Operational Orders for Entraining

Wednesday 12th December 1917

The adjutant of the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment has sent me the two operational orders which deal with the entraining of the Battalion for Italy. As a movement on such a scale is rare, your correspondent thought he would present them to you in full, albeit with the military acronyms given in full to avoid scratching of heads.

OPERATION ORDER No. 119

1st Battalion. Bedfordshire Regiment.

November 27th, 1917.

1. Battalion will entrain at Anvin Station, date and time to be notified later.

2. TRAINS. There are two trains at the disposal of 1st Bedfords. Each train will consist of: -

1 First or Second Class Coach, (probably 4 Compartments)

2 Third Class Coaches (each 5 Compartments)

22 Covered Trucks.

13 Flats.

2 Brake Vans.

The Battalion will be distributed as under: -

(A) Train No. 20. (Serial Number of Unit 523.) to convey: -

Headquarters - i.e. Commanding Officer, Adjutant, Captain J. C. A. Birch, Quartermaster, Second Lieutenant H. J. Snashall, Transport Officer, Medical Officer, Regimental Sergeant Major, Headquarter Servants and Mess Staff, Sergeant Wheeler and 4 Pioneers and Drums

"B" and "D" Companies complete, one Medical Officer’s Orderly.

Half Transport i.e. 2 Lewis Gun Limbers,

1 Small Arms Ammunition Limber.

Half Limber Bombs

Half Limber Tools.

Half Limber Signalling.

1 Watercart

1 Cooker.

1 Cook’s Wagon.

1 Baggage Wagon.

1 Supply Wagon

Chargers [i.e. horses] - Officers’, travelling on train.

(B) Train No. 25 (Serial Number of Unit 523.a.) to convey: -

Major W. S. Chirnside, M.C. (Officer Commanding Train)

Captain S. H. Draper. Acting Adjutant.

Regimental Quarter Master Sergeant., Transport Sergeant, one Medical Officer’s Orderly,

"A" and "C" Companies complete.

Remainder of Transport, Corporal Belben and 4 Pioneers

N.B. All Headquarter employ not enumerated above, will travel with their Companies.

Quarter Master employ will travel with Transport.

Quarter Master and Transport Officer will forward returns having exact numbers of personnel under their Command, horses, vehicles, travelling on each train as soon as possible.

3. Regimental Transport Officer Captain Warner, M.C. 15th. Trench Mortar Battery is appointed Acting Regimental Transport Officer, Anvin.

Captain Henderson, 1st Battalion, Norfolk Regiment is appointed Acting Regimental Training Officer, detraining station.

4. ENTRAINING. All animals and vehicles will arrive at the entraining Station three hours before the train is timed to start.

Personnel will arrive at the entraining station one hour before the train is timed to start.

5. LOADING PARTIES. A party of 2 Officers and 100 Other Ranks from 1st Battalion, Cheshire Regiment will be detailed for loading at Anvin.

A similar party from 16th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment for unloading at detraining station.

6. EQUIPMENT & RATIONS. Each man will entrain carrying full equipment, 120 Rounds Small Arms Ammunition, rations for day of entrainment, iron ration, full water bottle, steel helmet, box respirator, gas helmet, and 2 blankets. All animals must have one rug.

7. FORAGE. Forage for day of entrainment will be carried in the horse trucks. Men in charge of horses will travel in the horse trucks. Supply wagons will be loaded full.

8. ANIMALS. Animals will be entrained unharnessed and rugged. Harness may be loaded under its vehicle. Canvas buckets will be carried in each horse truck. Cinders or gravel should be strewn on the floors of horse trucks, otherwise they become very slippery.

9. LENGTH OF JOURNEY. The journey will take about 5 days. Halts will be arranged for watering, feeding, washing, etc. approximately 1 hour in every 10. A list of halts will be given to the Officers Commanding Trains by the Regimental Transport Officer.

10. RATIONS. Nine days’ rations, in addition to those mentioned in paragraphs 6 and 7, will be carried in bulk for all men and animals in each train. A covered truck will be set aside for issue of rations enroute. Forage and non-perishable supplies can be loaded under vehicles.

