American Success at Saint-Mihiel

Thursday 12th September 1918

Today has seen a whole series of attacks made by the British Expeditionary Force, the Americans and the French. The British IV, V and VI Corps of 3rd Army have all been in action and have taken the villages of Havrincourt and Trescault, a few miles south-west of Cambrai. Despite Sir Douglas Haig's remarks of yesterday the enemy has fought tenaciously today and has launched a series of counter-attacks this evening, all of which have been beaten off and the army has made an advance of about a mile on a five mile front.

Further south the Americans, just after midnight, launched a powerful attack at Saint-Mihiel, south-east of Verdun, a German position they have held continuously since September 1914. The Americans, followed by the French, took all their objectives by this afternoon and are said to have captured a further 16,000 prisoners and more than 400 guns. This triumph has shown the enemy that this new army can achieve anything to which it sets its mind and must surely be the last nail in the coffin of German militarism.

The Advance Will Continue

Tuesday 20th August 1918

Word is that the great advance will begin again tomorrow, but it will be north of Albert and will be undertaken by Third Army. We understand that among the divisions taking part will 5th Division with 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment to the fore and 63rd (Royal Naval) Division with 4th Bedfords in the vanguard and 37th Division which contains 1st/1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment which has absorbed 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment.

Sources: X550/2/5; X550/5/3

To Bapaume?

Monday 12th August 1918

Your correspondent is currently with the headquarters of 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, just west of Albert. The battalion is part of 4th Army.

In this pause between attacks it seemed to me that readers might be interested in an order Field Marshal Haig issued two days ago. The order was to the 3rd Army men in the Albert-Arras sector, immediately north of of us. The order reads as follows: "Carry out raids and minor operations in order to the enemy's intentions on the Albert-Arras front, and to take immediate advantage of any favourable situation which the main operations may create, and push advance guards in the general direction of Bapaume".

An attack from other parts of the British Expeditionary Force is imminent, following the great attack of 8th August and the enemy must know this. An advance towards Bapaume seems to be setting up the prospect of a Second Battle of the Somme, two years on from the first. If so all will fervently hope it is less bloody, less protracted and even more successful.

All Change

Thursday 16th December 1915: the 7th Division, including 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, has left I Corps and joined 3rd Army as part of the reorganisation of the British Expeditionary Force at this time of great expansion.

The adjutant of the Battalion passed on this message they received from Corps commander Lieutenant-General Gough: "Will you please let the 7th Division know how sorry I was to part with them, and not to be there to wish them farewell and good luck, and I do appreciate the great example of gallantry, discipline, and endurance that they always set for which and the results which they obtained by it, they have earned the deep gratitude of their Country and their Commander".

Source: X550/3/wd

2nd Bedfords to Change Armies

Thursday 18th November 1915: The adjutant of the 2nd Bedfords tells us that they have been told that towards the end of the month their division, 7th, will be withdrawn from I Corps, 1st Army and will join 3rd Army which was created in July under the command of General Sir Charles Munro and is now commanded by General Sir Edmund Allenby. The message received goes on: “Its place in the line will, in all probability, be taken by a new and inexperienced Division, who will have little idea of the difficulties of trench warfare in winter time. The General Officer Commanding hopes that no effort will be spared to hand over our present lines in such condition that our successors on arrival may start their campaign under favourable conditions”.

Source: X550/3/wd

1st Battalion on the Somme, 7th Battalion on Parade

Monday 2^nd August : We hear from the adjutant of the 1st Bedfords that they have moved to the area of the town of Albert, just north of the River Somme, where the British Expeditionary Force, with new divisions swelling its ranks, is taking over a substantial portion of the line from the French. This will mean that the British armies in Belgium and France will hold the whole of the front line from Ypres to the Somme

The Battalion will relieve the 410th French Regiment in trenches near the village of Fricourt, east of Albert during the night. This is deemed a quiet sector with little likelihood of serious fighting(1)

The 7^th Battalion will march to Val-des-Maisons today to be inspected by General Officer Commanding 3rd Army, Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Monro, at 2.30pm. He tells us that it is raining heavily.

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

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(1) Fricourt would be the scene of fierce fighting on 1st July 1916, first day of the Battle of the Somme.