Heigh Ho the Wind and the Rain

Saturday 7th September 1918

Autumn seems to have comer a little early to the Western Front. We have been enduring driving rain for the last day or two and particularly rough winds. Tommy Atkins has been enduring it with his usual stoicism. The main complaint has been that the winds will force Channel shipping to stay in port, which will delay the mail from home.

In far-off Palestine things are no doubt warmer and drier. The 1st/5th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment has been training and also practising for a tournament organised by the Brigadier. Events include the usual athletic favourites such as the hundred yards dash, the 440 yards and the high jump.

Source: X550/6/8

2nd Battalion Sports Near the Front Line

Saturday 29th April 1916: The 2nd Battalion are at Grovetown Camp and have been indulging in some sports to keep them fit and happy. Yesterday No. 15 platoon won the inter-platoon relay race and B Company the inter-company relay. In tug-of-war the Battalion beat both the 17th and 19th Battalions, King’s (Liverpool Regiment) and success attended the Battalion’s boxers. Private Leray won the nine stone and under category and Private Pilkington the category for ten stone and under. Sergeant Baker won the heavyweight division(1). At the conclusion of Sports the Prizes were presented by Brigadier General Stanley.

The sports had been going on since 26th with heats etc. Now the men of the Battalion must gird up their loins as they are going back to the trenches at Maricourt today.

Source: X550/3/wd

(1) This may be Sergeant George Baker from Barking, Essex, who would be killed in action on 20th September 1917.

8th Battalion Sports

Saturday 31^st July: The 8th Battalion held its sports on the cricket field at Blackdown Camp [Hampshire], when several good performances were recorded, although the men had very little opportunity for training. Private H M Card, who did so well in cross-country runs while the Battalion was at Shoreham [Sussex], won the three miles, one mile and half mile, in good times on a rain sodden track. Private Goldstone won the principal sprinting events. Results(1):

·       100 yards – Private Goldstone: time 11 3/5 seconds

·       220 yards – Private Goldstone: time 27 1/5 seconds

·       Sack race – Private Poulter

·       High jump – Lance Corporal W. G. Thomas; 4 feet 8 inches

·       Long jump – Lance Corporal W. G. Thomas; 15 feet 4 inches

·       3 miles – 1. Private H. M. Card, 2 Lance Corporal W. G. Thomas: time 16 minutes, 20 seconds. A good race won by about 8 yards

·       1 mile – 1. Private H. M. Card, 2 Private C. Scripps: time 5 minutes, 23 seconds

·       Sergeants’ Race – Sergeant Taylor

·       Corporals’ Race – Corporal W. Barker

·       ½ mile – 1. Private H. M. Card, 2 Private Ward: time 2 minutes, 23 4/5 seconds

·       Obstacle Race – Private Cartwright Wells

·       Wheelbarrow Race – Private Fleet and Private Hurry

·       Rely Race (1 mile) – 1. A Company, 2. B Company: time 4 minutes 31 4/5 seconds. Each team consisted of four runners, who ran 220 yards, 220 yards, 440 yards and 880 yards successively.

·       Individual Champion (winner of gold medal) – Private H. M. Card

Source: Bedfordshire Times 30th July 1915

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(1) The following successful competitors died during the war: Private George Benjamin Poulter from Hitchin was killed in action on 15th September 1916; Lance Corporal William George Thomas from Swansea (Glamorgan) died of wounds on 31st January 1916, Sergeant Harry Taylor from Saint Albans [Hertfordshire] was killed in action on 15th September 1916, Corporal William Barker from Fulham [London] was killed in action on 15th September 1916, Private Herbert Hurry from Chipping [Hertfordshire] was killed in action on 19th April 1916. Poulter, Taylor and Barker are commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Hurry on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres and Thomas is buried in Étaples Military Cemetery.