One day’s supplies will be on ration wagons.

Nine days’ supplies loaded in bulk.

11. DISCIPLINE. The strictest discipline will be maintained throughout the journey. The Senior Combatant Officer will command each train, and he will appoint Orderly Officers who will take tours of duty, and will also detail a guard at each end of the train. The duties of the Orderly Officers and guards are (a) To see that no one leaves the train when it halts, unless authorised to do so at a recognised halting place by the Officer Commanding.

(b) To ensure that no men ride on the steps or the tops of carriages, or climb along the train from truck to truck. There is very little clearance between the tops of trucks and tunnels.

(c) To guard all stores on the train throughout the journey.

(d) To watch both sides of the train when halted.

Each Officer Commanding Train will obtain from the Regimental Transport Officer before starting a copy of General Head Quarters instructions for Officers Commanding Trains. These instructions are Secret*, and should be destroyed before detraining.

11. ENTRAINING STATES. The Officer Commanding each train, or portion of a Unit entraining, will bring with him an entraining state, in duplicate. This State will shew strength Officers, Other Ranks, horses by types, vehicles by types, the number of days’ rations entrained. These states will be handed over to the Acting Regimental Training Officer at each station. A certificate will be added to the effect that the Unit is complete with equipment and rations.

* reference above. Each Officer Commanding Train will detail an Orderly Officer daily. Each Company will detail 2 guards, (1 N.C.O. and 3 men) to be on duty one on each side of the train.

They will see that above orders are strictly carried out.

The following amendments and alterations are made to Operational Order 119, dated November 27th, 1917.

1. Battalion will entrain on December 2nd at Anvin.

1st Train No. 442 at 8.20 a.m. via Étaples.

2nd. Train No. 445 at 18.57 p.m. via Arras.

2. (A) For train in No. 20 read train No. 442. Delete name of Captain J. C. A. Birch in Head Quarters, and add two Orderly Room Clerks (Sergeant H. Hoar and Lance Corporal R. Vallance.)

Mess Cart.

4 Pack Animals.

(B) For train No. 25 read Train No. 445..

Add two Orderly Room Clerks (Lance Corporal S. Kingsman and Private  W. Maundrell.)

Maltese Cart.

4 Pack Animals.

3. Breakfasts for No. 442 train will be eaten at Anvin Station, on December 2nd.

Dinners for No. 445 train will be eaten at Anvin Station on December 2nd. before entraining.

4. Two Lorries for each train will convey Blankets to the Station. Blankets for No. 442 train will be rolled in bundles of 10, marked with wooden label, and be ready for loading at Quarter Master Stores at 2.30 a.m. on December 2nd.

Blankets for No. 445 train to be at Quarter Master Stores 7 a.m. on December 2nd.

The blankets will be issued to the men at Anvin before entraining, 2 per man.

As can be seen from the above, the trains were nine days late!

Source: X550/2/5

Marking the King's Birthday

Sunday 3rd June 1917

Today is the fifty-second birthday of His Majesty King George V. To mark this, 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, paraded at 12.30 pm with 1st Battalion, Norfolk Regiment and presented arms.

Source: X550/2/5

Day Eighty Six on the Somme

Sunday 24th September 1916: From our Correspondent in the Field

The adjutant of the 1st Battalion tells me they are at Arrowhead Copse this evening, south-west of Guillemont and not far from their triumph at Falfemont Farm. They will go into action again tomorrow, using the assembly trenches east of Ginchy which they helped to dig on 20th. These are at the small squares immediately south-west of “9” on the map above.

Their task is to help take the village of Morval to the east-north-east. They will seize the second objective after 1st Norfolks have taken the first. 1st Cheshires will then drive on to the third objective, the village itself. The second objective is the sunken road immediately west of Morval shown on the map above.

56th (London) Division failed in an attempt to link up with the French today near Combles. 6th Division repulsed a German attack and an attack by 23rd Division near le Sars was thwarted. 

