News from Lieutenant Hargreaves

Monday 28th June 1915: Readers will recall that we mentioned on 5th June that the prospective Unionist candidate for Bedford, Lieutenant Hargreaves has gone to the Front with the Bedfordshire Yeomanry. He has contacted us today: “We are getting very little news, but a bulletin about the war is sent round with regimental orders”.

“I am quite comfortable in every way myself, but should be glad if there were more to do. The men are all very pleased to be in France and they enjoy the picnicking in the open as a change from ten months in billets. We are under a first-class brigadier and brigade with two good cavalry regiments(1) and, no doubt we shall see plenty of fighting before we finish”.

“This country is not good for either drilling or manoeuvring and compares very unfavourably in both respects with the country around Stansted. We were inspected, together with the rest of the Brigade by Sir John French(2) yesterday. The regiment turned out very smart. It has come on marvellously since we left Hatfield and should, I think, do well whenever it is called upon. Most of the officers of the squadron sleep in a barn. Holmes and I have made friends with an old couple, who have given us a room at their farm, and a big tub to bath in. We therefore live in the lap of luxury”.

Source: Bedfordshire Standard 25th June 1915

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(1) 15th (King’s) Hussars and 19th (Queen Alexandra’a Own Royal) Hussars – together they formed 9th Cavalry Brigade.

(2) Commander-in-Chief, British Expeditionary Force.

News of the Bedfordshire Yeomanry

Postcard [Z1306/75/16/53]

Saturday 6th February 1915: Judging by the look of things the Bedford Squadron will soon be leaving the little Essex town [Hatfield Peverel] where it has been quartered for some months and be en-route for “somewhere abroad”(1). This conclusion has been arrived at on account of the deal of attention devoted to the Squadron lately. New rifles have been issued to the members and for the past two months patrol work has formed the chief part of their duties. This is probably what our Yeomen will have to do when acting as Divisional cavalry abroad.

At the end of last week the regiment was inspected by the Inspector-General of Cavalry (General Milner) and the following morning’s orders contained some complimentary observations. For instance: “The Inspector-General of Cavalry has intimated his complete satisfaction at the very smart appearance and steady drill of the Regiment. The Commanding Officer (Colonel Peel) wishes to congratulate all ranks on the high standard of efficiency which they have attained after several months of hard work”.

The gun team had a night out last Tuesday. The members left their headquarters at 11 a. m. on Tuesday and returned at 11 a. m. the following day. About six hours out they were joined by another regiment and the sham fight commenced at 1. About 5.30 rain poured in torrents and made matters unpleasant. The men are however, none the worse for their soaking, and are looking forward to another nocturnal outing. The people in the vicinity of the fighting said they really thought the Germans had come when they heard the guns at 2 a.m.

On Friday the town in which the Yeomen are quartered saw more soldiers than it had ever seen before on one day, for the inspection of the whole of the South Midland Division took place, the Inspecting Officer being General Sir Ian Hamilton. Between 20,000 and 25,000 troops were on parade. The “march past” was led by the Bedfordshire Yeomanry.

Source: Bedfordshire Times 12th February 1915

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(1) In fact it did not arrive in France, as part of 9th Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division until June 1915.