3rd/5th Bedfords at Windsor

Windsor Great Park by Martin Morgenstern

Sunday 29^th August: The following is from one of the Battalion members: “This Battalion, which, it will be remembered, was formed as a result of the Recruiting March held last June under the aegis of Major Orlebar, who is now in command, is at present encamped at Bears Rail, Windsor Great Camp. We left Bedford on August 9th and after about two-and-a-half hours’ run were landed safe and sound at Windsor”.

“Our camp is situate about two-thirds of the way along the Long Drive, or as we call it, the “Three Mile Walk”. One end is crowned by a gigantic equestrian statue of King George III and our home; the other is graced by the towering walls of Windsor Castle, the home of our King George”.

“Our main purpose, of course, is to train and send out drafts to fill up those much regretted but unfortunately essential gaps that occur in our first line, the 1st/5th, now fighting hard out at Suvla in Gallipoli”.

“Tent life we find is very jolly, and a great change from the billet era of our previous existence. We are not without some of the luxuries of life either, as a maternal Government has arranged such items as shower baths and floor boards for our tents”.

“Members of the Royal Family constantly visit our lines, even HRH Prince of Wales, home on leave from the front(1). We have frequent calls from battle-planes which come careering madly round the Castle, over the Camp and away again before we have got the stiffness out of our necks”.

“While I think of it, we are all anxious that amongst our forthcoming recruits we should have some good footballers and cricketers; we’re keen to play and beat the Essex, Northants, Hertfords, RAMC(2), ASC(3) etc. who are all here in Camp with us, not to mention the Guards”.

Source: Bedfordshire Standard 27th August 1915

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(1) The future Edward VIII, he joined the Grenadier Guards in August 1914 but was not allowed by Lord Kitchener, Secretary of State for War, to serve in the front line. He still managed to win a Military Cross in 1916. This later made him popular amongst Great War veterans.

(2) Royal Army Medical Corps

(3) Army Service Corps

A Visit from the King

King George V

Saturday 28^th August: His Majesty the King and Princess Mary paid a visit to the camp of the 3rd/5th Bedfordshires in Windsor Park last week, and after he went the following notice was posted in the camp – “His Majesty the King was graciously please to express to the Commanding Officer this morning His Majesty’s sorrow at the losses which the 1st/5th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment has received in the fighting in which they had been engaged, which he said he knew had been heavy and the CO thanked His Majesty for his kindness”.

“The CO would also express his deep sympathy with those in the battalion who are suffering personal anxiety on behalf of their relations and friends, and to say the whilst he knows how hard it is to bear, he feels assured that the spirit of all will be cheered and strengthened by the magnificent proof of the determination of Bedfordshire men to their duty in the face of serious difficulties”.

More on the 3rd/5th Battalion at Windsor tomorrow

Source: Luton News 2nd September 1915

Still No Attack

Sunday 20th December 1914: we are glad to report that the 1st Battalion have not been required to make an attack on the German front line today. However, the adjutant tells us that attacks have been made by other units, in co-operation with a heavy British bombardment.

The Germans responded by shelling the British front line. About twelve yards of the Bedfords’ front line trench has been blown in. This has damaged a machine gun. In addition two men have been killed and two wounded by German snipers(1).

Source: X550/2/5

(1) In fact only one man, Private Edward John Windsor from Marylebone, is recorded as being killed in action on this day. He has no known grave. This is an example of how one source contradicts another.