The Defence of Mount Kemmel

Wednesday 17th April 1918

The enemy has made a strong attack today on the heights of Mount Kemmel. In truth this hill is not particularly high but so flat is the land around it that it stands out as if it were a veritable mountain. It lies north-west of Messines and south-west of Ypres and the attack upon it was handily defeated by the defenders, we hear.

Meanwhile, north of Ypres the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment faced a determined effort by the enemy to get across the Steeneck at dawn today. The Belgians, on the Bedfords' left flank also came under attack but were repulsed. All day the enemy has been feeding troops into the ruins of Langemarck and as I was speaking with the adjutant he received a report that the enemy had managed to cross the stream and establish themselves in some old pillboxes. The Battalion, greatly below strength is hoping to be relieved tonight.

Sources: X550/3/wd

Thirty Second Day of the Third Battle of Ypres

Friday 31st August 1917

This latest offensive by the British Expeditionary Force began on 31st July and so is now one month old. It has seen steady progress, even though greatly hampered by the poor weather which has resulted in a glutinous mess difficult to walk through, impossible for tanks to operate in and requiring superhuman efforts by gunners and gun teams to bring their pieces up following an advance.

2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, are presently in support south-west of Kemmel. The adjutant tells me that today one officer and nineteen ranks from the Royal Navy were attached to the Battalion and shown round Wytschsaete Ridge by company commanders. This strongly suggests that 63rd (Royal Naval) Division, in whose ranks can be found 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, may shortly be entering the line. They are currently in the vicinity of Oppy Wood near Arras(1)

Source: X550/3/wd

(1) In fact it would be October before the division was deployed at Ypres and then significantly further north than the Wytschaete Ridge.

Another Battalion Round-Up

Wednesday 11th July 1917

His Majesty The King has been at the Front again today.m The adjutant of 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, tells me that he visited their area near Écurie, the Battalion lined the road from Arras to Souchez to salute him. On their way back to camp, the Battalion did an exercise, “The Attack in the Open” to keep sharp the skills so successfully put to use in the recent attack at Oppy.

Second Lieutenant Warren [X550/1/81]

The adjutant of 2nd Battalion, in billets at Polincove, remarked, with a certain snide amusement that they have, nevertheless, had a casualty, Second Lieutenant D D Warren as been injured in a fall from his horse.

The 6th Battalion are behind the lines at Kemmel south of Ypres. They have been providing large working parties all day. The adjutant noted that enemy aeroplanes have been very active - four of our balloons having been brought down east of the Battalion’s position.

Captain Miskin

Not forgetting our men in far-off Palestine - 1st/5th Battalion is training for a raid on the Turks at a place called Umbrella Hill south of Gaza. Their planning has been assisted by Captain C H Miskin building a replica of the hill from aeroplane photographs and plans. Captain H S Armstrong has been training the raiders. The adjutant remarked by wire that, owing to the lengthy preparation of orders, due to the number of arms and units concerned - Royal Field Artillery, Royal Engineers and Machine Gun Corps - it was considered best to start the general training at once and to complete the details when orders are issued. A patrol of Captain Armstrong, Lieutenant B W Smythe and Second Lieutenant R H Smith with two other ranks spent about ninety minutes in No Man's Land between the front line trenches and Umbrella Hill to better reconnoitre the lie of the land.

Lieutenant Smythe

Sources: X550/2/5; X550/3/WD; X550/6/8; X550/7/1

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

6th Battalion Loses its First Officer

Thursday 19^th August: The adjutant of the 6th Battalion tells us about the first officer’s death they have had on active service. Last night they were digging reserve trenches under the direction of an officer of the Royal Engineers about one mile north of Kemmel. Unfortunately Second Lieutenant G A Smith-Masters, just 20 years of age, advanced out of the trenches and was shot dead, it is supposed by a Sniper. It is an object lesson for his men, and the rest of the inexperienced unit, that a moment’s loss of concentration, even behind the front line, can be fatal(1).

Source: X550/7/1

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(1) Smith Masters was from Oxfordshire. His brother, serving with the Essex Regiment, would be killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1st July 1916