The Attack Goes On

Monday 4th November 1918

The great allied offensive clicked into gear once again this morning. The aim has been to break enemy resistance south of the Condé Canal and undertaking an advance in the general direction of Avesnes, Maubeuge and the place it all began for the British Expeditionary Force - Mons.

Fourth Army has had to negotiate the Sambre Canal and also the Forest of Mormal. The canal is only about head-high but is seventy yards wide. Those of us who reported on the Battle of the Somme remember a vile litany of woods which needed to be taken at a high cost in men's lives - High Wood, Delville Wood, Trones Wood and others.

The canal was crossed at first light this morning on planks and pontoon bridges and it is testament to the increasingly feeble nature of our enemy that it was done almost without resistance. One cannot imagine such an undertaking against the German Army of 1916 or 1917. Only 2nd Division suffered significant losses as the enemy resistance here was very stiff indeed. Indeed the fighting was desperate and called for gallantry of a very high order(1).

In the action around the forest there was hard fighting at times over the ground leading up to the trees. However, our tanks worked their magic and an advance of four miles has been made. As part of the action here the indomitable New Zealanders took the walled town of le Quesnoy, scene of fighting two centuries ago during the ears of the Duke of Marlborough. The walls had to be breached and scaling ladders used in old-fashioned style and fighting through the town was hand-to-hand and vicious until the garrison surrendered. Tonight the army is just in front of the Forest of Mormal.

2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, part of 18th (Eastern) Division has been in action around the village of Preux-au-Bois south-west of Maubeuge. Three officers have been wounded and one, Second Lieutenant Abbott has been killed. Seven other ranks have been killed and 34 wounded, with three missing but the adjutant was able to inform be brusquely: "Operations entirely successful"

Source: X550/3/wd

(1) Four Victoria Crosses were won here, two of them posthumously and it was here that the celebrated war poet Wilfred Owen lost his life.

Cross-Country

Second Lieutenant I T M Collins [X550/1/81]

Wednesday 24th January 1917

2nd Battalion are currently training behind the lines. This afternoon an Inter-Company Cross Country Race took place. The winners were D Company, the first three men home being 9399 Corporal G Joyce, 13626 Acting Sergeant G Butcher and 9950 Private F Humphries. Second Lieutenant I T M Collins went on leave today(1).

Three officers have arrived at 6th Battalion today as reinforcements. In addition we understand that Company Sergeant Major Abbott has been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

Sources: X550/3/WD; X550/7/1

(1) Sergeant G C Butcher would die on Christmas Eve and is buried in Hooge Crater Cemetery. 

6th Battalion and Football

Count Gleichen

Thursday 2nd March 1916: Lance Corporal Stanbridge, 6th Bedfordshire Regiment, late Captain of the Ampthill Football Club, has sent home a report of a semi-final played “Somewhere in France”. He says: “We have played the semi-final which, I am sorry to say, we lost 1-0. We played the 9th Leicesters, not far from the firing line. It was a very bustling game, witnessed by about 1,500 spectators, including the Divisional General(1) and officers. For the greater portion of the first half we were outplayed and their inside right scored the only goal of the match from four yards out, hitting the underneath of the cross-bar and then going through. Just before half-time, during a charge, our outside left had to leave the field for good. During this half we kicked up hill with the wind at our backs. In the second half we played our opponents practically to a standstill, but could do everything but score, our opponents for once not being able to shoot. I should like to say we were beaten but not disgraced, as the score readily suggests. Our team, which was at full strength with one exception, was as follows: Lance Corporal Stanbridge, goal; Private Smith and Sergeant Bilsborrow, backs; Privates Rance, Wiggs and Iremonger, halves; Lance Corporal Hunter, Private Hawkes, Private Chambers, Sergeant Abbott and Private Munro forwards”.

Source: Bedfordshire Times 14th April 1916

(1) Count Gleichen

6th Bedfords Football Record

Tuesday 11th January 1916: The various battalions of the Bedfordshire Regiment continue to add fresh laurels to their football honours. Lance Corporal W A Powell told us: “We are now resting after spending Christmas and New Year’s Day in the trenches. During this little spare time we get, football matches are played with the object of winning a cup which is presented by the Divisional Commander. Already the battalion is on the way to victory, as is shown by the following: - since November last, played 8, won 7, drawn 1, 30 goals for, 6 against”.

“A great match was played yesterday by this battalion and the 8th East Lancashire Regiment, which was witnessed by about 1,000 spectators including the Divisional Commander(1). Great excitement prevailed throughout the game, which was due to the grand footwork displayed by both teams. The game ended in a win for the 6th Battalion by 4 – 1. The team consisted of the following, some of whom are no doubt well known: Lance Corporal Stanbridge; Private N Smith; Sergeant Bilsborrow; Lieutenant Hitch; Private Wiggs; Private Ironmonger; Lance Corporal Hunter; Private Hawkes; Private Chambers; Sergeant Abbott; Private Munro(2). The evening was then brought to a successful close by a good two hours continual laugh in the Divisional Theatre, where the ‘Barn Owls’ (who are singers and dancers selected from the division) gave us a delightful time”.

Source: Luton News 27th January 1916