Going up the Line

Thursday 20th June 1918

The adjutant of the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, was speaking to your correspondent a few moments ago. They will shortly be on their way up to the front line west of Albert to relieve the 7th Battalion, the Buffs and a company of 7th Battalion, the Queen's. Captain Leslie Keep has been promoted to the rank of Major as has Captain H C Browning. Both men were "originals" with 7th Battalion, who arrived in France with the battalion nearly three years ago. 

Source: X550/8/1

Eleventh Day of the Third Battle of Ypres

Friday 10th August 1917

Today has seen the first day of major operations in this new offensive since 31st July. Two divisions have been involved in trying to push forward in the one area where the first day of the battle achieved little overall success - the ground on and immediately north of the Menin Road, known as the Westhoek Ridge. The divisions taking part were 18th (Eastern) Division and 25th Division. The weather has been wet recently, uncharacteristically so for August and it has rained again today, the warm air temperature making a debilitating, muggy atmosphere. In places there is reckoned to be a foot of standing water(1)

74th Brigade from 25th Division attacked across a very wide area (a 2,000-yard frontage) from the railway from Ypres to Roulers in the north, down past the western edges of the village of Westhoek to a point just west of the northern edge of Glencorse Wood. The attack was designed to take the village and its two strongpoints and the ground on either flank. This comparatively modest advance was carried out successfully, despite the conditions and our troops are now preparing against any German counter-attack.

18th Division, including our own 7th Battalion, attacked to the south of 74th Brigade, between them and Inverness Copse. 54th Brigade attacked north of the Menin Road and 53rd Brigade astride and south of it. 54th Brigade, the Bedfords well to the fore, stormed into Glencorse Wood from a position some way to the west of it. The west edge of the wood is protected by a major trench known as Jargon Trench and this fell quickly. We understand that the Bedfords took the whole of Glencorse Wood with the 11th Royal Fusiliers getting as far as Fitzclarence Farm. At this point the enemy massed in Polygon Wood and Nonne Bosschen Wood for a counter-attack. They pushed the Fusiliers back nearly to their starting positions. The Bedfords, I have been hearing, were let down by this failure of the Fusiliers, having to defend not only their front but an over-extended right flank where the Fusiliers had withdrawn. As a result they have fallen back to Jargon Trench where they are holding. I hope for a more detailed picture to emerge tonight.

7th Queen’s of 53rd Brigade attacked Inverness Copse from the south. This was only after the enemy spotted them forming up in the pre-dawn half-light and caused many casualties. A strongpoint at the south-western edge of the wood further hampered the attack which has now been called off.

So the attack has had mixed fortunes but I have been able to gauge that the opinion is that the 7th Bedfords, at least, have added to their laurels today.

Source: X550/8/1

(1) The water table was naturally high in such low-lying ground as that around Ypres. The constant shelling had destroyed ditches and drainage systems and the rain had made the soil waterlogged.

A Specimen Movement Order

Saturday 2nd June 1917

In the same way that your correspondent felt it might give a flavour of life at the Front to relay a daily intelligence report on 31st May, today the 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, not far from the site of their ordeal on 3rd May, has forwarded a movement order to me for onward communication.

1. INTENTION During the night of the 2nd/3rd the 54th Brigade will relieve the 55th Bde. Relieving troops will take over dispositions of the 55th Bde. All Maps, Aeroplane photographs, Intelligence Summaries, reports on work, trench stores etc will be taken over on relief.

2. ROLE OF UNITS 7th Bedfordshire Rgt will relieve the 7th Queens Rgt in support on the Bde Front. A and B Coys will on completion of relief be situated in the Rookery "C" Coy in Concrete Trench. "D" Coy in Earls Court and Shaft Trench. B.H.Q. [Battalion Head Quarters] N.35.c.2.7. "A" and "B" Coys will take over from A & C Coys. 7 Queens. Starting Point Cross Roads at N.34.a.7.7.

3. ROUTE H.Qrs, "C" and "D" Coys via Shaft Trench. "A" and "B" Coy via Sussex Avenue.

4. GUIDES From the 7th Queens on the scale of 1 per platoon and 1 for B.H.Q. will be at the Starting Point at 3 p.m.

5. INTERVALS East of Hénin-sur-Cojeul Units will move by platoons with 5 minute intervals. West of this village 500 yards will be maintained between Coys. No movements will take place outside Communication Trench until 10.15 pm.

6. ORDER OF MARCH B.H.Q. "C" "D" "A" and "B" Coys.

7. BOX RESPIRATORS Will be worn at the ALERT throughout the relief.

8. RELIEF Coys will report relief complete by the word STORE.

9. DRESS Full Marching Order.

10. TRENCH STORES Copy of Trench Stores will be forwarded to Battn H.Q. on completion of relief.

11. MEALS Dinners 12 noon.

12. TRANSPORT "C" & "D" Coy L.G.Limbers will move up with their Coy as far as Starting Point. "A" and "B" L.G.Limber will move up to N.30.c.7.1. after dark. "C" & "D" Ration Limbers will move up as previously arranged, arriving about 10 p.m. "A" and "B" Coy Ration Limbers will move to point N.30.c.7.1 after dark.

13. COOKING Support and Reserve Bns can cook in Boilers or Kettles. Coy and Platoon cook-houses to be dug in suitable places off the main trenches.

14. WATER "A" and "B" Coys will have water brought up in Petrol Tins on limbers each evening. Empty tins to be returned next evening. H.Q. "C" and "D" Coys. 1 Water Cart will be permanently kept in the Hindenburg Line. 2 Watermen will remain with the water cart.

15. MESSCART Mess Cart (Maltese Cart as Ordered by M.O [Medical Officer]) will report at the Mess at 1.30 p.m.

16. BAGGAGE All Blankets (in Bdles of 10) Coy Stores Officers valises etc will be dumped at Q.M. [Quarter Master] Stores by 11 a.m. Trench Kits etc to be dumped Q.M.Stores by 12 noon.

17. BILLETING CERTIFICATES A Certificate will be rendered to the R.S.M. [Regimental Sergeant Major] by 11 a.m. certifying that all Regtl Lines are clean, all refuse removed and Latrines disinfected.

18. ADVANCE PARTY Each company will send 1 Officer and C.S.M. [Company Sergeant Major] to take over from the 7th Queens leaving the Camp about 11 a.m. B.H.Q. will send Lt.Chapman and R.S.M. to take over Dumps, Stores etc.

19. DUMP DUTIES  "C" Coy will supply 1 N.C.O. and 1 O.R. to take over and remain in charge of Dump at T.5.c.7.7. This party will report to Staff Captain at B.H.Q. at 11 a.m. 2-6-17.  Guide will be waiting to take him to his post.

20. TRAFFIC CONTROL "A" Coy will find and take over traffic control post at N.30.c.5.3. "B" Coy will find and take over traffic Control Post on high ground N.29.d. These posts will compel troops to use Communication Trenches and will prohibit movement which previously took place in view of the enemy. They will take over the orders of the posts they relieve. These Orders must be brought to the notice of all ranks and non-compliance will be dealt with severely.

21. ANTI GAS BLANKETS Anti-Gas Blankets must be hung at the entrance of all dugouts. Where these are deficient indent for same will be sent at once.

22. S.O.S. SIGNAL Succession of Red Very Lights till followed by Artillery Barrage.

23. 1st LINE TRANSPORT Drummers, and 2 squads of the Untrained Draft.

(SGD) W.J.W.COLLEY, CAPT AND ADJT.

7TH (S) BN BEDFORDSHIRE REGT.