Fourteenth Day of the Third Battle of Ypres

Monday 13th August 1917

Today Major Bridcutt, the 7th Bedfords’ commanding officer, as promised a couple of days ago, spoke to me further about the action they took part in on 10th August.

On the night of the 9th/10th each man was given a cup of hot tea and rum as he filed up the line into the attacking positions. Each platoon commander and sergeant was handed copy of the situation map. Each platoon commander was allotted a guide to conduct him to Surbiton Villas A white tape had been laid previously to Surbiton Villas along which each platoon moved and could not possibly miss their way.

As each platoon arrived at a spot near Surbiton Villas they were met by a platoon guide and the company commanders and were conducted to their battle formation. Here they laid down in perfect quietness until the first note of the guns sang out. A Company (the company in immediate support) moved from their cover in a tunnel on the Menin Road by platoons to their place in battle formation, under the same arrangements as the assaulting Companies.

D Company (already in place and holding the line) furnished a covering party (one platoon) who were posted about 150 yards in front of the forming up tapes, pieces of trench which were almost identical to their forming up position afforded this company protection in case of Bosche barrage being turned on; this they occupied, moving forwards to Jargon Trench as previously ordered as the attack went forward.

The arrangements for forming up went without a hitch and at the appointed time (4.35 a.m.) the guns opened and the attack went forward in a most determined manner to the final objective which was reached at 5.13 a.m. Some 100-150 of the enemy were in Glencorse Wood on the Battalion front as well as two machine guns; these were knocked out and the teams destroyed in such a rapid manner that any organised resistance by the enemy was at once overcome and most of them that had not been killed at once cried "Kamerad" and ran forward into our lines most of them wounded and fearfully frightened.

After the objective had been reached battle patrols were sent out and posts established in the usual way, along the south-western end of Nonne Bosschen Wood as near to the protective barrage as it was safe to get. (i.e. about 200 yards). The Battalion then commenced to consolidate.

During the day the enemy made repeated attempts to form up and deliver what appeared to be a counter-attack of some strength. He was prevented time after time from doing so by rifle and machine gun fire, but owing to the expenditure of ammunition and the difficulty of replenishing it, care rose to anxiety and the probability of the foremost line and right flank, where the 11th Royal Fusiliers had retired, being overcome.

Major Bridcutt went on: “At this stage of the operation I considered it advisable if the position was to be held with any degree of certainty it required artillery support in the form of a few shots every few minutes on the only places the Bosch could use to form up under cover from view i.e. Nonne Bosschen Wood, Inverness Copse and the south-western portion of Polygon Wood”.

“This was suggested over the telephone but so far as could be understood it could not be arranged, consequently it appeared to me and others at the front that it was a question of an SOS appeal for artillery or nothing at all and this signal was repeatedly seen in the air at various points along the line but no SOS was asked for by the 7th Bedfords until towards the evening when it was too obvious that the Bosch intended to have a final struggle to get back the ground we held, as troops were seen emerging from each of the three woods above mentioned, and a dense cloud of smoke and gas was being sent over which obscured everything from view. At this time I cannot state the exact clock hour, the artillery opened and with terrible execution, but the Bosch line came on delivering their attack on the right flank of the Battalion”.

“The advanced posts were either killed or captured, it is impossible to say which, but judging from the very intense barrage which the Bosch rolled over Glencorse Wood they were undoubtedly killed. A certain amount of confusion set in on our right and it was only by firm determination that the strong point which I had taken over from the 11th Royal Fusiliers and Jargon Trench was held”.

“When the attack was fully developing reinforcements (two companies) of the Royal Berkshire Regiment arrived and were sent forward to hold our original front line in case the Bosch succeeded in his object to gain the strongpoint and the high ridge running from Stirling Castle through the strongpoint taken from the Royal Fusiliers and Jargon Trench”

The attack however did not materialise and only the enemy’s advanced line got near the position. The situation quietened down and the relief of the Battalion by the Royal Berkshire Regt was carried out by 2 a.m. and the Battalion withdrew to Chateau-Segard. Major Bridcutt stated: “It is worthy of record the splendid manner in which the two companies of the Royal Berkshire Regiment came up to reinforce”.

