Seventy Third Day of the Third Battle of Ypres

Captain H A W Pearse [X550/1/81] 

Thursday 11th October 1917

Today has been one of reliefs, with four new divisions coming into the line. One of the divisions relieved is 5th Division, amongst which is 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, which was relieved last evening and has withdrawn to Ridge Wood.

Second Lieutenant H W Fleming [X550/1/82]

The adjutant has, this morning, given us a précis of the battalion’s time in the front line near the Menin Road. From the 4th to 10th the Battalion was subjected to heavy shelling during which four officers (Second Lieutenants H H Reynolds, H W Fleming, J Cotchin and P N J Christie) and thirty-five other ranks were killed and six officers (Captain H A W Pearse and Second Lieutenants Laughton, E F K Graham, F Flavell, S Norrish and E I F Nailer) and ninety-seven other ranks (including acting regimental Sergeant-Major N Freer) wounded. wounded, in addition four other ranks are missing.

Second Lieutenant S Norrish [X550/1/82]

During the tour the Battalion captured four machine-guns and killed over one hundred of the enemy by sniping and use of rifle grenades.

Source: X550/2/5

Missing on Patrol

Lieutenant Fleming [X550/1/82]

Saturday 20th January 1917

The adjutant of the 6th Battalion, in the front line at le Touret near Neuve-Chapelle, reports that our artillery has been busy cutting the enemy’s fire with bursts of shrapnel. The enemy has been fairly quiet but Second Lieutenant Mattey and Sergeant Hunter, who went out on a patrol have not return and they are feared captured or killed. Lieutenant Fleming and a non-commissioned officer went out to look for them but could find no sign(1)

Postscript: rumour has reached the army of a serious explosion at an ammunition factory in London last evening. There are said to be many casualties and people are comparing it with the accident in America last week and wondering if German agents have been active in both places(2)

Source: X550/7/1

(1) Second Lieutenant Charles Percival Mattey’s date of death is given as 22nd January 1917 by Commonwealth War Graves Commission suggesting that he may have died as a prisoner-of war. He is buried in Cabaret Rouge British Cemetery at Souchez. No man named Hunter died with the 6th Battalion.

(2) Just before 7 pm on 19th January 1917 an explosion at a munitions factory in Silvertown, West Ham [Essex] killed 73 people and injured 400 more, enemy action was never proved and seems unlikely - the dangers of munitions factories were legion and explosions relatively common. The explosion on USA took place on 12th January.

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.

2nd Battalion Casualties at Givenchy

Lieutenant T G M Horsford [X550/1/82/23]

The Centenary of the Battle of Waterloo

Friday 18th June 1915: Captain Foss, adjutant of the 2nd Bedfords has today given us the casualty figures for the action at Givenchy-lès-la-Bassée between 15th and 17th. Lieutenant T. G. M. Horsford was killed by a shell in his dugout and was buried behind Scottish Trench. Second Lieutenant W. H. Fox was killed by the same shell and buried in the same place. Both Lieutenant C. W. Macfie and Second Lieutenant L. Turnbull were killed in the crater and their bodies have not been recovered(1).

Lieutenant G. M. Fleming, Royal Army Medical Corps, was killed by a shell whilst attending to a case at the Regimental Aid Post. He is the second medical officer to be killed with the battalion this year, and is buried “in the country at Windy Corner”(2). 18 other ranks were also killed.

Lieutenant C. H. Brewer was wounded by shrapnel and Second Lieutenant F. Powell wounded twice in the crater. Five other officers were wounded along with 72 other ranks. 27 other ranks are missing

Source: X550/3/wd

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(1) None of these officers has any known grave and they are all commemorated on the le Touret Memorial

(2) Where he remains – his grave is in the Guards Cemetery at Windy Corner, Cuinchy.

News from Belgium, France and Gallipoli

Thursday 20th May 1915: 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment has returned to the vicinity of Hill 60 today, to trenches it occupied previously. The 2nd Battalion is now billeted in the village of Bellerive and has today received 120 reinforcements. Lieutenant-Colonel Thorpe has left the Bedfords to take command of 2nd Battalion, Border Regiment and a new Medical Officer, Lieutenant J. M. Fleming has joined 2nd Battalion. The Battle of Festubert continues but no major attack is underway at present.

We also hear, from far-off Gallipoli that the Turks made a substantial attack on colonial troops from New Zealand and Australia yesterday. We are happy to report that this was beaten off with great loss.

Source: X550/2/5