Cinema Fire

Wednesday 19th December 1917

The 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment are in Claude Chappe Camp at Roesbrugge-Haringe, north of Poperinge. They had been having a relaxing time, enjoying the camp’s facilities, including the cinema hall, which was also the distribution point for charcoal for the men’s cooking.

The adjutant spoke to me today relating that at 10.30 last night the cimena hall burned down. Fire picquets turned out and the Divisional Fire Brigade attended, but the hall was completely demolished. A certain amount of danger existed through proximity of other huts and the Horse Transport Lines, which were kept doused with water and fortunately escaped damage. He did report, ruefully, that the cinema had turned from a reasonable source of entertainment into an excellent source of charcoal.

Source: X550/8/1

1st Bedfords Arrive in Italy

Sunday 16th December 1917

The 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment have arrived in Italy after their long train journey from Anvin. As you can imagine we have been desperately trying to get hold of maps of northern Italy in preparation for this event, so that we can give you an idea of where the boys end up.

It turns out that they are in the province of Padua. B and D Companies left their train at Fontaniva and marched to San Giorgio in Brenta where they rested for a few hourse before resuming their march eleven miles south-east to San Giorgio delle Pertiche, where they are billeting for tonight - about thirty miles north-west of Venice. A and C Companies are billeted in San Giorgio in Brenta. Emboldened by his efforts with a sketch map of Palestine your correspondent has done something for northern Italy.

The 7th Battalion, meanwhile, are in the vicinity of Roesbrugge-Haringe north-west of Poperinge at a place called Claude Chappe Camp. They are due a rest period. Brigadier-General Lionel Sadleir Jackson, commanding 54th Infantry Brigade, took a march-past today and was pleased with the general turn-out of the Battalion.

The Battalion arrived in the new area in time for dinner; each company being billeted in a separate hut, and one detached company in Northampton Lines. There is a cinema hall in the centre of the camp.

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