Finally, Major Bridcutt told me the lessons he believes should be learned from this operation.

1. I venture to think had a fresh Battalion been close at hand when the situation on the right became obscure and pushed in, in attack formation, a good deal more ground would have been taken and the Bosch routed from his position.

2. Artillery should not cease firing on protected lines until the Battalion Commander is satisfied all is well. Artillery ceased on the 10th without any reference to battalions (at least not to 7th Bedfords). I consider it of great importance that Battalion Commanders should be able to convey to Artillery which fire other than SOS is required.

3. No telephone wire to be laid beyond Brigade Headquarters, as it is used for all kinds of things that hopelessly give away arrangements, and too many other ranks have access to it and the commanders of the sector having no knowledge of many things happening on the wire unless he or his Adjutant sits by it. The telephone was a nuisance and not the least assistance to the Battalion on the 10th inst.

4. It took from 5 to 6 minutes before the Hun Barrage got really going on our lines, it was severe when it did do so.

5. The 54th Brigade arrangements for ordering up the reserve companies and the companies for mopping-up was excellent, timing was also extremely good.

6. To avoid any platoon going astray I placed Battalion Police posts 100-200 yards apart along the ATN Track from the RITZ area to the Menin Road passing point.

7. Our own Artillery inflicted many casualties on our troops by firing very short, what appeared to be one 8 inch gun in particular.

8. The Bosch attack was guided by a line of his men at a few paces apart firing Very lights, during the advance these were with the first wave.

Source: X550/8/1

Sixth Day of the Third Battle of Ypres

Sunday 5th August 1917

Today the Germans again attacked the hamlet of Hollebeke and, again, managed to take it, but were again driven out by 41st Division,. This time with help from 19th (Western) Division. However, another German attack, on 24th Division, managed to capture part of that formation’s front line near Shrewsbury Forest. Such piecemeal attacks might suggest that the enemy does not have the strength for an all-out counter-attack against the whole of our newly advanced line and so is picking places he thinks are likely to be most susceptible.

The men of the 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, near the front line at Railway Dugouts spent today improving the path at the foot of an embankment and built an esplanade along a pond to assist in troop movements. Eight scouts and two runners per company and Headquarters reconnoitred the route up to the Hooge Tunnel dug-outs (at the place on Menin Road where it suddenly turns south-east after going east in a straight line) where their Headquarters are to be for the pending operations. Major Bridcutt DSO and the Adjutant are attending a conference at Brigade Headquarters as I write these lines to discuss the general principles of the intended attack.

Source: X550/8/1

Raid Practice and a Solemn Dinner

Friday 27th July 1917

The adjutant of the 1st/5th Battalion has wired with news of practise for the next raid on Umbrella Hill. He noted that, profiting by the first raid the dug-outs were on ground unregistered by enemy artillery - as evidenced by no shell holes being about. They are also smaller and fitted with overhead cover to a depth of about 4 feet 3 inches of sand. The dump for supplies, too, has been made unostentatious and concealed by sand bags.

Captain Oliver Kingdon [X550/1/82]

The adjutant of 7th Battalion, Captain Colley, notes that today is the second anniversary of the Battalion’s arrival in France. A celebratory dinner is to be held in Steenvoorde and which the following, who landed with the Battalion in 1915 will be present: Brigadier-General G D Price (the former commanding officer, now commanding 55th Brigade, in the same Division as 7th Bedfords), Lieutenant-Colonel G P Mills, now commanding 7th Bedfords, Major J H Bridcutt (as a guest), Major A E Percival, Captain W W Colley, Captain H Driver, Captain O Kingdon, Captain H Ramsbotham, Lieutenant S R Chapman, Lieutenant and Quarter Master F Corner. Captain L H Keep will not attend, so soon after the death of his brother, which will cast something of a pall over proceedings.

Sources: X550/6/8; X550/8/1

7th Battalion Heading for Ypres?

