1st Battalion Moves South

Wednesday 14th August 1918

Today 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment has moved from its long time position near Merville south to Doullens. It marched to Wizernes just south of Saint-Omer and took a train. This move south suggests that the battalion may soon take part in the allied offensive as it drives from Amiens to Albert and hopefully beyond.

Source: X550/2/5

Buttressing Huts

Wednesday 31st July 1918

1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, near Merville, are currently training behind the lines at Villorba Camp, named after one of the places they encountered in Italy. Even though behind the lines the camp is occasionally subject to the enemy's big guns. Therefore some of the battalion have been ordered to build buttresses against the huts to prevent splinters from blasts flying around inside. 

Source: X550/2/5

The Bedford Boys

Friday 26th July 1918

The 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment is currently behind the lines near Merville. Yesterday half the battalion were training whilst the other half attended the baths. Last night they had a "most enjoyable evening" according to the adjutant, attending a performance given by their concert troupe "The Bedford Boys". A good deal of singing of songs, some I believe somewhat risque, was indulged in and some skits at the expense of the colonel and other senior officers were particularly well received.

Source: X550/2/5

1st Bedfords' Attack and Raid

Saturday 20th July 1918

At midnight last night the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, in the front line north-west of Merville, undertook an attack and raid. Your correspondent was somewhat surprised at this nomenclature, after all what is the difference? The difference was explained by the adjutant. The attack was designed to drive the enemy back from the positions he held whilst the simultaneous raid was designed to seize prisoners.

On asking the adjutant the result of both operations he was quite candid. "It was a complete failure", in other words, no prisoners were taken. The attack, on the other hand, was quite a success. The enemy trenches, marked in purple on the map shown above, lay on the other side of a stream called the Platebecque but the enemy had manned the line of the stream and the aim of the attack was to drive him back to his own trenches, which was carried out. In part the success of the attack was the undoing of the raid, because the Germans bolted from their position along the stream so quickly that there was no time to take prisoners.

During this action the adjutant reckoned that the Bedfords lost lone officer killed and one wounded, three other ranks killed, two missing, believed killed, and ten wounded.

Source: X550/2/5

Dog Fights

Friday 19th July 1918

1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment is in the front line near Merville. The adjutant has mentioned, casually, that they are "pulling a stunt" tonight and that things are quite tense as the men prepare themselves mentally to go into action. Some of this tension was dissipated earlier in the day as enemy aircraft have been quite active and a number of "dog-fights" developed over the front line. In two separate incidents enemy machines were brought down by our fighters. One exploded in flames, so presumably the engine was hit by bullets and the fuel ignited. The other crashed somewhere behind its own lines.

Sources: X550/2/5

2nd and 4th Battalions Behind the Lines

Thursday 18th July 1918

The 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment is currently in the front line near Merville. The other two fbattalions on the Western Front are currently behind the lines. 2nd Battalion is at Ferrieres training and 4th Battalion has today moved into the support line near Albert.

Sources: X550/2/5; X550/3/wd; X550/5/6

A Visit from the General

 

General Birdwood

Wednesday 17th July 1918

Today 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment have gone back into the front line west of Merville. Before that Battalion Headquarters was paid a visit by General W B Birdwood, who is General Officer Commanding 5th Army(1). The adjutant was tight-lipped about the reason for the visit but one presumes that something offensive is in the offing.

Source: X550/2/5

(1) He had succeeded General Gough, who was sacked following his army's poor performance during the German offensive of March and April, on 31st May.

Heavier Bombardments

Tuesday 16th July 1918

Yesterday your correspondent reported news from 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, near Merville, that our artillery had been particularly active and noted the speculations of the troops as to what this might mean. 

Today the adjutant reports that the bombardment has been more intense than ever - describing it as "practically continuous, night and day". However he has not observed any "purposeful staff wallahs" as he put it and no special orders have been received, so the betting is still evenly divided on whether this means an attack is in the offing or not. He did make the observation that if High Command intends any sustained offensive the year is beginning to run towards autumn and the lessons of the attack at Ypres last year, which became bogged down in the slither of October and sludge of November, suggest that a major offensive is undertaken is best commenced at high summer and not later.

Sources: X550/2/5

What to Bombardments Mean?

Monday 15th July 1918

More from the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment today, in support behind the front line near Merville. Today the adjutant reports that our artillery have been very active, though the enemy has not fired a shot in anger. 

This, of course, makes Tommy Atkins speculate? Are the big guns softening up enemy positions ahead of an attack to retake the ground lost earlier this year? Are they undertaking some sort of methodical destruction of enemy artillery? Why have the Germans not responded? Are they short of ammunition? Have a lot of their guns been taken out by our shells? Are the positions opposite not very strongly held? Are they conserving ammunition for an attack themselves? Are they lying doggo trying to lull our generals into a sense of false security? And many more questions besides. Whilst holding the front line or resting there is plenty of time for such speculation and the most intricate theories can be woven like a spider spinning her web

Source: X550/2/5

Out of the Frying Pan ...