Source: X550/2/5

Day Thirty One on the Somme

Monday 31st July 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

We understand that after the costly action yesterday at Guillemont 30th Division (which has been in action since the beginning of the month, taking Montauban on the first day of this Battle of the Somme and heavily involved in the fighting at Trônes Wood in the second week, was relieved by 55th Division last night.

Today Major-General Shea had the 2nd Bedfords drawn up and addressed them as follows: "I have come here this morning to thank you all for the way that you fought yesterday. It may seem to most of you that after doing all you could, you were only successful in capturing a small amount of ground.

This however does not in any way represent the results of your hard fighting.

It came to my knowledge only this morning, that eleven of the freshest German Battalions (The 12th Bavarian Reserve) had just been brought up on the front which you attacked”.

“There were only eight battalions actually fighting for the Division, and judging from the number of prisoners taken, and the number of casualties known to have been inflicted on the enemy, it is clear that you were instrumental in completely preventing what would have been a very strong counter attack on the Bantams(1) in Trônes Wood”.

“The Army Commander has told me to thank you for him, and to his thanks I add mine and my hearty congratulations”.

“Colonel Poyntz I congratulate you on your Battalion and on your men."

I have heard from the adjutant of 1st Bedfords that at 6.45 yesterday evening orders were received to reinforce 2nd Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers holding the line in Longueval with the 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment in support. The leading platoon moved off at 6.53 p.m. and reached Longueval at 7.45 p.m. relieving the Royal West Kents

At 10.12 p.m., the commanding officer of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers. reported that his men were retiring from the front line and A and C Companies were directed to proceed with guides to hold and consolidate this line. It was proposed to withdraw KOSB into reserve at dawn. Just after midnight the enemy began an intense bombardment on this already desolate and churned-up place and by 2.30 all companies were reporting heavy casualties including two officers killed and a number wounded.

All day snipers and machine gunners prevented the battalion establishing the line as had been ordered. Any movement attracted considerable shell-fire. Nevertheless the battalion held firm in the positions it had managed to reach until six o’clock this evening when the 1st Norfolks relieved both the shattered KOSB and the forward companies of the Bedfords who moved back to a reserve position east the remains of Longueval church. It is hoped that the battalion will be completely relieved tonight.

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

(1) 35th Division, so-called because all men were under the normal height for soldiers in the British Army of 5 feet 3 inches.

(2) Second Lieutenant A N Marshall and Second Lieutenant D N Gaussen. Gaussen is buried at Gaussen Communal Cemetery but Marshall has no known grave at is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

Day Twenty Eight on the Somme

Friday 28th July 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

At 9 pm last night C Company of 1st Bedfords in Longueval tried to establish itself on the line of the north-south road running through the village but was forced to withdraw. In the end 15th Brigade, including 1st Bedfords, were relieved in Longueval by 95th Brigade and a section of the rubble much disputed yesterday has been occupied without opposition. Of 23 officers and 807 men going into action the battalion has lost 9 officers and 303 men killed and wounded.

We have seen a communication from 15th Brigade congratulating those involved in the fighting in Longueval yesterday. It reads: “The Brigadier-General Commanding wishes to express to all ranks of the Brigade his great admiration at the magnificent manner in which they captured the Village of Longueval yesterday(1)”.

“To the 1st Norfolk Regiment and the 1st Bedfordshire Regiment and some of the 16th Royal Warwickshire Regiment, who were able to get into the enemy with the bayonet, he offers his heartiest congratulations. He knows it is what they have been waiting and wishing for for many months”.

“The 1st Cheshire Regiment made a most gallant and determined effort to reach their objective and failed through no fault of their own”.

“The way in which the Troops behaved under the subsequent heavy bombardment was worthy of the best traditions of the British Army”.

“The Brigade captured 4 Officers and 159 other ranks”.

The 1st Field Company, East Anglian Royal Engineers lost two men killed and four wounded today. They have been continuing work to ameliorate the British positions in Delville Wood, working almost in the centre of that shattered waste of trees.

Source: X550/2/5; X550/WD3

(1)  An exaggeration, as we have seen.