Godewaersvelde Station by Lion59 on Wikipedia

Wednesday 4th July 1917

At six o’clock this morning 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, de-trained at Godwaersvelde Station near the border with Belgium, having had an overnight journey from Doullens. It will come as no surprise that this place is quite unpronounceable to Tommy Atkins, who simply refers to it as Gert Wears Velvet.

After breakfast they marched to billets, arriving at 9.30. These are in scattered farms a mile or so north-west of Abeele. This evening Major J H Bridcutt is expected to rejoin the Battalion from England to take over command with Major A E Percival as his second-in-command. There are rumours, according to the adjutant, that they are heading for Ypres where a “big stunt” is in preparation for the end of the month(1).

Source: X550/8/1

(1) Third Battle of Ypres, commonly known as the Battle of Passchendaele would begin on 31st July. 

Retaliation for Mines and a Re-organization

Thursday 4th January 1917

The land around Cuinchy and its northern neighbour Givenchy-lès-la-Bassée is somewhere that presents a face similar to the moon or to the face of an adolescent suffering with acute acne. The ground is covered with craters as the plan above shows. This assemblage was added to today when the army blew another mine close to positions occupied by the 1st Bedfords. With a certain gloomy detachment the adjutant told me: “The enemy retaliated very promptly with his artillery and eventually bombarded our left support trenches with 77 mm high explosive and shrapnel, blowing in a trench and causing ten casualties (three killed and seven wounded)”. He also mentioned that Lieutenant-Colonel F N Butler has gone on leave and that Captain C A S Morris has assumed command of the Battalion(1).

The adjutant of the 7th Battalion mentioned to me today that tey have set up different arrangements for specialist within the battalion: “Major J. H. Bridcutt was appointed officer commanding all specialists with other officers being in charge of their respective detachments such as signallers, Lewis gunners, snipers, scouts and so on. This organisation was started to keep under proper control men who were always away from their own Companies. The Companies continue to pay these men but all other administration is carried on independent of their Companies”.

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

Day One Hundred and Three on the Somme

Wednesday 11th October 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

This afternoon the 2nd Bedfords have moved their position from that shown yesterday to the one shown in pink above, where they have replaced 17th Battalion, King’s (Liverpool) Regiment. They have, effectively, moved directly to the left. During the night a party under 2nd Lieutenant L H Walker will dig an assembly trench for the attack on Gird Trench and its environs tomorrow. During the move today five men were killed and seven wounded.

Tomorrow the Battalion has the job of advancing in four waves to capture Bite Trench shown on the map above.

Second Lieutenant L H Walker

Meanwhile, 7th Battalion has been receiving reinforcements to make good the gaps incurred at Thiepval and the Schwaben Redoubt. Today 158 men arrived from England “all of which were well equipped, of good physique, and a marked improvement on previous drafts, except they have no marching powers” as the Adjutant, Captain Bridcutt informed me.

Today the Commander-in-Chief, Sir Douglas Haig, visited the battalion’s billets. He chatted with many of the officers and men as he passed from one place to another. The adjutant explained: “No inspection parade was arranged as he wished to pay a visit to a unit carrying on in the ordinary way. Major Mills is in charge of the Battalion as its colonel, G D Price, is in temporary command of 54th Brigade.

Source: X550/3/wd; X550/8/1

Day One Hundred on the Somme

Sunday 8th October 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

The Canadians have been in action today in cold, stinging rain. They attacked another position on the battlefield called, due to its shape, The Quadrilateral. This particular quadrilateral is north-west of Le Sars. Sadly, the gallant men from the prairies lost two-thirds of their strength and were forced to retire to their starting positions. Regina Trench still holds out against the Canadians.

The fighting from Le Sars in an arc south-east to Lesboeufs begun yesterday continues today. It rained all night and the battlefield is very muddy. 23rd Division have got as far as a point around half a mile north-west of Le Sars. 47th (1st/2nd London) Division managed to enter Snag Trench but were soon evicted again.

Away on the right 56th (London) Division attacked north-east. However, once again their progress was very difficult and we understand that they will retire back to their original line under cover of darkness as there are too few men to hold the positions gained.

