2nd Bedfords on the Move

Friday 11th January 1918

2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment have been on the move today. Today they left the Wardrecques area, moving south to the area of the Fifth Army. They entrained at Steenbecque and left the train at Longueau, three miles south-east of Amiens. They will get on another train tomorrow and proceed a few miles, we understand, to a place called Hailles.

Source: X550/3/wd

Front Line, Reserve Line, Billets

Thursday 10th January 1918

4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment has relieved the Nelson Battalion in the front line near Villers-Plouich. 6th Battalion, meanwhile, have followed in the footsteps of 2nd Battalion, entraining at Dickebusch and detraining at Ebblighem whence they have marched to billets at Sercus, six miles or so from the 2nd Bedfords at Wardrecques.

Fresh from their training 7th Battalion have gone north to the envions of Houthulst Forest. They are in brigade reserve at a place rejoicing in the name of Baboon Camp. 8th Battalion are out of the line and were allotted baths today at Bailleulval. A boxing bout was held in afternoon which was very well attended and some excellent boxing was out up by the men taking part.

Sources: X550/5/3; X550/7/1; X550/8/1; X550/9/1

Changes

Lieutenant G M Betty [X550/1/82]

Monday 7th January 1918

Three new officers have arrived in Italy to join 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. They are Lieutenant G M Betty, Lieutenant W T Morris and Second Lieutenant L J Hobson. Meanwhile there has been training by platoons with boxing in the afternoon.

2nd Battalion has left the Stirling Castle area near Ypres. It got on trains at Dickebusch Station this morning and went to Ebblinghem, west of Hazebrouck. From there it marched to Wardrecques, which it reached about an hour ago.

The British soldier wears pouches, packs and so on attached to belts as a means of storing food, water, ammunition, tools and other necessities. Officially they are supposed to wear 1908 pattern webbing; the equipment being made from strong woven cotton. However, because of the vast increase in the army’s numbers since 1914 manufacture has been unable to keep pace, consequently many men went to war wearing equipment of the same design but made of leather, which is inferior to webbing as it is not so strong or so durable. Only now is 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, beginning to exchange its leather equipment for webbing. A and D Companies will retain the leather for now, whilst B and C Companies are being fitted out in webbing.

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