Day Twenty Seven on the Somme

Thursday 27th July 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

The shelling of Pozières, which was so severe last night has, mysteriously, melted away this morning with no German attack(1). Today the scene of activity has been east of Pozières at Longueval and the now infamous Delville, or Devil’s, Wood.

A massive bombardment, on top of the almost continuous fighting since 14th, has reduced the wood to a shambles of splinters, shell holes, trenches, bodies and smashed equipment. Today 99th Brigade of 2nd Division took almost all that remains of the wood, save for a strip on the northern edge, though a German counter-attack mid-morning succeeded in retaking a portion of the place by attacking from the east. For a time rumours were circulating that the whole wood had been lost again but, fortunately, these proved to be untrue. As I write sounds of battle, though more muted now, are still heard occasionally from the direction of the wood.

On their left flank 15th Brigade assaulted the ruins of Longueval. The 1st Bedfords took part in this attack. The assault was begun by 1st Battalion, Norfolk Regiment at 7.10 and at 7.40 the commanding officer of the Norfolks despatched a message requesting help due to heavy shell-fire. The first objective had already been taken by the Norfolks and it was the job of A and B Companies of the Bedfords to assist the Norfolks take the second objectives and for C and D Companies to then move through and take the third objectives. The 16th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment was requested to occupy front line trenches when these were vacated by C and D Companies. A Company was responsible for that part of the ruins east of the former road running north-south through the village with B Company to the west of this road.

Lieutenant Fyson

A Company assisted the Norfolks to attack a German strong point and Lieutenant Fyson’s platoon succeeded in taking 32 prisoners. Just after 9 am C Company crossed the trench known as Princes Street, extending from Longueval more or less across the middle of Delville Wood but were held up by machine gun fire from the cross-roads in what remains of the village. The ruins holding the gun were taken by a party of the Norfolks and at the same time A Company reached the junction of the main road running south through Longueval and the road running north-east to Flers which skirts the edge of Delville Wood. Here they met a German counter-attack and brushed it off leaving around fifty of the enemy as casualties. From here A Company could see enemy posts on the ridge to the north.

Half an hour later C Company was able to cross Princes Street and took up a position along the main north-south road in touch with two companies of the Norfolks. Heavy machine-gun fire from Duke Street in the area just north of the name “Longueval” on the map (i.e. west and south-west of C Company) prevented any further advance and so they consolidated the position.

This machine-gun at Duke Street also prevented any advance by an officer and thirty men from B Company sent forward as a patrol to reinforce a company of the Norfolks. A Stokes mortar battery was requested to assist but did not. Later under cover of a British artillery bombardment B and D Companies were able to improve their position but at the cost of 2 officer and 54 other ranks and and 2 officers and 106 other ranks respectively.

1st Field Company, East Anglian Royal Engineers was supporting the attack by 2nd Division in Delville Wood today, ready to consolidate any ground taken. This they did, constructing works to prevent a successful counter-attack. Towards evening such a counter-attack seemed to be in the offing and the sappers manned the parapet and, to quote their commander: "After a considerable amount of rifle fire and bombing the attack was repulsed". Only one sapper was wounded

We have just heard that Royal Fusiliers on the right have been forced to withdraw meaning that A Company has had to move back slightly from the junction of the Flers road. It is expected that B and D Companies may also be ordered to withdraw tonight such is the danger of their position. Much of the fighting today has been hand-to-hand and the brief resumé of activities given above does not do justice to the ferocity of every small action undertaken.

Source: X550/2/5; X550/WD3

(1) Evidence points to the massive British counter-bombardment giving the Germans cause to think another British assault was on the way and so they moved onto the defensive.

A Raid Repulsed

Friday 2nd June 1916: The adjutant of the 1st Battalion, which is near Arras, reports that a German raid was repulsed yesterday. All afternoon they had suffered a bombardment by enemy artillery and this started up again just after dark around 9 pm. At the same time the enemy also blew up three small mines on the Bedfords’ left and raided the 1st Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, which was holding that part of the line. The Norfolks, assisted by fire from some of the Bedfords, repulsed the raid. The enemy opposite the Bedfords did not leave their trenches but the battalion suffered sixteen casualties from the shelling alone.