Second Lieutenant A H Waddy

7th Bedfords are training behind the lines. Captain Bridcutt tells me that they have been joined by Second Lieutenant H M Woodyer, Second Lieutenant R J Clarke, Second Lieutenant J J Murray and Second Lieutenant A H Waddy. He commented to me: “These are a good stamp of recruit officers”.

Source: X550/8/1

Day Ninety One on the Somme

Friday 29th September 1916: From our Correspondent in the Field

All day your correspondent has been wondering about the fate of the 7th Bedfords at the Schwaben Redoubt. This eveing I have heard from Colonel Price: “At 7.15 last night the clearing up of a trench between Points 15 and 19 was taken in hand by a platoon of D Company under Lieutenant Douglas Keep (brother of Leslie)(1) but was held up by strong resistence on the enemy's part and a lack of bombs, and it was not until 9.30, when bombs and reinforcements were sent up that Lieutenant Keep managed to win through and join hands with a party of the West Yorkshires, who had been holding Point 19 and had established bombing stops in and around Point 39”.

“It was at 11.30 pm that the situation in the square formed by Points 22, 45, 19, 86, 95, 13 was showed that it was definitely held by our men, with bombing points round Point 39 and west of Point 86. All night there were constant bombing fights north of Point 45, the Boches coming out of their dug-outs in the second line. About midnight the trench between Points 45 and 19 was reinforced by men of D Company and some West Yorkshires, as it appeared to be too lightly held”.

“In order to ensure that the men, who were very weary, were kept on the alert the square above mentioned was continually patrolled by two officers in reliefs starting from 11.30 to 1 a.m. Captain Colley and Lieutenant Douglas Keep; 1 to 3 Lieutenant Brawn, Company Sergeant Major Hall; 3 to 5 Second Lieutenant Cartwright and Company Sergeant Major Brand”.

“Point 39 was held all night but was lost about the time the relief took place - the Boche making a strong counter-attack with bombs under cover of a smoke cloud. At 6 a.m. the 7th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment relieved the Bedfords and the West Yorkshires, Lieutenant Keep taking B Company Royal West Kents up the trench between Points 86 and 19 with their right on Point 19 and Captain Leslie Keep taking C Company of the West Kents along the trench between Points 13-22-45-19. On arrival at Point 19 it was found Point 30 had been evacuated but a bombing point had been established along the trench between Points 19 and 39. Point 39 was held by bombers of the West Yorkshires under their Battalion Bombing Officer. Lieutenant Keep and Second Lieutenant Brawn personally saw to the relief and the posting of sentries in both trenches. Captain Keep did not leave the position until 9 a.m.”

The Colonel then went on to mention some good work by his adjutant: “During this attack Captain Bridcutt, who was observing the operations through a very excellent Boche periscope, noticed that the Boches had run down the front and intermediate trench between Points 91 and 29, had lined their parados and shot into the left flank of the advancing troops. All available men consisting of servants, runners, signallers etc. were lined up in front of the Battalion Head Quarters and commenced rapid fire into the flank of the Boche doing great execution and causing them to retire hastily”.

Second Lieutenant Thomas Percy Wilson

As I write this the Battalion is in the ruins of Thiepval serving as a reserve. It seems as if 43 officers and men were killed yesterday, or have since died of wounds. Added to the 51 men killed on 26th and 27th this makes a total of 94 for the two days – close to the casualty figure for their action on the 1st July. Four officers were killed yesterday: Second Lieutenant Cedric Howard of 10 Cutcliff Place, Bedford; Second Lieutenant Robert Hunston from Birmingham; Second Lieutenant Herbert Merchant from 134 Castle Street, Luton and Second Lieutenant Thomas Percy Wilson(2).

A number of congratulatory telegrams have been received. Sir Hubert Gough, commanding Reserve Army has written to Major-General Maxse, commanding 18th Division: “Congratulate you very heartily on success of today's attack as well as of previous operations. Reflects greatest credit on you and your troops”. The commander of II Corps has written: “The Corps Commander again thanks and congratulates all ranks of 18th Division on further gallant and successful work today. He specially commends the good organisation, training and Staff work displayed and the methodical and determined manner in which all orders and plans have been carried out and all prearranged objectives reached and consolidated”. Touchingly General Plumer, of 2nd Army, under whose command the division briefly fell after removing from the Somme at the end of July has written: “Many congratulations to you and your Division from Commander and Staff, Second Army”.

