Killed Examining Barbed Wire

Reginald Cumberland Green [X550/1/82]

Friday 19th May 1916: We have heard today of the death of Lieutenant Reginald Cumberland Green, youngest son of Luton brewer J W Green. From all classes in the town the deepest sympathy has been aroused by the sad event and, while the sorrow and pain of the loss can only be known and experienced by those who have lost their loved one, the sympathy expressed on all hands cannot fail to be a solace and to some small extent an alleviation of the poignancy of the grief occasioned by the blow.

The sympathy of the townspeople has not stood alone, for from the Colonel and Company Commander of the late lieutenant’s battalion sympathetic and sterling appreciations were received. The Colonel(1) writes: “It grieves me most intensely to have to write and confirm the bad news which has doubtless been communicated to you by the War Office regarding your son Rex. He took his risks with the best and was always so cheery and a general favourite; besides, he was doing uncommonly well as a soldier. I shall miss personally a really useful and hard-working officer and a personal friend and all the officers a very popular comrade and friend. Allow me to send you my sincerest condolences from myself and from all the officers of the battalion. He died as a gallant Englishman, doing his duty. When he was shot he was examining a wire entanglement and was hit in the thigh. One would think, and I hoped when I heard of it, that it was a slight enough wound, but apparently some blood vessel was cut and he had bled most copiously, dying just as they got him to the field ambulance, within two hours of being wounded. I saw him at 4 am on his way down. He seemed to be in a certain amount of pain but we hoped for the best and wished him luck and tried to cheer him up. You will think I am making a number of matter of fact statements, but my heart is very sore at losing him from our family and in having to write and give you all this information. Please accept my most sincere condolences”.

The letter from Lieutenant Green’s Company commander was as follows: “He was shot through the right thigh about 2.30 this (Thursday) morning while out in front of our trenches looking at the wire and died almost as soon as he reached the field ambulance. I went to him directly I heard that he was hit. He had been bandaged by our stretcher bearers and they had for the time being stopped the bleeding. Rex said: “I’m all right but I feel awful”. I don’t think he was in much pain, but he felt weak from loss of blood. I cannot speak too highly of his good qualities as an officer. He was my right hand in the company – brave, gentle and ready for everything. He was also a universal favourite with the men. We loved him and our hearts go out to his mother and you in your terrible loss. We do not realise it yet and it seems as if Rex might come in now, keeping us all cheery by some remark. He will be buried tomorrow along with the other brave fellows whom we have lost here in the Military Cemetery(2)”.

The loyalty and self-sacrifice of the family of Mr and Mrs J W Green has, since the outbreak of war, found full scope and expression in ready active service and also in attending those who have suffered in the stern experiences of the battle zone. Major Sidney and Major Harold Green have for many years taken a great interest in military matters and displayed much energy in furthering the successful development of the Volunteer and Territorial movements. Mrs Green is the Commandant of the VAD Hospital at Wardown(3), a work in which she is actively assisted by her daughters, while her son in law Lieutenant Tabor is also on war service and some months ago was wounded in France(4). Major Sidney Green is at the moment on active service with the Bedfordshire Yeomanry having been in France for some months past with the Regiment.

The late Lieutenant Green, previous to the outbreak of war, had had no military experience and in deed he had displayed no bent for taking a pronounced part in Army work. The call of the country, however, came to him as it has come to so many and he was not slow to respond. On the declaration of hostilities he at once took steps to obtain a commission, joining the 3rd Bedfords at Landguard near Felixstowe in which Regiment his brother Harold was serving. Here, under Lord Ampthill’s command, he remained in training until drafted out to France in October of last year. In December he joined up with the 1st Battalion of the Regiment at the Front. For some weeks past the late lieutenant had been in temporary command of a company, and although his temporary captaincy had not been gazetted there is little doubt that, had his life been spared, his promotion would have quickly followed.

Lieutenant Reginald Green, who had attained the age of 31, was a young man of great charm of manner, and was a favourite of all with whom he came in contact. Educated at Bedford Grammar School, he proceeded in due course to Exeter College, Oxford, where he took his BA degree. He then became a law student in the chambers of Mr George Elliott, KC (a very old friend of his father’s) in the Temple. About four years ago he was called to the Bar. It was not, however, his settled intention to practise as a barrister, although on one occasion at Luton County Court, he appeared in wig and gown before His Honour Judge Wheeler. When the war broke out he was looking forward to an active commercial career, being just about to enter the business of Messrs J W Green Limited.

Major Harold Green, who has seen strenuous service with the Bedfordshires, was filling the important position of Camp Commandant at the time he was invalided home with pneumonia. He is now practically well again and is due to return to duty early next month. His presence at home during their heavy trial has been a great comfort to the bereaved parents.