Source: X550/2/5

Memorial Service at the Front

Good Friday 21st April 1916: This Good Friday it seems fitting to quote from a letter written by Corporal Runham of the 1st Bedfords(1): “On Sunday April 16th we had a commemoration service for officers and men of the 1st Norfolk and 1st Bedford Regiments who were killed in action between March 8th and April 16th(2). The service was choral, the choir and divisional band supplying the music. Brigadier-General Turner, commanding the brigade, was present, as were also his staff. Both regiments were well represented, nearly every officer being present, and the hut was packed to its utmost limit. The service was taken by our chaplain and commenced with the singing of Hymn 223(3) “Pilgrims of the Night”. Then came the sermon, the chaplain especially reminding his audience how suddenly the call came to some of them and urging them to repent, pointing out “in the midst of life we are in death”. The whole sermon was followed with rapt attention by everybody. Hymn 231 followed “For ever with the Lord” and then the Gloria. After this came the hymn “Abide with Me”. Immediately the names of those commemorated were read out by an officer of each regiment, the list including the late Corporal Wheatley, well-known to many in Biggleswade and the villages around. The band rendered the Dead March, all standing, and the service ended with the National Anthem. The service was the first of its kind we have had out here and will long live in the memory of some of us, especially as the day was the anniversary of one of our struggles with the enemy, the fight for Hill 60, also a casualty list for both regiments”.

“We are all confidently awaiting the end as we are sure of victory. By no means are we fed up. Neither do we want a patched-up peace, as we know this will mean a repetition of all we have had to contend with”.

(1) Corporal Chris Runham, from 30 Saint John’s Street, Biggleswade, would be killed in action at Arras on 23rd April 1917; he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial

(2) Two officers and two other ranks in the case of the Bedfords

(3) Presumably in Hymns Ancient and Modern

Tit-for-Tat

Trench mortar at the Imperial War Museum

Wednesday 24th February 1915: The Adjutant of the 1st Bedfords, currently in the front line near the Belgian town of Wyschaete has spoken to us of a fire-fight which has taken place today.

In conjunction with the 1st Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, which is in the same brigade (15th) as the Bedfords, they fired mortars and rifle grenades at German trenches on the Wytschaete Road(1). Unfortunately one of the mortars used by the Norfolks burst, injuring an officer in the Royal Engineers, killing one and injuring one soldier.

The adjutant reports that most of the bombs fell short as the range these weapons have is quite limited. One or two appeared to find a target, however. The Germans then replied with heavier bombs, wounding two of our men. This sort of tit-for-tat exchange is typical of the sort of thing which goes on daily, along with sniper fire and shelling from artillery pieces stationed some way behind the lines. It means that even on quiet days the British army loses quite a number of men killed and wounded. For example, we understand that yesterday, just one such "quiet day" the army lost 2 officers and 48 other ranks killed in action across the whole front line.

Source: X550/2/5

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(1) Rifle grenades were grenades on long sticks which were put down the barrel of a rifle then fired from it. They were comparatively new in British service. 

Hard Luck!

Tuesday 8th December 1914: Readers may remember that the 1st Battalion was relieved from its front line trenches near Wulvergem on 5th December except for three officers and two hundred men left behind to help out the under-strength King’s Own Scottish Borderers. These men finally received their relief yesterday, joining their comrades in billets at Dranouter.

Today, however, the battalion has been unexpectedly ordered into the front line again just after midday. This time they will relieve the 1st Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. The unlucky two hundred have thus had less than twenty four hours rest

Source: X550/2/5

An Unexploded Shell

Geluveld Church

Friday 16th October 1914: We hear that the 2nd Bedfords have taken up a position in the village of Geluveld just east of Ypres. Our contact with the 1st Bedfords tells us: “The Norfolks got the wind up and so we had to hold the line of our front trench with three sections[1] and stand by. The remainder of the Company dug bombproof shelters round the farm. Litchfield[2] and I decided to change our quarters and found a delightful house quite close by and we got the woman who was in it, with her children, to clean it up for us and light the fires”.

