Monday 2nd September 1918
More advances have taken place today. Most importantly, perhaps, the Australian Corps has taken the town of Peronne. 5th Division has been one of the attacking formations. 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, forms part of 15th Brigade in this division and acted as reserve for this attack east of Fremicourt. Nevertheless, it suffered ninety-four casualties, killed and wounded.
Source: X550/2/5
Friday 30th August 1918
With Bapaume taken the New Zealand Division was today given the task of taking two villages to the east of the town - Bancourt and, to the north-east of that place, Fremicourt. The villages have duly fallen and the line taken some two thousand yards forward. Sadly, 42nd Division have been unable to take the village of Riencourt.
Similarly, 38th (Welsh) Division have been unable to take Morval, mainly owing to the strength of the enemy's artillery barrage on any attempt to get forward. The same artillery has rendered impossible the 18th Division's attempts to make any serious advance though a little ground has been made.
2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment had been ordered to take a sunken lane north of Combles and the attempt was duly made. However, they could get no further than another sunken lane a little way to the west - both shown on the map below. Sadly some nine other ranks have been killed, five are missing and thirty two have been killed. Amongst officers Captain P J Reiss has been wounded and 2nd Lieutenant A D Greenwood has been killed.
Source: X550/3/wd
