Swapping Divisions

Wednesday 3rd March 1915: The adjutant of the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment tells us that today they proceeded with remainder of 15th Brigade by march route to Ouderdom to form part of the 28th Division south-east of Ypres. The 83rd Brigade of 28th Division, consisting of battalions of King's Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment, East Yorkshire Regiment and the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry has been moved to become part of 5th Division.

The 28th Division, along with 27th and 29th Divisions consists largely of regular troops which had been stationed overseas in parts of the Empire but have been brought to France to see active service, their place as garrison troops having been taken by Territorial Army units. The Division has been in France since January.

The adjutant tells us that serving in a division is a bit like being in a large school, so for the 1st Bedfords to have to get used to a new headmaster (major-general), vice master (brigadier-general), monitors (staff officers) and many new faces amongst the other boys (84th and 85th Brigades) will be difficult at first.

Source: X550/2/5