Monday 24th June 1918

1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment today moved back from the front line near Merville to reserve at Villorba Camp. Normally this would be a cause for celebration. Today, however, the men might be forgiven for wishing themselves back in the front line, where, in the last few days, things have been much quieter than of late. 

As the battalion reached the camp the enemy shelled it with gas shells. The Brigadier of 15th Brigade and his staff captain both received a good dose of the gas as well as many other ranks. 

The cadre of 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, training the American 120th Infantry Regiment reports a great shortage of American officers. Given this fact the Americans are likely to seek leadership advice from British soldiers, experienced from long years of this war.

Sources: X550/2/5; X550/7/1 

Raiding a Lewis Gun Post

Sunday 23rd June 1918

1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment is currently near Merville about half way between Bethune and Hazebrouck. Last night a patrol went out to search for and destroy an enemy machine gun post. This post actually contains a Lewis Gun, no doubt captured during the offensives in March and April. The old hands here knew it to be a Lewis Gun by the distinctive noise it made as it fired. 

The post was found and destroyed by the use of Mills Bombs. During a stiff fight with the enemy occupants six men were wounded, but all made it back to our lines.

Source: X550/2/5

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

Action at Cachy

Thursday 25th April 1918

Yesterday the 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment went into action near Cachy. They were to attack the road from Villers-Bretonneux south to Aubercourt to relieve German pressure on Cachy as they made a determined move on Amiens. At 10 o'clock last night, in complete darkness, the battalion moved into the assault and encountered only slight resistance for the first thousand yards or so. C Company was on the right, B Company in the centre and A Company on the left. D Company was in reserve but after those first thousand yards were brought into the line.

The battalion had both flanks in the air and was met with vicious fire from the enemy. 7th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment was attacking on the battalion's right and the Australians on the left. The men from the Antipodes and from the Medway encountered difficulties and their advance was slower than the Bedfords. We understand that the only officer left alive and unwounded was Second Lieutenant Tysoe(1). He reorganised the line and sent back a stream of accurate reports.

Throughout the day the enemy tried to dislodge the Bedfords from their temporary position. The battalion geld a frontage of about 1,100 yards and the right flank was reinforced by 54th Company, Machine Gun Corps. As I write the battalion is still defiantly in place, blocking the approaches to Amiens.

Meanwhile 1st Battalion is also in action this evening. They are between Merville and Lamotte, west of Estaires and tasked with advancing the line and capturing the remains of a farm which has been dubbed Bedford Farm.

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


(1) He would receive the Distinguished Service Order for his actions in this action.

Backs to the Wall at Cachy

Wednesday 24th April 1918

Early this morning those of us in Amiens were awakened by a very heavy bombardment which told us that the Germans were attacking again. 7th Bedfords, with the rest of 54th Brigade was called into action and by 7 a.m. was on its way to the front. We understand they initially drew up just over the River l'Avre but shortly after noon they found new positions on the high ground between Gentelles  and the south-west corner of Bois de l'Abbe, blocking the enemy's approach to Amiens. If this city were to fall the British Expeditionary Force would be in severe trouble as it is a major railhead and there is little to the west to prevent the Germans reaching the coast and, if they reach the coast they will have split the British and French armies. Our forces would, then, in effect, be surrounded through the greater part of a semi-circle from there to Ypres in the north.

At this point the enemy held the eastern edge of Bois de l'Abbe and was fighting for possession of the village of Cachy, north-east of Gentelles. Cachy was being held by two companies of 6th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, companies of the Suffolk and London Regiments and some Royal Engineers. An hour ago the Bedfords were ordered to attack the enemy towards the road from Villers-Bretonneux to Aubercourt north of Hangard. We understand that C Company is on the right, B Company in the centre and A Company on the left with D Company in reserve. The Bois de l'Abbe is on the left and Cachy in the right rear. This attack may play a vital part in the defence of Amiens.

The captured A7V (from Wikipedia)

During the day news has come through of an unusual feature of this German attack. Three of their tanks (they call them A7Vs) encountered three of our tanks near Villers-Bretonneux and a fight developed between them which led to one of the German machines being knocked out and a number of the crew killed. The monster was able to lumber back behind enemy lines(1)

We understand that the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, part of 5th Division is scheduled to take part in a minor operation tomorrow between Merville and Lamotte west of Estaires.

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

(1) This A7V - Mephisto - was abandoned and captured by Australians in August. It was shipped back to Australia and is now in the Queensland Museum in Brisbane, the only surviving vehicle, only 20 being made.

An Attack Towards Hazebrouck

Friday 12th April 1918

Today we have seen the German attack towards Ypres from the direction of Messines grind to a halt. Like a gangrel cat in panic trying to escape a sack, the enemy has tried to claw his way through in another place. Today's attack has been towards the town of Hazebrouck. Their advance has been but two miles and the only place of note to have fallen is Merville.

The 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment is once more in the line, south of Mesnil, a short distance from Bouzincourt Ridge. Today they have lost an officer killed and two wounded, however, five new officers, including a captain and two lieutenants have joined. 

Sources: X550/5/3