Nazareth Falls

Saturday 21st September 1918

Yesterday the great advance continued in Palestine. Perhaps the most memorable thing about yesterday is that Our Lord's boyhood home, Nazareth is once more in Christian hands, having fallen to British and Indian horsemen of 5th Cavalry Division. The 1st/5th Bedfords, having reached all their objectives on 19th had an easier day yesterday and pitched their bivouacs. In a wire the adjutant noted, no doubt with relief that "men allowed to take off boots. Everything quiet".

Here on the Western Front the 2nd Bedfords have again been in action around Ronssoy, south-west of Cambrai. Sadly we we have to report that Lieutenant W G Samuels was killed today and that Lieutenant S G Hague died of wounds. 

Sources: X550/3/wd; X550/6/8

Not Again ...

Friday 26th April 1918

The 1st and the 7th Battalion were both in action yesterday, with considerable success. The 7th Battalion held the line they had taken between Villers-Bretonneux and Aubercourt and last night were relieved by a unit of French Colonial troops. They have lost three officers, including two captains, killed and seven wounded. From resources which were already slender 13 other ranks have been killed, 105 wounded and 70 are missing. About 200 prisoners were taken.

The 1st Battalion was also in action in the darkness last night. Their attack, between Merville and Lamotte, west of Estaires, was to advance their line from les Lauriers and capture a farm dubbed Bedford Farm. The attack was undertaken by A Company and one platoon of B Company and got underway at 9.15 following a barrage. Three prisoners and a machine gun were captured. All objectives were taken by 10.35. The officer in charge, Captain Hague, carried out the attack and then made sure that the new line was secure and it was only on his return to headquarters that it was discovered that he was badly wounded in the thigh and he was sent to the dressing station.

If these two battalions have had a lively couple of days one cannot but sympathise with 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. They were roughly handled during the March retreat and are woefully under-strength, indeed, they form part of a composite battalion with 2nd Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment. They are presently in positions on the Yser Canal near Ypres. This morning the enemy attacked them in strength just south of the canal. Battalion Headquarters was at Spoil Bank on the north bank but the position was evacuated as the enemy got closer. They have fallen back to, appropriately enough, Bedford House. The front line of the composite battalion is along the canal facing south and stretches from Lock 8 to Spoil Bank. As I write these lines the enemy are reported to have taken The Bluff and to have crossed the canal at Norfolk Bridge. The composite battalion has this been outflanked on its left. The situation here is, thus, critical.

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

Night Manoeuvres

Tuesday 1st May 1917

We understand from the adjutant of the 1st Battalion that they are billeted at the village of Cambligneul, a little over five miles north-west of Arras. They have been practising night operations including attacking over open ground. Special attention has been paid to the training of scouts and specialists such as machine-gunners, signallers and so on.

 Lieutenant Jacob [X550/1/81]

The 2nd Battalion is at Nuncq around twenty five miles west of Arras and five and a halfd miles south-south-west of Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise.  They have been joined today by five new officers - Lieutenant G R Jacob and Second Lieutenants E L Marsden, K C J Jones, S G Hague and S H Smith.

Second Lieutenant Marsden [X550/1/81]

Sources: X550/2/5; X550/3/wd.

Sick Officers

Second Lieutenant Timberlake

Thursday 21st December 1916: From our Correspondent in the Field

The adjutant of the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, tells us that the Battalion has spent the day carrying ammunition for light and medium trench mortars up to the front line at Cuinchy.

2nd Battalion, in the front line at Berles-au-Bois reports that three officers – Second Lieutenants F Hague, R Timberlake and C R Hall have all been struck off strength. The cold and damp in the trenches has meant that all three are seriously ill and have been evacuated to England(1).

Sources: X550/2/5; X550/3/wd

(1) Second Lieutenant Roy Timberlake would be killed in action with 4th Battalion on 27th July 1917 – he is buried at Bailleul Road East Cemetery, Saint-Laurent-Blangy.

Day Sixty One on the Somme

Lieutenant H F Graves

Wednesday 30th August 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

As 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment contemplates going into action near Guillemont sometime in the near future, the adjutant has contacted me with the names of new officers who have joined the battalion during August to take the places of those who have fallen in the fight. The officers are:

• Second Lieutenant E. A. Hague (joined on 14th August)
• Second Lieutenant P. A. Gibbons (joined on 14th August)
• Lieutenant H. F. Graves (joined on 15th August)
• Second Lieutenant H. C. Covell (joined on 15th August)
• Second Lieutenant  V. S. Sanders (joined on 16th August)(1)
• Second Lieutenant J. H. Banyard (joined on 18th August)(2)
• Second Lieutenant D. A. Lardner (joined on 18th August)
• Second Lieutenant H. J. Everett (joined on 18th August)
• Second Lieutenant A. J. Howard (joined on 27th August)(4)
• Second Lieutenant P. G. Smith (joined on 27th August)

Second Lieutenant Addison Howard

Sources: X550/2/5

(1) Vincent Stanton Sanders, from Hornsey [Middlesex], would be killed on 4th September, he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

(2) James Hirst Banyard would be killed on 3rd September, he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

(3) Dion Albert Lardner, from Streatham [London], would be killed on 4th September, he is commemorated in the Thiepval Memorial.

(4) Addison James Howard, from Kempston Grange, would be killed on 4th September and is buried at Guillemont Road Cemetery; Addison Howard Park in Kempston was given to the people of Kempston and dedicated to his memory by his mother in 1937, having formed the grounds of Kempston Grange.