Firing Trench and the Obstacle Course. Meanwhile the Signallers under instruction had been engaged in laying telephone wire with Buzzer instruments from the Orderly Room to the Entrenching Ground, a mile distant, whither the party now made their way. A Relief Party was in readiness of the Woburn road and directly the officers reached the ground, the relief of the trenches was carried out. The various kinds of entrenchments, as well as the loopholed parapet and entanglements were visited in turn, great interest being taken in the method used for extending the trenches by sapping. Several of the staff officers had lately been in the trenches at the front, and it was satisfactory to hear them say that, not only were the entrenchments thoroughly up to date in every respect, but in the matter of construction they were far superior to any trenches at the front.

Source: Bedfordshire Times 26th November 1915

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(1) 59th (2nd North Midland) Division was a formation of Territorial Army units of the North Staffordshire Regiment, Leicestershire Regiment and Sherwood Foresters. It was sent to Ireland to quell the Troubles in 1916 and in February 1917 was sent to France.

No Truth in the Rumour

Ampthill Camp [Z1306/1/34/2]

Friday 16^th July: His Grace the Duke of Bedford has requested that it should be made known that there is no truth whatever in the rumour that recruiting has been suspended for the Ampthill Camp. The Duke says men are required for the Line Battalions at the Front and he hopes men will continue to come forward to take the place of those who have already left for service. A finely equipped open-air gymnasium has been added to the Camp on the extreme left of the Park, near the bayonet drilling apparatus.

Source: Biggleswade Chronicle 30th July 1915

The Bedfords on Film

The Empire Cinema [Z1306/10/41/27]

Sunday 30th May 1915: In these days of the popular cinema, an explanation of the headline is unnecessary. The film itself, however, is worth a good deal of explanation, although when seen it explains itself(1).

The Bedfordshires have been filmed in order to illustrate the life in a service battalion. Pictures were taken at the Barracks, at the Ampthill Camp and in the grounds of Hinghingbrooke Castle in Huntingdon, and the three thousand feet of film exposed depict scenes of interest with a degree of success that reflects credit on that skilled operator, Mr. W. N. Blake. Although episodes such as boot inspection, drilling in Ampthill Park, serving out dinners etc. were taken on the 12th of this month, the complete film was shown privately at the end of the last week. It will be exhibited at the Empire at 3, 7 and 9(2) accompanied by rousing music and the appropriate applause of full houses.

Officers and men from Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Huntingdonshire figure in the production and spectators are able to see their relatives and friends at work without having to make a more or less long journey for that purpose. The film in in narrative form, if one may be allowed to use the expression, and shows the man enlisting, taking the oath of allegiance, drawing clothing and necessaries and being fitted for uniform until one day he emerges from the chrysalis into the glorious imago of the King’s uniform. Thereafter he is shown at work and play. On the Barracks Square he is drilled, and a day comes when he is one of the draft who answer to their names, receive their rations, a few words of cheer from the chaplain, and march off along the Kempston-road to the station, ready to go wherever duty to King and Country calls.

Excellent views of the training camp at Ampthill are shown. There are bayonet fighting, drawing dinners, boot inspecting, the Battalion forming and marching in mass headed by the Commanding Officer, the Duke of Bedford, Major F. A. Stevens (Second-in-Command) and Major Nelson (Adjutant) – all clearly and picturesquely recorded. Space does not permit of a detailed description, but all who feel a pride in our gallant men, and would see them at work in their interesting surroundings, should not miss this opportunity. Special matinée performances are arranged for the two days mentioned. We understand that Private Bentley, of the Bedfordshire Regiment, who has recently been awarded the DCM, will address a few words from the Empire stage each evening and at the Saturday matinée.

Source: Bedfordshire Times 21st May 1915

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(1) Sadly the film does not seem to have survived

(2) The showings were on 21st and 22nd May. The Empire was at 27 Midland Road and was owned by Blake Brothers, it survived at least into the 1970s though by then its sole staple seems to have been X-rated adult films.