General Maxse has made it known to the division that the Commander-in-Chief himself, Sir Douglas Haig, called on him at his headquarters to congratulate the division on its success.

A vicious fight has been going on all day at the Schwaben Redoubt. 11th Division has made further attacks today, clearing most of Hessian Trench but failing to take Stuff Redoubt. 

Source: X550/8/1

(1) Douglas Keep would be killed at Zillebeke Lake near Ypres on 14th July 1917 and is buried in Reninghelst New Military Cemetery.

(2) Second Lieutenant Merchant’s body was never recovered and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. The other three are buried in Mill Road Cemetery.

Day Ninety on the Somme

Thursday 28th September 1916: From our Correspondent in the Field

Today has been a day of light rain but this has not prevented another attack by the Bedfords. Having seized Thiepval yesterday they were ordered to take part in another attack, this time on the Schwaben Redbout on a spur of land north of the village ruins. As Captain Bridcutt told me: “From early morning until 12 Noon every one was going at high pressure, preparing for another attack on the ground which included a very high ridge and a Redoubt called the Schwaben Redoubt to the North of Thiepval. At 12 Noon the Battalion was ready for this attack and disposed as follows: A and B were the assaulting companies, D Company was in a dug-out and C Company was Battalion Reserve”.

The attack got underway at 1 pm and much use was made of numbered points on the map to navigate. I am lucky enough to have a sketch plan of these points which I reproduce above and which may assist the reader to follow the action. Colonel Price took a moment from his ongoing exertions was kind enough to tell me what has happened: “In order to conform with the barrage, bombing stops and the forward line previously held were all brought back on the line 34, 33, 43, 83. A and B Companies were the assaulting companies and formed up on the line 34 to 83, their fourth line being between points 13-60. D Company, detailed as clearing-up company, formed up with the two assaulting companies. C Company, in support, were formed up on the roads 67-19, two machine guns were detailed with supporting Company. A Company, 5th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, was used as a Battalion Reserve with the remaining three Companies in support of main attack”.

View from the front line to towards the Schwaben Redoubt on the crest of the ridge in the distance

“The forming up by mid-day was an exceedingly difficult operation as the trenches in question were in full view of the enemy and the light was very good. It was however successfully carried out”.

“The Artillery barrage which opened at 1 pm was very effective, very little enemy fire was met with until lifts in the barrage occurred. The waves followed the barrage very closely and went in beautiful formation until points 29 and 49 were reached”.

Line of attack by the right-hand platoons of the battalion

"A Company, on the right, made for the Cemetery and from thence to swing on to Market Trench but, unfortunately, the right platoon got knocked right out by machine gun fire from the Schwaben Redoubt before ever reaching Market Trench. The whole line from here on appears to have commenced to lay to the left - partly forced there by pressure of the Queen’s (West Surrey) Regiment, on their right. The supports hereabouts joined the assaulting Companies, who were suffering severely from machine gun fire”.

“From this point the Boches could be seen streaming away in full flight towards Saint-Pierre-Divion along trenches 19-63-54 and towards 69. About 2.30 Captain Keep arranged with an officer of the Queen’s to relieve him of trench 22-45 and his bomb stop in trench 45-19. About 3 pm the line 22-45 was taken over by Company Sergeant Major Brand(1) who had with him men of A Coy and West Yorkshires, the latter on the right. Sergeant Patterson of the West Yorks held Strong Point 45 with a platoon of his men”.

“After arranging with the Queen’s officer, Captain Keep hurried back to Point 86 and found that the party at Point 19 had fallen back towards Point 86 making a bombing stop half way up that trench. There was great confusion reigning at this time and the troops available had to be retold-off. Men of the West Yorkshire Regiment under Second Lieutenant Brawn were told off to hold the Line 19-86 with a bombing stop and line 19-63 while Second Lieutenant Cartwright with two Lewis guns and a Stokes mortar was put in charge of a strong point 50 yards west of Point 86. This point was immediately counter-attacked, but as quickly driven off(2)”.