Source: X550/2/5; Luton News 25th May 1916

(1) Lieutenant-Colonel C C Onslow

(2) He is now in Faubourg d’Amiens Cemetery, Arras

(3) The Voluntary Aid Detachment Hospital was at the building which is now Wardown Park Museum

(4) Like his brother-in-law he was in the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, later transferring to the 7th Battalion. 

A New Commander

Hugh Stainton Poyntz [X550/1/82]

Monday 31st January 1916: The 2nd Battalion are still at Suzanne which was still being shelled yesterday, though not so violently. The adjutant tells us that in the last three days twelve men have been wounded commenting that this is: “a remarkably small number considering the very bad fortifications found in this village”.

Lieutenant-Colonel Onslow left to command the 1st Bedfords and Major Hugh Stainton Poyntz has assumed command. Major Poyntz was, before the war, a cricketer of some note. He played for Somerset and brother, Massey Poyntz captained the eleven in 1913 and 1914. Major Poyntz has played 39 times for Somerset making 1,148 runs at an average of 19.46.

Source: X550/3/wd

More Action Around Frise

Map showing Frise (right) and Suzanne (left) - Eclusier is on the south bank of the Somme in the second full square

Sunday 30th January 1916: The 2nd Battalion reports that German attacks continued yesterday south of the River Somme against the French. Suzanne, where the Bedfords are billeted was also, once again, shelled. The battalion sent a machine gun to fire into the German flank and help the French defending Éclusier-Vaux on the south bank and another gun was sent to the Royal Dragoons in the village under attack where they had gone to help our French allies. In the evening orders came to send two platoons to dugouts in Vaux Wood in support of the dragoons and French, the battalion receiving two platoons from the Norfolk Regiment to replace them.

Amidst all this action the Battalion is to lose its commanding officer. Lieutenant-Colonel C C Onslow has been transferred to command the 1st Battalion and will leave today.

Source: X550/3/wd

The Bedfords and the Battle of Loos

The Attack of the 7th Division at Loos (The Official History of the War - Military Operations in France and Belgium 1915 Vol II)

Sunday 26th September 1915: We have just heard from 2nd Bedfords who yesterday took part in the big push around Loos, intended to break through the German lines. We understand that while gains have been made the break through as yet remains elusive.

21st Brigade, of which the Battalion forms part, was held in reserve, the other two brigades of 7th Division undertaking the initial assault. At about 11.30 a.m. the Battalion, which had proceeded from the village of Vermelles, entered the former British Front Line. They then advanced on a frontage of two companies immediately north of the road from Vermelles to Hulluch(1) [shown in pink on the above plan]

By this time the 20th Brigade, to which they were acting as support, were already a long way ahead. The Battalion moved across and over the former enemy front line [shown in blue on the above plan] practically without casualties. B Company was on the left, D Company on the right, C Company in support and A Company in reserve. As soon as it began to advance across the open behind the German front line, however, it came under a very heavy rifle fire from the direction of the quarries [shown in yellow on the above plan] and the northern houses of Cité-Saint-Elie.

Captain J W Hurrell [X550/1/81]

The Battalion now suffered severely but continued to advance by rushes of small parties until Gun Trench [shown in red on the above plan] was reached. Second Lieutenant Forward was killed and Lieutenant-Colonel Onslow, Captain and Adjutant J W Hurrell, Captain J W Hutchinson, Second Lieutenant H E Mudford and Second Lieutenant R Hopkins were wounded. Sadly, Captain Hutchinson died from wounds later in the day. Between two and three hundred other ranks also became casualties.

Captain J W Hutchinson [X550/1/82]

Two platoons got about 100 yards in front of Gun Trench, but being unsupported had to fall back by ones and twos – Captain J McM Milling and Second Lieutenant R L Shaw were then wounded. So the Battalion remained in Gun trench holding the gun pits north of the road during the afternoon, digging itself in. At dusk the men of the 20th Brigade who were in the trench were sorted out and rejoined their Brigade. All four Battalion Machine Guns were in the trench.

Captain J McM Milling [X550/1/82]

At about 7 pm A and C Companies were withdrawn from Gun Trench and started digging a Support trench about 100 yards in the rear. At about midnight a number of men were seen coming down the Hulluch Road at a double calling out "Don't shoot we're the Gordons"(2); close behind them came a number of Germans. Almost at the same time the Borders(3) holding Gun Trench south of the road began to retire. At once bombs were rained upon Gun Trench and men began to leave it in increasing numbers, falling back on support trench, where they stopped. The Company on the left of B Company was not attacked and stood firm. Two Machine Guns were with the company and remained in action.

