Thursday 9th May 1918
Last night the French and the composite battalion formed by 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment and 2nd Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment launched a counter-attack on the enemy which had dislodged them from the front line west of Vierstraat. Sadly they were not strong enough to succeed and the front line remains the original support line. Early this morning the battalion retired to Saint Lawrence Camp west of Dickebusch.
In the last few days the 1st/5th Battalion, near Jaffa in Palestine, has been on the alert for Turkish agents and spies. As the adjutant explained over a crackling telephone line: "The intelligence system of the enemy has
improved lately to a considerable degree, and there is no doubt that a number
of his agents are passing backwards and forwards through our lines conveying
information to the enemy as to our dispositions. This indicates the necessity
of being much more strict as regards the movements of inhabitants in areas near
the front line". They have fixed a line east of which "no Natives or Jews except those employed by the
Egyptian Expeditionary Force are to be allowed".It is understood that many of these agents pose as orange sellers.
A sad piece of news has just been received. The army continues to be much under-strength and battalions are being disbanded to make up the numbers of other battalions. Such was the fate of the 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment in the early part of this year. The 6th Battalion, we understand, are now to be disbanded and the officers and men transferred to 1st/1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment, which currently forms a composite battalion with 11th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. We believe that, as the majority of men (3 officers and 650 other ranks) will be from the Bedfords, the Hertfordshire men will transfer from 39th Division to 37th Division.
Source: X550/3/wd; X550/6/8; X550/7/1
Wednesday 8th May 1918
The men of the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment have been terribly thinned-out by enemy attacks since 21st March, firstly in the retreat from Saint-Quentin and now in the Ypres Salient. They form part of a composite battalion with 2nd Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment and, for the last few days have been in the front line just west of Vierstraat. The map above shows the front line, Number 2 (Bedfordshire) Company is on the right (facing south) and Number 4 (Wiltshire) Company is on the left (facing east) with Number 1 (Bedfordshire) Company in reserve and Number 3 (Wiltshire) Company in immediate support.
At three o'clock this morning the enemy put down a barrage of gas shells on the reserve position which, with a westerly wind, drifted back into the front line. At ten minutes past four a terrific bombardment of the front line began with trench mortars and 5.9 inch shells. This lasted until just after seven this morning, by which time it was light. The enemy then attacked with that vile weapon, the flamethrower, to the fore. This forced the French troops on the battalion's right to fall back, leaving that flank exposed. The two front line companies were forced to fall back to the support line, which, thus, became the new front line.
As I write these lines the French and the composite battalion are about to make a counter-attack to try to retake the lost position. All told so far the battalion has lost seven officers and 170 men killed and wounded.
Source: X550/3/wd
Sunday 5th May 1918
The Composite Battalion containing the 2nd Battalions, Bedfordshire and Wiltshire Regiments, after the shortest of rests, is once more in the front line. They are holding the section shown in the map above in the square numbered 10 just west of Vierstraat. They have relieved the South African composite brigade of 9th (Scottish) Division.
Number 2 (Bedfordshire) Company is on the right (facing south) and Number 4 (Wiltshire) Company is on the left (facing east) with Number 1 (Bedfordshire) Company in reserve and Number 3 (Wiltshire) Company in immediate support.
Source: X550/3/wd
Sunday 28th April 1918
After their trials of the last two days the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, now forming part of a composite battalion with 2nd Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment, was glad to wake up in Scottish Camp, south-east of Poperinge and behind the lines this morning. About 11.30 it moved forward to Montreal Camp and formed the reserve for 30th Division. A few moments ago the adjutant reported heavy enemy gunfire near Vierstraat.
Source: X550/3/wd