“About 4 pm the shortage of Mills bombs and ammunition was acutely felt. Boche bombs from dugouts were of immense value. The situation at this point was somewhat precarious. It appeared as if the Queen’s had failed to reach point 65 and to clear the dug-outs in second line trench from that point to Point 45. From Point 45 to Point 19 the situation was uncertain except that we held points 45 and 19 but the intervening trench had not been exploited. No bombs were available to do this work”.

“The attack on extreme left advanced very quickly. They had flanking bombing parties posted forward which proved to be invaluable. The Lewis guns advanced on the left flank through Points 36, 29 and 22. Very few casualties or serious opposition were experienced until reaching Points 29, 49, 72”.

“At Point 29 the Boche had a machine-gun emplacement covered by a strong bombing party of some forty men. The flanking bombing party was held up and had to wait until the dug-out clearing party came to their assistance. It was here the first three waves suffered losses – Second Lieutenant Adlam(3) orgainsed a strong party, told the men to cheer and they charged the strong point with him as leader, in one big rush, overbore all resistance and completely wiped out the enemy. The Lewis Guns did great execution at this point. Two more strong points between Points 29 and 91 were taken at point of bayonet after a bomb preparation”.

“The situation hereafter became very difficult, as it was impossible to recognise any trenches owing to the intensity of the Artillery preparation which had obliterated everything. The final objective was almost impossible to locate accurately. This may account for parties of men over-reaching by far the final objective - some patrols pushing as far as Points 47 and 35. The final objective was held early on in the day and the whole of the Boche front line by parties of Lancashire Fusiliers, Bedfords and West Yorkshires”.

Of course the battle still goes on, particularly on the right hand section of the attack, but before turning his attention to events here the Colonel was able to give me a few of his views on the operations so far: “The whole of this operation was carried out with great dash, personal cases of daring bravery were very numerous. The taking of strong points with a determined rush came off every time”.

“The fact that there were two points numbered 45 led to great confusion and accounted for the lagging of the line away from what was, after all, the true objective - the Schwaben Redoubt. The fact that the right of the right attack was blotted out by machine gun fire may have led to the Queen’s filling-in the gap and causing them to lose their real line”.

“I am fully prepared to hold line won by us till day light tomorrow, or even later. The courage, resolution and endurance displayed by all ranks was quite wonderful. They were out to kill and the battlefield is a witness that they carried out to the full their intentions”.

As far as we can tell the southern and western faces of the Schwaben Redoubt are now in the hands of 18th Division. No doubt we can expect more fighting over night.

Today the area around the village of Morval has been handed over to the French 6th Army. In fact today has seen a number of the divisions which attacked on 25th relieved by new divisions, their work having been well done.

View from Cartwright's Post over the Ancre Valley

Source: X550/8/1

(1) Company Sergeant Major Richard Brand MM, DCM would be killed at Chérisy on 3rd May 1917 and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.

(2) Second Lieutenant Henry Cartwright would be wounded at Chérisy but would survive the war. In his memoirs he expressed disappointment that he was not recommended for a Military Cross for his work on this day. He named his strong-point Cartwright’s Post.

(3) He would receive the Victoria Cross for this action and for his gallantry and initiative on the previous day’s attack.

Day Eighty Nine on the Somme

Wednesday 27th September 1916: From our Correspondent in the Field

This morning I received some splendid news from the adjutant of the 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, Captain Bridcutt. Readers will remember that yesterday 54th Brigade of 18th Division seized a good part of the fortress village of Thiepval: “The Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel G. D. Price and I arrived at the Chateau in Thiepval. After conferring with Lieutenant-Colonel Maxwell, 12th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, commanding the scattered portions of the three battalions (12th Middlesex, 11th Royal Fusiliers and 6th Northamptonshires) Colonel Price decided to attack the untaken portion of Thiepval - the north-western part of the village. Dispositions for the attack were as follows C and D Companies, commanded by Captains Leslie Keep and Mulligan respectively, were detailed for the assault which was to be carried out in two waves with C Company on the right and D Company on the left. A and B Companies were sheltered close at hand in German dug-outs. Zero was fixed for 5.30 a.m.”