3rd Bedfords' Christmas

Ampthill Park Camp [Z1306/1/34/2]

Sunday 27th December 1914: Christmas with the 3rd Bedfords was a memorable occasion. After breakfast every man received a present from Lady Ampthill(1) suitably inscribed. The diet for the day was on a liberal Christmas scale and after tea the Duke of Bedford's new recreation hut was opened(2). The hut has been built to replace the Duke's recreation tents. It is 115 feet long and 35 feet wide; corrugated iron outside, match-boarding inside and fitted up with every regard for comfort. At the bar refreshments can be purchased from 6.30am to 8.30pm. In connexion with the Post Office there is a Savings Bank, with five per cent interest on all money deposited for over a month. Since the end of November, when the bank was started, £160 has been deposited. The opening ceremony was conducted by Lord Ampthill and an excellent concert followed.

Source: Bedfordshire Times 8th January 1915

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(1) The commanding officer's wife

(2) The duke was Lord Ampthill's cousin.

Christmas at Ampthill Training Camp

Ampthill Camp [Z1306/1/32/4]

Thursday 24th December 1914: At the Duke of Bedford's training depot at Ampthill Park the camp breaks up for the Christmas holidays today, and passes are given to the recruits until midnight on Monday. It is stated that recruits are coming in fast, and the sleeping room is so heavily taxed that some of the married men from the villages in the district go to their own homes to sleep. Khaki for all the men in the camp has arrived and will be served out during the week.

Source: Luton News 31st December 1914

Bedfordshire Training Depot

Ampthill Camp [Z1306/2/34/2]

Thursday 12th November 1914: Men wishing to join the Bedfordshire Training Depot, commanded by the Duke of Bedford, should enlist at the nearest Recruiting Office, or at the Depot of the Bedfordshire Regiment at Kempston Barracks.

TERMS ON ENLISTMENT

Recruits:

·        3 years, or for the duration of the War;

·        Height 5 feet 4 inches

·        Chest 34½ inches

·        Age 19 to 38

Ex-Soldiers:

·        1 year, or for the duration of the War

·        Height 5 feet 4 inches

·        Chest 34½ inches

·        Age 19 to 45

SEPARATION ALLOWANCE AND ALLOTMENT OF PAY

Corporal or Private

·        Wife 12 shillings, 6 pence per week

·        Wife and 1 child 15 shillings

·        Wife and 2 children 17 shillings, 6 pence per week

·        Wife and 3 children, 20 shillings

·        Wife and 4 children, 22 shillings

Sanction has been given by the Army Council to form a training establishment in Ampthill Park to be known as "The Bedfordshire Training Depot". This will form a unit of the Bedfordshire Regiment, Colonel the Duke of Bedford, A.D.C,[1] will be in command of the Camp, Major Stevens will be second in command, and Major Nelson, late of the Beds Regiment will be Adjutant.

On the completion of their training in Ampthill Park, the drafts, after inspection, and when found fit for foreign service, will be sent to the 3rd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment at Landguard and despatched from there at once abroad to join the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the Line, or any of the Service Battalions who may by then have gone to the Front.[2] Recruits on final approval will be appointed to the Beds Regiment and will be sent to the Depot at Bedford to be clothed and equipped. They will then join for training in Ampthill Park.

Six huts with ample accommodation for 20 beds each are now ready. Cook-houses, bath-houses, recreation room and canteen are in course of construction. Ampthill Park affords every facility for field training. Millbrook Rifle Range is close at hand. There will also be an open Miniature Rifle Range in the Camp, and as training will be going on during the winter a covered shooting gallery and covered drill shed. If recruits are forthcoming more huts will be built [3].

Sources: Bedfordshire Times 13th November 1914

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[1] Aide de Camp (to the King)
[2] These would be 6th, 7th and 8th Battalions.
[3] Between the opening and the introduction of conscription on 2nd March 1916 2,235 men were trained at the camp. Between March and March 1919 a further 8,069 men, after returning wounded from France, were put through remedial training and sent, once more to various active service units.