Wednesday 3rd April 1918

The attack planned by the 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment and 11th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers took place last evening at Hangard. Progress was made, but owing to the overwhelming superiority of the enemy artillery and machine gun fire, the battalions were ordered to withdraw. Remember, this attack comes at the end of a long retreat by battalions at below half strength. One officer and two other ranks are reported killed, four officers and 48 other ranks wounded with four reported as missing. At ten o'clock last night the battalion moved back to Gentelles.

Today Lieutenant-Colonel Percival received the following letter from the brigadier, L W Sadleir Jackson: "I am enclosing you the result of the operation yesterday evening. I cannot express to you my admiration for the determination, and gallantry displayed by your Battalion. Although the attack made by your Regiment was unable to make headway in the face of overwhelming Artillery and Machine Gun Fire, the manner in which they held their ground is beyond praise and drew the whole of the enemy's strength, so that the troops co-operating on your left were able to get on to the objective. The Northamptonshire Regiment have pushed up on the right, and the whole objective is now in our possession. I mourn with you, for the loss of so many gallant Officers and men, which I fear was inevitable in so stiff an engagement. I hope you will convey to all ranks under your Command, the information that all the objective has been gained, and this is entirely due to their magnificent steadiness and behaviour in the face of overwhelming odds in artillery and machine guns. I hope you will convey the contents of this letter to all ranks in your Battalion The Northamptonshire Regiment have now direct observation on Aubercourt".

The 2nd Battalion has maintained its tradition of having an American medical officer - Lieutenant Pomcrantz. A number of officers have rejoined the battalion from leave - Captain P J Reiss, Second Lieutenant F C Baldwin, Second Lieutenant A Baker, Second Lieutenant S H Smith, Second Lieutenant P A Page and Second Lieutenant Cecil Shekury(1). Their presence will be welcomed in this unit, so greatly reduced in strength.

The 4th Battalion as gone into the front line, relieving the Highland Light Infantry at Mesnil. Meanwhile we have learned that 5th Division and the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, is on its way back from Italy to the Western Front.

Sources: X550/2/5; X550/3/wd; X550/5/3; X550/8/1

(1) Frederick Charles Baldwin would die on 11th May, Cecil Shekury on 16th April.

A Skirmish and a Tactical Scheme

Saturday 29th December 1917

1st/5th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment is currently at Mulebbis(1) about six miles east of Jaffa. On 27th the Turks began to attack towards Jerusalem in hopes of regaining it. At 4 a.m. yesterday the Bedfords saw about sixty or seventy of the enemy approaching their left post. An officer with a patrol and Lewis gun left the post and got within six hundred yards of the Turks before opening fire causing a rapid withdrawal by the enemy.

At noon the Battalion went into billets in Mulebbis. The area allocated was only capable of holding 200 men and was in a very dirty condition. It was therefore decided that the Battalion should bivouac as a whole(2)

The 7th Battalion, near Poperinge, carried out a tactical scheme for brigade commander General Sadleir Jackson this morning. Two Companies of the 11th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers and a detachment of Vickers guns supplied an enemy for this scheme. At the conference afterwards the General pointed out the excellent manner in which the N.C.O's and Section Commanders handled their commands, and the intelligent manner in which all ranks carried out their duties. This tactical scheme was generally considered to be very much above the average.

Sources: X550/6/8; X550/8/1

(1) Now Petah Tikva

(2) The Turkish attacks on the British lines were all beaten off by 31st December.

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