Lieutenant R L Shaw [X550/1/82]

A heavy fire was brought to bear from support trench and shortly afterwards a charge was organised, which was completely successful, practically all the Germans in Gun Trench were killed or taken prisoners, including the artillery captain who led the counter-attack. Second Lieutenant T C Pearson and Second Lieutenant K L Stephenson were killed and Second Lieutenant C J Hunter wounded. The left company suffered some casualties from our own shrapnel during this counter-attack. The rest of the night passed quietly. Two Companies were in Gun Trench and two Companies in the support trench.

Second Lieutenant T C Pearson [X550/1/82]

At the commencement of the action. Captain H de Buriatte commanded A Company, Captain J W Hutchinson commanded B Company Lieutenant R O Wynne commanded C Company and Captain J McM Milling commanded D Company. Second Lieutenant R B Gibson and Lieutenant B R Taylor, both of 3rd Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment, attached, took command of B and D Companies respectively after Captains Hutchinson and Milling were wounded. Second Lieutenant W J Stonier has become Acting Adjutant.

The 2nd Battalion were not the only ones involved in the battle yesterday. The 8th Battalion, which only arrived in France at the beginning of this month arrived in Béthune in the early hours yesterday and just after midday moved towards the fighting. Their Brigade was ordered to support 72nd Brigade, 24th Division, in a move on Hulluch, meaning they were immediately south of the 2nd Battalion.

The 1st Division reported that it had captured Hulluch but these first, optimistic, reports later turned out to be wrong. Believing a great victory was at hand the Commander-in-Chief decide to throw in the two new divisions, 21st and 24th, to secure the crossings over the Haute Deule Canal to the east. The 24th Division accordingly assembled about la Rutoire farm, south of the Vermelles road believing that little more was require of it than a march after a tired and beaten enemy. The reality proved very different and the adjutant of the 8th Bedfords tells us, candidly, that he was very glad that the division’s orders to attack were countermanded due to the lateness fo the hour and the poor visibility.

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

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(1) Today’s D39.

(2) Presumably men on 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, 20th Brigade, 7rh Division.

(3) 2nd Battalion, Border Regiment, 20th Brigade.

Sniping

Lieutenant H de Buriatte [X550/1/81]

Saturday 7^th August: Lieutenant H de Buriatte of the 2nd Bedfords tells us that he has been put in charge of a newly formed sniper squad. Sniping, or picking off individual soldiers at range using telescopic sights, is something at which the enemy has been our master hitherto. By collecting the best shots in the battalion together and by nominating them as snipers it is hoped that we will now begin to catch up. Snipers only kill a handful of men compared to the great killers – artillery and machine guns, but their effect on morale is out of all proportion to the numbers they “bag”.

A sniper means one is frightened to show any portion of oneself over the parapet at any time, causing men to creep about bent over like their grandfathers and this continual fear eats away at even the strongest nerves.

Explorer, adventurer, big game hunter and Hampshire fast bowler Major Hesketh Hesketh-Prichard has been put in charge of training for our armies’ snipers. He points out the need for telescopic sights, as the army presently has very few. These bring the image of the target sharply into focus and closer to the firer, making a killing shot more certain. It is hoped that appeals to private individuals for sights and for hunting rifles will yield enough for the first few snipers to use.

The Battalion also heard today that Major Cranleigh Onslow has been promoted to temporary Lieutenant-Colonel and Lieutenant J W Hurrell to Temporary Captain.

Source: X550/3/wd

A Spirited Fight at Givenchy

Looking towards the site of the crater

Thursday 17th June 1915: Readers will remember that 2nd Battalion was expected to go into action at Givenchy-lès-la-Bassée yesterday after a frustrating day of waiting on 15th. The adjutant tells us that instructions were received at 8.58 yesterday morning that an attack might be made. At 3.25 pm orders were received that the attack would commence at 4.45 with the Bedfords assisting the Royal Scots Fusiliers in attacking the enemy front line.

Accordingly at 4.45 B Company advanced by platoon, the whole company entering the mine crater in what had been the German front line. The neighbouring trenches, as a result of the mine blast were in a very bad state of repair. As the company came over the lip of the crater it came under heavy rifle and machine-gun fire. The adjutant reported to us: “A spirited fight at close range took place in the crater. The company formed a line in the crater as they were not able to push forward on account of the hostile bombs. 4/7296 Corporal Milne distinguished himself by throwing back all those that landed near him into the German trenches until he was wounded”.

