Trouble at Billets

Friday 29th December 1916: From our Correspondent in the Field

Your correspondent has spoken with the adjutant of the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, today, which has returned to billets after a tour in the front line at Cuinchy over Christmas. It is fair to say that the adjutant, though keeping control of himself admirable, was very angry.

The Town Major is the officer in charge of any town under British Army occupation. Apparently the Town Majors of Beuvry and le Quesnoy do not know their jobs very well. Yesterday B Company and half the Battalion Headquarters were billeted in a former girls’ school at Beuvry. The Town Major then tried to evict them, claiming that the billets were intended for the 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment of 95th Brigade. Meanwhile C and D Company officers at le Quesnoy were forced to turn out to other and worse billets to make room for officers of the Machine Gun Corps.

This confusion was compounded in Beuvry where the Staff Captains of 15th and 13th Infantry Brigades had seen the Town Major and arranged for the former girls’ school to be retained by the Battalion until 1st January. This decision was then reversed by the 30th Division and the men had to turn out, again into much worse billets.

Baths had been allotted at le Qusenoy, but they were closed at midday and no others were allotted. Finally the Battalion were turned out from another billet so that it could be given to 13th Company, Machine Gun Corps who, as with the officers’ billets, have been given preferential treatment. The adjutant did not state the unit to which the Town Major of le Quesnoy belongs but we hazard a guess that it might be a unit which is largely equipped with automatic weapons.

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.

The Taking of Hill 60

Sunday 18th April 1915: Just after seven o’clock yesterday evening two pairs of mines and one single mine were exploded around Hill 60. The mines to the north of the hill contained 2,000 pounds of high explosive each whilst the pair to the south each contained 2,700 pounds and the fifth, to the south of them had 500 pounds. The 1st Battalion, Royal West Kents rushed the shattered German position on top of the hill and captured it easily, taking twenty prisoners. With them went two companies of the 1st Bedfords, the other two companies being held in reserve.

As soon as the crest was taken the Royal West Kents and Bedfords began to consolidate and dig trenches back to our own front line to enable men to come up quickly when the Germans counter-attacked, as it was sure they would.

The Germans counter-attacked early this morning, around four o’clock. This was beaten off but they have attacked again since and look likely to spend much of the day trying desperately to get the hill back again. It is a vital observation point and highly coveted by both sides as it has a good view over Ypres, Zillebeke and our trenches.

Source: X550/2/5

An Attack on Hill 60 is Imminent

Saturday 17th April 1915: It seems as if final preparations are under way for an attack on Hill 60. Two companies of the 1^st Battalion, Bedfordshire regiment remain in the front line, whilst the other two have been withdrawn into support to make way for 1^st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment and 2^nd Battalion King’s Own Scottish Borderers of 13^th Brigade which will be spearheading the attack. The Bedfords will thus come under 13^th Brigade command rather than 15^th Brigade. Word is that something may happen this evening.

Source: X550/2/5