Sixty Fourth Day of the Third Battle of Ypres

Tuesday 2nd October 1917

The outlook here has been relatively quiet today, with no attacks, just the usual registering of guns, sniping and random barrages from trench mortars and the like. It has been the first day with rain in about two weeks though it has been remarkably hot - 76 degrees!(1)

I am not sure of the temperature in Palestine but we have heard news from the 1st/5th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, near Gaza. Early yesterday Second Lieutenant Pinchin took out a patrol of four men and did a ground reconnaissance of the ground between Hereford Ridge and Umbrella Hill. Then Second Lieutenant K M Watt went out with three men to select sniping posts for day use but the patrol failed to return. Second Lieutenant R E Otter took out a patrol of fourteen other ranks for the purpose of gaining any information possible about Second Lieutenant  Watt but no traces of the patrol were found(2).

Sources: X550/6/8

(1) about 24.5°C

(2) Second Lieutenant Watt was evidently killed, his body being recovered later as he is buried in Gaza War Cemetery. One of the members of his patrol was probably Private Edward W Jordan who was killed on 1st October and is commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial, having no known grave. This suggests that the other two men from the patrol were captured. 

Reception for a Local Hero

Thursday 15th June 1916: Biggleswade did honour to its brave young townsman Private Chris Lincoln of the 2nd Bedfords on Tuesday evening, when, in connection with the fund opened by The Biggleswade Chronicle Mr H M Lindsell CB, Chairman of the Urban District Council presented the gallant lad with a watch, Exchequer Bond for £5, a cheque for £1 5s and a Treasury Note case.

The watch was a solid 9 carat gold half hunter with three-quarter movement and was supplied by Mr A H Blake. The inscription on the back of the case is as follows: “Biggleswade Chronicle Heroes Fund. Presented to Pte Chris Lincoln, 2nd Bedfords, by Mr H M Lindsell CB on behalf of fellow townsmen as a token of their appreciation of his bravery in the Battle of Loos May 1916”.

The recipient is still a mere boy, for he is only 19 years of age, but he had served two trainings in the Bedfordshire Regiment (Special Reserve) prior to the war. On mobilisation he went to Landguard Fort until December 1914 when he went to France to join the 2nd Battalion.

For nearly ten months and through five great engagements including Festered and Neuve-Chapelle he escaped without injury but at Hulluch-Loos on 25th September he was terribly wounded, so much so that he is permanently crippled. For his work at Loos he won the praise of his Colonel and of General Watt and their letters of commendation are as follows and in them is the official record of the deed

“7th Division 7114 Private C Lincoln 2nd Bedfordshire Regiment – Your Commanding Officer has informed me that you have distinguished yourself by bravery in the field on 25/9/15. I have read his report and although promotion and decoration cannot be given in every case, I should like you to know that your gallant action is recognised and greatly appreciated – H Watt, Major-General”.

“The Bedfordshire Regiment, 2nd Battalion 7114 Private C Lincoln has been brought to the notice of the Officer Commanding the Battalion for his good work in the field displaying great courage in the advance on 25/9/15 Hulluch-Loos, in making several openings in wire entanglements, which were serious obstacles to an advance and was subsequently wounded – H S Poyntz, Officer Commanding”.

Lincoln, we thought, deserved some tangible token of appreciation from his fellow-townsmen, hence the Chronicle Fund.

Source: Biggleswade Chronicle 16th June 1916

The Official Magazine of the 4th Bedfordshire Regiment

Lieutenant T J Pemberton

Wednesday 19th April 1916: We received from the Committee the April number of The Hart the official magazine of the 4th Bedfordshire Regiment(1) and we congratulate editor Corporal J F Watt on the issue for it abounds with interesting matter. The Hart is issued with the object of raising funds for the benefit of prisoners of war and widows and orphans of the Bedfordshire Regiment. Sold at 2d monthly it can be obtained post-free of “The Hart”, 4th Beds, Felixstowe at 1/9 per quarter. The April number contains a fine cartoon “How Kulture Came to Us” by John Hassall, an excellent photo of the members of the 4th Beds Officers Mess and an interesting article on “the stone walls of England” by Lieutenant T J Pemberton(2)

Source: Biggleswade Chronicle 21st April 1916

(1) The Battalion had been the old Hertfordshire Militia

(2) lance Sergeant John Frank Watt, from Croydon in Surrey would be killed in action on 13th November; he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.