1st Battalion Awards

Saturday 14th July 1917

This afternoon Major-General R B Stephens, General Officer Commanding 5th Division, presented medal ribbons to the 1st Battalion for recent actions. Captain W S Chirnside was awarded a bar to his Military Cross for gallantry at la Coulotte on 23rd April. The following other ranks were awarded the Military Medal for their actions at Oppy on 29th June: 7175 Sergeant A Faulder (a bar to his Military Medal); 43038 Private F Dighton; 20337 Private W Clarke; 10196 Sergeant H Hill; 430239 Private L King; 10238 Sergeant D Stone; 8311 Sergeant M Norman; 8253 Corporal G.Flott (since promoted to Sergeant); 10667 Private J W Houston.

The following were presented with parchment cards by General Stephens for gallant conduct: 10052 Sergeant G E Neale; 17425 Lance Corporal Cox; 12365 Lance Corporal Price; 20374 Sergeant C Humphries(1)

Source: X550/2/5

(1) Sergeant George Edward Neale would die on 6th November 1918; Corporal A Cox would die on 23rd October 1918

Great Bravery and a Successful Attack

Saturday 17th March 1917 from our correspondent in the field

No one can keep a good unit down for long. After their setback on 15th March the 7th Battalion were spoiling for another go. At 5 am yesterday all companies were warned to be prepared to advance at dawn. Active patrolling then took place to determine any enemy activity.

At 8 am C Company was ordered to advance in four open waves, their objectives being the Bihucourt Line again and finally Achiet-le-Grand and the high ridge beyond. D Company was ordered to support C Company. B Company was ordered to make a flank along the railway line as far as Achiet-le-Grand. A Company was in reserve.

The operation was carried out with the greatest skill and urgency, some machine gun fire was experienced at the commencement. Heavy artillery fire was experienced in entering Achiet-le-Grand from which the Battalion suffered casualties.

The Bihucourt Line was occupied by 10 am. By 2 pm Achiet-le-Grand was occupied and an hour later positions round the northern and eastern sides of Achiet-le-Grand and a strong flank position along the railway on the western side were held. These positions were then consolidated.

Christopher Cox, from the Achiet-le-Grand during WW1 website

http://www.achiet-le-grand.org/christopher_coxvc.htm 

Having finished his good news the adjutant then went on to describe the great bravery of one particular soldier - 13908 Private Christopher Augustus Cox. He is a stretcher bearer and on 15th, when the attack stalled and the men sought shell holes to avoid anihilation, Private Cox, with complete disregard for his own safety, went out over the bullet-swept ground and single-handedly rescued four men - Private Cox has great strength, and brought them in on his back. He then went out again to help the wounded from the adjoining battalion. Yesterday and today he undertook similar rescue missions with the same cool bravery(1).

Source: X550/8/1

(1) Private Cox, from King’s Langley in Hertfordshire was gazetted on 11th May 1917 with the award of the Victoria Cross.

The Bedfords and Poisoned Gas

Arlesey Station [Z1306-2-14-1]

Saturday 22nd May 1915: Mrs. Bland of Railway Tavern, Arlesey has received the following letter from her son, Private G. H. Bland, 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment(1). His father is now serving with the 5th Battalion, currently stationed at Newmarket. The son, writing on 7th May said: “Dear Mother – just a few lines hoping you are all well, as it leaves me in a rather queer state, after the gas, which the brutes sent over to us on the 3rd and the 5th – the first we have had since the taking of Hill 60, which we are still holding, but we had to retire owing to gas(2). The Devons were forced to let them break through, but the good old Bedfords stopped them. We have had a rather hard time since Hill 60; only been out of the trenches three days, but we were relieved by the Irish Rifles on 7th, when we came back for a short rest. Our casualties are as great as Hill 60, but gas used in shells there had not half the effect of this which they pumped out of the bottom of their trench. I myselfam wearing a silver ring on my little finger which the gas cankered, but we gave them a horrible job to get that, which the Devons had to leave. Not a man could stand owing to the terrible stuff which streamed from their trench to ours, but the breeze changed and drove it back into their trench. Then our machine-guns got onto them, so they were forced to retire from their own trench. Then we laughed, you can bet”.

“We have named them “The Old Gas Bags” on Hill 60. They prayed for mercy but the boys all say “never no more”. Well I am sorry to say my old mate Harry Cox (Captain Gledstanes’ servant) who lived in Queen’s-street, Stotfold, was killed by one of our own shells that dropped short on the 5th during the recent battle(3). If possible, let Mrs. Cox know(4). I felt quite downhearted over it. I must draw my letter to a close but they tell me the 1st Rifles have regained the lost trenches on other side of Hill 60 (not losing the hill). Good-bye mother and all brothers and sisters. I omitted to say that Captain Gledstanes got wounded later in the day of Harry’s death(5). Good-bye mother. I will write more next time, Harry. P. S. I received letter and parcel. I hope you got my pc(6)”.

Source: Bedfordshire Times 14th May 1915

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(1) 3/7450 Private George Henry Bland died with the 1st Battalion on 4th October 1917, he was just 20 and is buried at Hooge Crater Cemetery

(2) In fact the hill was lost on 6th May.

(3) He is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial

(4) Like many women, she soon remarried

(5) He died of wounds on 9th May and is buried in Bailleul Communal Cemetery

(6) Postcard.