Lieutenant F. Powell, saw that his company was suffering heavy losses. Two officers had been killed, the Company Sergeant Major wounded and nearly 50% of the other ranks wounded, Lieutenant Powell himself had been twice wounded). He also saw additional enemy reinforcements coming up and no sign of the regiment sue to be in support on the right. Accordingly he gave the order for the company to withdraw to the British lines. This withdrawal was carried out by the only company officer left unwounded, Second Lieutenant R. B. Gibson.

9638 Corporal T Green with nine men was separated from the rest of the company. Seeing their fellows withdrawing he kept his small band together and in place, in case the rest of the company reformed and attacked once more. Seeing they were in danger of being surrounded he ordered a withdrawal, himself assisting a wounded man to safety. Later that night he went out and brought in more wounded.

Sergeant Mart, who had distinguished himself at Ypres in November 1914 was in command of a machine-gun. He and another gun, commanded in Lance-Sergeant Wilson did great execution amongst the Germans, accounting for at least two officers. Mart refused to leave his post, although wounded.

Major Onslow, commanding the battalion, told us that despite the failure of the enterprise: “The outstanding features of the attack are, to my mind: (a) the able leading of the officers until killed or wounded; (b) The keenness of the men to close with the enemy; (c) the steadiness of the withdrawal under Lieutenant Gibson after their heavy casualties; (d) the actions of Corporal Milne and Corporal Green and (e) the good work of the machine guns.

Sources: X550/3/wd

Those Respirators

Respirators at the Imperial War Museum

Thursday 3rd June 1915: Lieutenant-Colonel H. F. Barclay, commanding the 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, writing to Mr. Machin, honorary secretary of the Bedford Recreation Committee said he had submitted the Pattern Respirators, sent to him by an officer who had just returned from the front and he said they were excellent. Colonel Barclay added: “We are most grateful to you Committee for their kind offer of 1,000 and if it is not too late we shall most gratefully accept them”(1).

Major Onslow, commanding the 2nd Bedfords at the front, has sent the following to the Officer Commanding Bedfordshire Regiment Depot: - “1,000 Respirators received. Would you kindly forward my best wishes and many thanks to Mr. W. Machin and his Committee for this gift. They are greatly appreciated by the Officers, N.C.O’s and men of this Battalion”.

There have been rumours that the respirators given to the Highland Division were unsuitable, but this is not true. The Committee have heard from many men of their use in the trenches with good results.

Source: Bedfordshire Times 4th June 1915

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(1) 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment would land in France on 31st July 1915.

2nd Bedfords in Action at Festubert

Tuesday 18th May 1915: We understand that the last twenty four hours have been frenetic and costly for 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment as they went into action north of Festubert. Before we come to what our local regiment has done, however, it might be best to set the scene by describing what has been happening across the battlefield as a whole.

Yesterday morning there was still a gap between the 2nd and 7th Divisions, caused by the unevenness of their separate advances. This gap had been in some measure closed by the elimination of the garrison of a position called The Quadrilateral but falling rain made attacks difficult. By 9 a.m. most of the Germans between the two divisions had either been killed or had surrendered and by 10.15 that strongpoint was in British hands.

The next stage of the attack was to begin at 2 p.m. with 2nd Division and 3 p.m. with 7th Division, including 2nd Bedfords, as we will hear presently. These attacks both failed. The 7th Division attack failed due to heavy fire coming in on their flank from a newly dug, and unnoticed, German trench system. The 2nd Division attack could not be organised until after the 7th Division attack had already begun and did not develop until 5 p.m. Its route was then blocked by reserve troops of 7th Division. By 8 p.m. they reached the line held by 21st Brigade. It may be of interest to readers that one of these units of 2nd Division was the 1st/1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment, a Territorial Army unit.

Meanwhile, 2nd Bedfords were ordered about 1.30 p.m. to move at shortest notice and about 3 p.m. orders were received to move to a position in the rear of the old German fire trench between points referred to as L1 and L2 (see the map at the head of this page) in order to make an attack in conjunction with 4th Battalion, Cameron Highlanders. There was no time for reconnaissance of the four hundred yards of ground in front of them. The grass was about a foot high and the going looked reasonable enough. So about 7.30 p.m. B and C Companies advanced south-eastwards to the attack, on the right of the 4th Camerons. Two sections of bomb throwers under Second Lieutenant W. J. Stonier worked on the right down a communication trench towards points numbered K.4 and K.5. B and C Companies were less successful; on vacating the trenches to make the assault they were met by heavy shrapnel, machine-gun and rifle fire, one of the acting Company Sergeant Majors being killed as he climbed over the parapet(1).