“In our dining room we found an unexploded shell which had passed through the window and curtain, boring a clean round hole in the glass and had stuck into the wall (about two inches) and about a foot from the floor”.

“We showed it to some gunner officers who advised us not to touch it as it might explode at any minute. We warned the woman and, in spite of it, had our meal in the room and were constantly interrupted by people wanting to see the shell”.

“In the middle of our meal two French civilians came in – one said he was the mayor of Givenchy-lès-la-Bassée and the other explained that his parents were buried in their house cellar in Givenchy and that he wanted a pass into the village to extricate them”.

“I explained that the Germans were in the occupation of the village but gave him a pass to Battalion Headquarters to see if they could help him. As he was going out I showed him the German shell in the wall, at the sight of it he seemed to go mad, went blue in the face, rushed at it and gave it a savage kick. We were horrified, and petrified with fear, seized him by the neck and dragged him out of the house and flew up the road. Here we waited for the house to blow up but luckily nothing happened”.

Sources: X550/2/7; X550/3/wd

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[1] There were four sections in a platoon, four platoons in a company and four companies in a battalion. A section, at full strength, comprised ten men.
[2] Second Lieutenant John Litchfield would be killed six days later.

HMS Carmania Sinks a German Ship and the Bedfords Cross the Aisne

RMS Carmania

Monday 14th September 1914: We have received a report of a victory at sea from Able Seaman Cheshire of Clifton Road, Shefford. He is a member of the crew of HMS Carmania. She is an ocean liner which has been fitted with eight naval guns of 4.7 inch calibre to help protect herself and other merchant ships against German commerce raiders. AB Cheshire has told me that today Carmania engaged and sunk a German armed merchantman, looking, I am told, suspiciously like Carmania herself, off the Brazilian island of Trinidade.

He says: “We met here off the coast of South America. The scrap started soon after 12 o’clock midday, and in one hour forty minutes  we put her down; a glorious victory as she looked a far superior ship to ours. Our gunnery was splendid, without any boast. I can tell you it was hot stuff whilst it lasted. Of course we did not get off scot free – we had a few shot holes. The worst part of the whole affair was that we caught fire but we got it out with a little hard work. We had nine killed and between twenty and thirty injured, which was a very small casualty list compared with the Germans[1]. We gave her a good rousing British cheer as she disappeared to the bottom. Our captain was splendid – as cool as a cucumber, smoking a cigarette”.

In France the adjutant of the 1st Bedfords writes: “We crossed the River Aisne by pontoon and raft and attacked Missy. We were heavily shelled and had about forty casualties”. Our contact with the battalion, as usual, adds some more revealing information:  “The battalion moved forward and began to cross the river at 2 am … The battalion crossed over in two rafts, being pulled from side to side by ropes and got over about 3.30 am”. The battalion made its attack: “The Norfolks had a pretty bad time on the ridge in front as they had advanced with our battalion and we had succeeded in practically clearing the crest when the British guns mistook them for the enemy and started shelling them. The Germans in the meanwhile put down a barrage behind them. In the confusion the Norfolks lost direction and charged their other half battalion with fixed bayonets in the woods. We all had to clear out of the woods and lost a good many men through it”

“Private Smith had been hit in the stomach on the way down and Drummer Chequer[2] and I looked after him. Poor devil, he was in agony and we had to take turns sitting on him to keep him from throwing himself about; we could do little for him but eventually managed to get him taken across the river and put in a cart and taken to hospital where he died the next day[3]. McCloughin was also hit that day and died in a house in Missy after the most awful agony”.[4]

Source: Bedfordshire Times 9th October 1914; X5502/5; X550/2/7

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[1] In fact between 16 and 51 Germans are mentioned by various sources as having been killed. The rest, some 250, were rescued by smaller German vessels.
[2] Drummer Chequer would be killed on 28th September 1914.
[3] As can be seen from the Roll of Honour Private Smith is officially recorded as dying of wounds the same day.
[4] He died on 18th September.