Captain T R J Mulligan

“The morning was extremely dark and the assaulting companies had great difficulty in forming up for the attack on the correct alignment. At about 5.45 all was ready and a few minutes later the two waves advanced, sweeping across the untaken portion of ground and the enemy trenches. Two machine-guns and a good deal of rifle fire opened from the enemy's lines but our troops continued to advance and in a short time were in possession of the German trenches on the north-western face of Thiepval. Captain Mulligan and Second Lieutenant Potts fell, badly wounded but during the action 36 prisoners were taken and about a hundred Germans killed by rifle fire and bayonets”.

“This action, though apparently small, was of the utmost importance as without the whole of the Village of Thiepval and the trenches surrounding it being captured, the whole line of attack was held up. So to the 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment (especially C and D Companies) belongs the honour and glory of the final destruction of one of the Germans’ strongest positions and one which they had boasted could never be taken”.

“Our casualties were 2 officers above mentioned and about 110 other ranks in the above action. The other three battalions of the 54th Brigade, who made yesterday’s attack on Thiepval, had been withdrawn to cover in our support area”. If Captain Bridcutt sounded elated he can be forgiven. The Battalion, and the division more widely, has achieved something of note today, the equal of its successes on the first day of the battle and at Trônes Wood.

I have since learned that of just over one hundred men wounded, 51 have been killed today, with two having died last night in moving up to support the brigade attack. A number of others will likely not survive the day. An officer killed, not mentioned by the adjutant, is Second Lieutenant Ian Ross-Taylor from Essex. Lieutenant Henry Potts is very gravely wounded and has been moved back to a hospital near Boulogne(1).

This evening Captain Bridcutt has been back in touch. It looks as if the battalion will be called on again tomorrow to attack one of the three redoubts which lie near Thiepval from north to east – Schwaben Redoubt to the north. This promises to be a more dangerous operation than the taking of the village.

This afternoon 11th Division, having taken Mouquet Farm yesterday but failed to take another of these redoubts – Zollern Redoubt, tried again. Evidently they had done considerabe damage in their attack yesterday as they found the place empty and have gladly occupied it. No doubt the seizure of Thiepval also contributed to this evacuation as the place was then outflanked. They have also attacked the third of the redoubts, which lies just north of Zollern Redoubt – Stuff Redoubt. An attack here this morning filed but this afternoon 9th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment attacked alone. This can be disastrous but to the Yorkshiremen’s credit they have obtained a toehold on the southern face of the redoubt. An hour later another Yorkshire unit – 6th Battalion Green Howards, who had been due to attack with the West Yorkshires, took eighty or so prisoners in a nearby trench and joined their colleagues at the south face of the redoubt.

The Canadians have been involved in heavy fighting south of Le Sars over a trench called Kenora Trench, which is an eastern extension of the Regina Trench mentioned yesterday.

Elsewhere 55th (West Lancashire) Division have taken another section of Gird Trench, north-west of Gueudecourt, the village which fell yesterday. The Germans still hold part of this trench, where it joins with another called Goose Alley. 1st Division and 23rd Division have also made small gains today.

Source: X550/8/1

(1) He would die on 1st October and is buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery.

Day Three on the Somme

Monday 3rd July 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

We have become used to battles in this war taking days, sometimes weeks. The current operations, over such a large area and with such huge numbers of men involved may even take months. This is the third day of operations and the adjutant of the 2nd Bedfords, near the Glatz Redoubt, immediately north of Maricourt, tells me that they have been consolidating positions under shellfire.

Meanwhile 27th Brigade of 9th Division made an advance just north of the 2nd Bedfords, towards a spearhead-shaped stand of trees called Trônes Wood, which they found occupied by the enemy. This wood lies on the east-west road from Guillemont to Montauban, the tip of its spear pointing due north to the village of Longueval. Meanwhile, the 7th Bedfords’ division (18th) occupied Caterpillar Wood in the early morning. This wood, so-called for its wriggling shape, lies north-west of Montauban, just beyond the targets set for the attack of the first day of the battle. It almost links up with the eastern face of Mametz Wood.