By about 9 p.m. when the whole Battalion, less two platoons of A Company, which were kept in reserve by commanding officer Major Cranleigh Onslow, had been launched in attacks, information was received that the officer commanding the attack had called a halt, as he was unable to collect a party sufficiently strong to assault the German position, owing to the darkness and the many serious obstacles which could not have been seen previously due to the tall grass. These obstacles were ditches varying from two to five feet in depth and the same dimensions in width and filled with water, running diagonally as well as parallel to the advance. They broke all cohesion in the attacking force. The Bedfords were also unable to get in touch with the Cameron Highlanders. We understand that a number of men have drowned in these water choked ditches.

Just at this time too, Second Lieutenant Stonier reported having arrived at the point called K.4 and, meeting with opposition in that neighbourhood, his party had expended all their bombs and had themselves come under fire from bombs and trench mortars from their objective, the point known as K.5 and had had to retire into the communication trench, which they continued to hold.

A portion of the Battalion had, in the meantime, retired to its original position. It is difficult for civilians such as ourselves fully to comprehend the atmosphere of confusion, doubt and fear that prevails upon a battlefield but this catalogue of unexpected setbacks and misfortunes goes some little way to enlightening us.

Under these circumstances Major Onslow reformed the whole of the Battalion in the original position from which the attack had been launched. It goes without saying how bitter our proud boys feel about this complete failure. Sadly, during these operations Major Mackenzie VC was killed.

During the night information was received that a portion of the 4th Cameron Highlanders had succeeded in entering the enemy trench system. Accordingly, about 3 a.m. Brigadier-General H. E. Watts telephoned, ordering that the Bedfords should advance along the communication trench towards points K.4 and K.5 and take the German trench from that flank, to join up with the Camerons.

A new supply of bombs having been received, the bomb throwers of D Company under Second Lieutenant C. H. Brewer, with A and B Companies, in support were ordered to make their way along the communication trench to K.5 to gain possession of that point and work along the German trench to the point numbered L.8 to meet the Cameron Highlanders.

While this attack was developing, the commanding officer received authentic information that the party of Cameron Highlanders who had gained the enemy trench had been bombed out of it and retired from it during the night. This information, and also the fact that the Bedfords were very weak in numbers was telephoned by Major Onslow to Brigadier Watts, who replied that if Major Onslow was absolutely convinced that no Cameron Highlanders were holding any portion of the German trenches, he should stop further operations and make good ground occupied.

The Bedfords, therefore, ceased their advance and consolidated K.4 and the communication trench, holding it with Second Lieutenant Brewer’s bomb throwers, D and A Companies, with C and B Companies remaining behind the original starting point for the attack (Points L.1 and L.2).

The adjutant mentioned to us that during the night Second Lieutenant B. H. Waddy, attached from 3rd Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, who had been doing excellent scouting and reconnaissance work, had to be removed from the firing line by order of the Medical Officer and admitted to Hospital. This Medical Officer, Lieutenant D. G. Watson, who had been most assiduous in tending and removing the wounded from the firing line under heavy shell fire, was severely wounded by shrapnel on his way back to his dressing station. Seven stretcher bearers were also either killed or wounded(2).

This morning the Battalion is still holding the line and points mentioned above. No doubt the battle will continue for some days yet but the large number of casualties the Bedfords have taken may mean that their active participation in it has come to an end(3).

Source: X550/3/wd

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(1) This gallant soldier was Arthur Sidney Brown, who had already won the Distinguished Conduct Medal.  He was in C Company and was 26 years old. He had been born in Mogerhanger and information was later received that he had been promoted to be Second Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion, Cheshire Regiment. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the le Touret Memorial.

(2) Sadly, Lieutenant David Galloway Watson died of his wounds on 5th June. He, too, was 26 and from Edinburgh. Despite his obvious bravery he does not seem to have been recommended for any gallantry award. He is buried in Étaples Military Cemetery – “First officer to be laid in the cemetery”.

(3) This was the sort of shambles, brought about by poor communication, bad weather, lack of time to make and co-ordinate complex plans, a determined and resourceful enemy and sheer bad luck that would earn the First World War such an evil memory and cause such high casualties to armies of all nations.

A New Commander for the 2nd Bedfords

Tuesday 12th January 1915: readers will be familiar with the 2nd Bedfords’ commanding officer, Major William Henry Denne. He remains with the battalion but now as second-in-command, the new commanding officer being Major Cranley Charlton Onslow.

The battalion is currently in trenches south-west of Fleurbaix. It is very wet here and the trenches are full of water. Yesterday the battalion received four semi-rotary pumps, two of them of a type used by the French. We hope they will be able to stem the flow of water converting trenches into streams.

Source: X550/3/wd