Rain Stopped Fisticuffs

Wednesday 10th July 1918

The 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment is currently resting and training behind the lines. This afternoon a boxing tournament took place. To allow as many as possible to see it was held outdoors but mid-way through the afternoon we had a terrific rainstorm, which curtailed matters very quickly as, apart from anything else, it was impossible for the contestants to be sure of their footing. Those of us delighted by the batting of Jack Hobbs or the artistry of the late, lamented Colin Blythe are all too used to rain stopping play, the same is not so true of addicts to the art of pugilism

Source: X550/2/5

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

Gongs and Gloves

Tuesday 2nd January 1917 from our correspondent in the field

Readers will remember that the adjutant of the 1st Battalion, in thee waterlogged trenches in the flat-lands of Cuinchy reported yesterday on the dreadful state of those trenches. Today, he tells me, the enemy added to the misery by bombarding the men with aerial torpedoes and rifle grenades. Thankfully this resulted in no casualties, but made the bad state of the trenches even worse.

The adjutant of the 6th Battalion tells me that Lieutenant W E Aylwin has been awarded the Military Cross whilst Lieutenant-Colonel F H Edwards, Lieutenant C Chamier and Regimental Sergeant Major Headland have been mentioned in despatches.

The adjutant of the 7th Battalion spoke with me on the blower and told me that they have been busy training. This hard work is being leavened by a boxing tournament tonight in a barn used as a recreation room. The preliminary bouts have taken place in the last few days so tonight will be the finals and some good boxing is expected.

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

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.

Bedfords Fighting Amongst Themselves.

Thursday 13th April 1916: At the moment both the 2nd Battalion, of 30th Division, and the 7th Division of 18th Division are at Grovetown Camp on the Somme. To celebrate this, a boxing tournament was held yesterday, the senior battalion winning by three victories to two. However, at football the 7th Battalion proved more agile winning by three goals to nil (1)

Source: X550/3/wd

(1) In May 1918 the 7th Battalion would be disbanded and its soldiers added to the 2nd Battalion which had suffered severely in the German offensive, the 2nd Battalion moving from 30th to 18th Division.

Johnny Won’t Hit Today

J W H T Douglas 

Thursday 3rd February 1916: The adjutant of the 2nd Battalion in the front line near Maricourt on the Somme tells us that Captain J W H T Douglas has taken over the duties of second-in-command from Major H S Poyntz who has become commanding officer. Thus one cricketer succeeds another.

Captain Douglas is, of course, internationally known having won the gold medal for boxing in the middleweight category at the London Olympics of 1908. He is, perhaps, even better known as a cricketer. He has played as an amateur for Essex since 1902 during which time he has played 231 matches for his county. He is an all-rounder of great merit having made 9,221 runs at an average of 26.04 and taken 683 wickets with his quickish medium paced deliveries at an average of 23.81. He has been captain since 1911.

It is as a test cricketer, however, that Johnny Won’t Hit Today has made headlines. This nickname, inspired by his initials, was given to him by crowds in Australia, where they are always disrespectful and aggressive towards English teams and players, and was given on account of his obduracy in defence, scoring his runs carefully and, to the crowd’s taste, too slowly. Perhaps some of the venom came from the fact that Captain Douglas led the England side which defeated Australia 4-1 in the series of 1911/12 in Australia. In all he has played 11 test matches, made 410 runs at an average of 25.62 and taken 25 wickets at an average of 23.76. he has been playing for his country in war since arriving with the 2nd Battalion on 4th December 1915, when he arrived with a third cricketing officer, Major Poyntz’s brother Edward Stephen Massey Poyntz.

Source: X550/3/wd