Losing Men

Monday 10th June 1918

The 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment is now, following an infusion of men from the former 7th Battalion, back up to strength - so much so that today they have lost men. Three other ranks joined from base but 88 other ranks and four officers (Lieutenant J M Glen and Second Lieutenants A D Greenwood, H J Poulter and G S Richards) have all proceeded to base for redeployment to units needing to be brought up to strength(1).

Source: X550/3/wd

(1) Arthur Donald Greenwood would soon return to the battalion only to be killed in action on the Somme on 30th August. He is buried with a number of men from the 7th Battalion killed on 1st July 1916 in Dantzig Alley Cemetery.

The Last Men Leave

Saturday 9th February 1918.

The 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment now no longer exists as a fighting force as today another 170 other ranks were despatched to join the 7th Battalion. The officers also joining the 7th Battalion are Captain McBride, Lieutenant Duplock, Second Lieutenant Pratt, Second Lieutenant Hughes, Second Lieutenant Smith and Second Lieutenant Poulter(1)

The details left paraded at 10.30 a.m. and proceeded by march route to Courcelles-Le-Comte via Fremicourt, Bapaume, Bihucourt and Achiet-le-Grand. They arrived in camp about 3 30p.m.and took over billets. The details are under the orders of the Officer Commanding IV Corps Surplus Reinforcements (Lieutenant-Colonel Finch DSO of 13th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment).

Source: X550/9/1

(1) Lieutenant Arthur Pratt would die two days later and would be buried at Noyon New British Cemetery; Captain Andrew Best McBride was killed at Cachy on 24th April and is buried at Longueau British Cemetery; Lieutenant Marten Cave Duplock was killed on 2nd April, has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial

8th Battalion Sports

Saturday 31^st July: The 8th Battalion held its sports on the cricket field at Blackdown Camp [Hampshire], when several good performances were recorded, although the men had very little opportunity for training. Private H M Card, who did so well in cross-country runs while the Battalion was at Shoreham [Sussex], won the three miles, one mile and half mile, in good times on a rain sodden track. Private Goldstone won the principal sprinting events. Results(1):

·       100 yards – Private Goldstone: time 11 3/5 seconds

·       220 yards – Private Goldstone: time 27 1/5 seconds

·       Sack race – Private Poulter

·       High jump – Lance Corporal W. G. Thomas; 4 feet 8 inches

·       Long jump – Lance Corporal W. G. Thomas; 15 feet 4 inches

·       3 miles – 1. Private H. M. Card, 2 Lance Corporal W. G. Thomas: time 16 minutes, 20 seconds. A good race won by about 8 yards

·       1 mile – 1. Private H. M. Card, 2 Private C. Scripps: time 5 minutes, 23 seconds

·       Sergeants’ Race – Sergeant Taylor

·       Corporals’ Race – Corporal W. Barker

·       ½ mile – 1. Private H. M. Card, 2 Private Ward: time 2 minutes, 23 4/5 seconds

·       Obstacle Race – Private Cartwright Wells

·       Wheelbarrow Race – Private Fleet and Private Hurry

·       Rely Race (1 mile) – 1. A Company, 2. B Company: time 4 minutes 31 4/5 seconds. Each team consisted of four runners, who ran 220 yards, 220 yards, 440 yards and 880 yards successively.

·       Individual Champion (winner of gold medal) – Private H. M. Card

Source: Bedfordshire Times 30th July 1915

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(1) The following successful competitors died during the war: Private George Benjamin Poulter from Hitchin was killed in action on 15th September 1916; Lance Corporal William George Thomas from Swansea (Glamorgan) died of wounds on 31st January 1916, Sergeant Harry Taylor from Saint Albans [Hertfordshire] was killed in action on 15th September 1916, Corporal William Barker from Fulham [London] was killed in action on 15th September 1916, Private Herbert Hurry from Chipping [Hertfordshire] was killed in action on 19th April 1916. Poulter, Taylor and Barker are commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Hurry on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres and Thomas is buried in Étaples Military Cemetery.