Action on the Marne

Wednedsay 9th September 1914: Today the 1st Battalion, on the River Marne, has seen the first men killed since the Battle of le Cateau on 26th August. The two men were both from London – Privates Jackson and Stanford. The battalion crossed the River Marne at Saâcy and then moved north to Bézu-le-Guéry. En route between the two places the battalion was shelled by enemy and B Company, under Major Thorpe came under machine gun fire from a wood. The enemy's machine gun was then duly put out of action. The enemy's rear guard made a good stand but had to leave several guns behind. In all the battalion lost about ten men including the two men killed.

Our source with the battalion gives us more detail: “We marched on through a big wood[1] and passed 5th Divisional Headquarters by the side of the road. While we were marching still in column of route, half a dozen shells suddenly came buzzing over and burst on the road amongst the Norfolks[2] in front”.

“For a minute there was wild panic amongst them and half of them came running back on to and into the middle of us. We at once straightened things out and more shells arrived. The Brigade then halted and on a certain patch of road, between some trees, shells dropped with great regularity. That portion of the brigade which had passed this spot forged on ahead and we halted and were left behind. We got down at the side of the road and considered the situation. While we were halted and watching the shells burst about 100 yards away, Sir Charles Fergusson arrived and asked where Count Gleichen was[3]. He had gone on with part of the Brigade in front and was not to be found so he told us that we were to push on and join him as best we could. Colonel Cameron of the Black Watch also arrived (the General Staff Officer) and told us to rush past the shelled spot in lumps”.

“So we advanced by sections at the double and had to keep doubling for about three-quarters of a mile where a Battery was in action. When I went with a Section we caught one of these volleys of shells at the crucial point and one man near me was very badly hit. It was a rotten place to get through but once done we had a breather and could afford to sit and laugh at those coming after us, particularly the Transport. Our old Company Grey Horse “Tagalie” was slightly wounded in the process”.

“We pushed on to a hollow where we found the rest of the battalion and delivered General Fergusson’s message that the Brigade was to push on as hard as it could. We pushed along a barbed wire fence and ended up in the village of Bézu. Just prior to this we passed quite close to the Germans who were in some woods on our left and where some guns were which the Lincolns eventually captured[4]”.

“Bullets and a few shells were then buzzing about with fair regularity and we had a few casualties. B Company went on ahead and got within about one hundred yards of some German guns in a wood. D Company were more or less in reserve and we remained and dug ourselves in along a bank. I was then sent back into the village just behind with the Brigade French Interpreter to collect potatoes for the Brigade which we dealt out later”.

“When I came back the fight was still going strong but it had developed into a stationary fire fight only and I met George (in the Dorsets) being brought back on a gate, very badly wounded. I just spoke to him and he went on to the dressing station. He died a few days later[5]”.

“We then heard that fourteen guns had been captured and that the French were making a tremendous show over on our left. Where we were it was almost impossible to do anything, as we believed the Germans to be in fair strength and the ground was very difficult. We have been thinking of those old dawn attacks on the Fox Hills of Aldershot and now we have the prospect of the real thing before us tomorrow – and the order was the bayonet”.

Sources: X550/2/5; X550/2/7

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[1] Presumably that just north of Méry-sur-Marne.

[2] 1st Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, part, with the 1st Bedfords, of 15th Infantry Brigade.

[3] Although with a German name Count Edward Gleichen (1863-1937) was commander of 15th Infantry Brigade and later commanded 37th Division ending the war as Director of the Intelligence Bureau at the Department of Information. Sir Charles Fergusson (1865-1951) was commander of 5th Division, afterwards 9th (Scottish) Division then, successively, II Corps and XVII Corps. He was later Governor General of New Zealand.

[4] 1st Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment of 3rd Division.

[5] Lieutenant Athelstan Key Durrance George of 1st Battalion, Dorset Regiment, died on 14th September 1914 and is buried at Coulommiers Communal Cemetery.