More Awards

Friday 5th January 1917

The New Year is a time when awards are granted to outstanding soldiers in the army. We heard of a number of awards to 2nd Battalion on New Year’s Day; yesterday we heard of seven members of the battalion mentioned in despatches: Lieutenant-Colonel H S Poyntz, DSO; Captain R O Wynne, DSO; Lieutenant J W Hurrell; 2nd Lieutenant G A Anstee, MC; 2nd Lieutenant L H Walker; 9009 Company Quarter Master Sergeant H Maidment and 9675 Lance Sergeant G Wilson(1)

Lieutenant J W Hurrell [X550/1/81]

Meanwhile, 8th Battalion has been informed that their regimental sergeant major has been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. In addition the commanding officer (Lord Henry Scott), Captain Steyn, Captain Pares and Second Lieutenant Smith have been mentioned in despatches(2) .

Sources: X550/3/WD; X550/9/1

(1) Second Lieutenant Walker was killed in the attack on Gird Trench on 12th October 1916 and is buried at Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval.

(2) Second Lieutenant W T Smith would be killed on 3rd March and is buried at Cambrin Military Cemetery.

More Decorations for the Second Battalion

Saturday 9th December 1916: From our Correspondent in the Field

The 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment is once more in the front line just north of the Somme battlefield at Berles-au-Bois. Your correspondent managed to catch a lift in a supply lorry and paid them a visit this morning. It has been a wet, miserable day and I saw at first hand the sloppy mess the rear trenches have become and assume that the same is true in the front line.

At Battalion Headquarters, in one of the reserve trenches I was given the good news that more men have been honoured for the gallantry they displayed at times during the year. The men honoured with the Military Medal are:

• 9009 Company Quarter Master Sergeant H Maidment
• 9606 Sergeant R Foster
• 9544 Sergeant E Pepper
• 9283 Sergeant J Wheeler
• 6891 Sergeant G Grant
• 8838 Sergeant A Laycock
• 7414 Lance Corporal H Hayes
• 16498 Private F Excell
• 19575 Private S Godsall
• 10181 Private G Scrivener

Sergeant Wheeler and Sergeant Grant were both wounded during the Somme battles. The awards to Sergeant Laycock and Lance Corporal Hayes are particularly poignant. The former was killed in action on 29th June, visiting Lewis gun sections in the front line and the latter died on 13th October of wounds received in the attack on Gird Trench near Eaucourt-l’Abbaye the previous day(1)

Source: X550/3/wd

(1) Sergeant Laycock is buried at Cérisy-Gailly Military Cemetery and Lance Corporal Hayes at Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-l’Abbé