17th Division continued their attack of yesterday finally taking both Shelter and Bottom Woods south of Contalmaison. Birch Tree Wood, just north of Shelter Wood, was also taken. German counter-attacks were successfully beaten off. There are hopes that the village of Contalmaison might be quickly taken tomorrow.

Further west, 12th Division overran more than two hundred Germans in the vicinity of the hamlet of la Boisselle, which had been an objective of the first day of the battle. All these enemy combatants have been taken prisoner. The hamlet itself, however, remains in German hands. The neighbouring hamlet of Ovillers was also attacked (again an objective from the first day) but only limited progress was made.

Colonel Price, commanding officer of the 7th Bedfords, has been telling me more about their great triumph on 1st July. He particularly mentioned: “the wonderful steadiness and coolness of all ranks under heavy shell and machine gun fire. As the men worked practically without officers and the majority of their senior platoon and section commanders. A truly wonderful performance when it is taken into consideration that their training had not reached its second year”.

“Both during the preliminary bombardment, when the weather was very bad [at the end of June], and the men were living in trenches filled with water day and night and during and after making good their final objective, the cheeriness and high morale of all ranks was remarkable”. He tells me he has also recommended the following officers for special recognition:

• Captain Bull: “who led the right attack with conspicuous gallantry, until severely wounded at the Maple Trench”(1);
• Captain Lloyd: “who was in charge of the Support Company until very severely wounded at the Emden Trench”;
• Captain and Acting Adjutant Bridcutt: “this officer was my right hand man previous to and during the assault. He took five German prisoners single handed and organized and led two bombing parties against  Montauban Avenue. He was tireless in seeing to the organisation of the strong points and arranging for the comfort of the men”(2);
• Lieutenant Benson: “this officer never ceased in his exertions to keep up communications. The difficulty of laying down wires was enormous, for the enemy shell fire was heavy and the wires were continually being cut. His system of runners was very good but unfortunately the casualties among them were very heavy. Six separate efforts were made by him personally to lay wires while exposed to this fire but without success, until it had to be abandoned.
• Lieutenant Fleming Brown: “this officer did remarkably good work as officer in charge of the machine guns. He personally superintended the placing of the machine guns in all strong points in the [captured] Redoubt, in Beetle Alley and in the New Trench. In addition he acted as orderly officer to me and rendered valuable assistance in letting me know the exact situation whenever it required clearing up”.

 Lieutenant Fleming Brown [X550/1/82]

Sources: X550/3/wd; X550/8/1

(1) He was killed at the Battle of Chérisy on 3rd May 1917 and is buried at Cérisy-Gailly French National Cemetery. He does not seem to have been awarded any gallantry medal.

(2) Killed on 1st October when a Lieutenant-Colonel commanding 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles. He had been awarded the Distinguished Service Order and is buried at Dadizeele New British Cemetery.

A Successful Raid

Thursday 27th April 1916: Captain Bridcutt, adjutant of the 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, tells us that last night they engaged in raid of enemy trenches. Such raids are commonplace and are aimed at destroying sections of enemy trenches, killing enemy soldiers and capturing prisoners for information as well as information gleaned by the raiders themselves. They are also designed to lower the morale of the enemy and to retain command of no man’s land between the two lines of trenches.

We understand that a communiqué has been sent by 54th Infantry Brigade to The Times for publication in a few days’ time. It says: "Last night the Bedfordshire Regiment carried out a very successful raid near Carnoy. The raiding party rushed the trenches and after fierce hand to hand fighting drove the remaining Germans into their dugouts and bombed them there. Our casualties - eight wounded, all brought in. German loss considerable."

The General officer Commanding 54th Infantry Brigade is of opinion that in publishing the name of the Regiment in the newspaper, which up to now has scarcely ever been done, a high honour has been conferred on the Battalion. The British Communiqué has also been published in all French papers.

Source: X550/8/1