Special Day of Prayer

Sunday 6th January 1918

His Majesty King George V has declared today a Special Day of Prayer. His proclamation on the subject of the war has been read from every pulpit at services throughout the land. The same applies to His Majesty’s Forces. The adjutant of 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, for example, currently in northern Italy mentioned yesterday that a combined service was being held for all Anglicans and nonconformists to allow the proclamation to be read. Presumably Roman Catholics have been to mass in the church nearest the camp, the service being in Latin there would have been no language barrier.

Source: X550/2/5

Another Battalion Round-Up

Wednesday 11th July 1917

His Majesty The King has been at the Front again today.m The adjutant of 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, tells me that he visited their area near Écurie, the Battalion lined the road from Arras to Souchez to salute him. On their way back to camp, the Battalion did an exercise, “The Attack in the Open” to keep sharp the skills so successfully put to use in the recent attack at Oppy.

Second Lieutenant Warren [X550/1/81]

The adjutant of 2nd Battalion, in billets at Polincove, remarked, with a certain snide amusement that they have, nevertheless, had a casualty, Second Lieutenant D D Warren as been injured in a fall from his horse.

The 6th Battalion are behind the lines at Kemmel south of Ypres. They have been providing large working parties all day. The adjutant noted that enemy aeroplanes have been very active - four of our balloons having been brought down east of the Battalion’s position.

Captain Miskin

Not forgetting our men in far-off Palestine - 1st/5th Battalion is training for a raid on the Turks at a place called Umbrella Hill south of Gaza. Their planning has been assisted by Captain C H Miskin building a replica of the hill from aeroplane photographs and plans. Captain H S Armstrong has been training the raiders. The adjutant remarked by wire that, owing to the lengthy preparation of orders, due to the number of arms and units concerned - Royal Field Artillery, Royal Engineers and Machine Gun Corps - it was considered best to start the general training at once and to complete the details when orders are issued. A patrol of Captain Armstrong, Lieutenant B W Smythe and Second Lieutenant R H Smith with two other ranks spent about ninety minutes in No Man's Land between the front line trenches and Umbrella Hill to better reconnoitre the lie of the land.

Lieutenant Smythe

Sources: X550/2/5; X550/3/WD; X550/6/8; X550/7/1

Marking the King's Birthday

Sunday 3rd June 1917

Today is the fifty-second birthday of His Majesty King George V. To mark this, 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, paraded at 12.30 pm with 1st Battalion, Norfolk Regiment and presented arms.

Source: X550/2/5

Christmas Greetings from the King

Saturday 25th December 1915: This Christmas Day His Majesty the King has sent the following message to his armed forces wherever they may be: “Another Christmas finds all the resources of the Empire still engaged in War and I desire to convey on my own behalf and on behalf of the Queen a heartfelt Christmas greeting and our good wishes for the New Year to all who on Sea and Land are upholding the honour of the British name. In the officers and men of my Navy, on whom the security of the Empire depends, I repose in, common with all my subjects, a trust that is absolute. On the Officers and men of my Armies whether now in France, in the East or in other fields, I rely with an equal faith, confident that their devotion, their valour and their self-sacrifice will, under God's guidance lead to Victory and an honourable Peace. There are many of their comrades now, alas, in hospital and to these brave men, also I desire with the Queen, to express our deep gratitude and our current prayers for their recovery”.

“Officers and men of the Navy and Army another year is drawing to a close, as it began, in toil, bloodshed and suffering but I rejoice to know that the goal to which you are striving draws nearer to sight.May God Bless You and all your Undertakings".

Sir Douglas Haig has sent the following reply on behalf of the British Expeditionary Force in France and Belgium: “The Army in France under my Command desires to be allowed to express its warmest thanks to Your Majesty and to Her Majesty the Queen for the gracious message received. On behalf of the troops I respectively beg Your Majesties to accept the most heartfelt good wishes of all ranks for Xmas and the New Year and an expression of their firm and lasting determination to prove themselves worthy of the great trust which Your Majesty reposes in us”.

The 2nd Bedfords are now part of 30th Division. Many of the units from Manchester and Merseyside were raised with the assistance of the Earl of Derby(1) and the division bears his crest as its divisional identification symbol. It is thus only natural that the divisional commander Major General Fry should have sent him a telegram wishing him season’s best, to which he replied thus: “Many thanks for Kind telegram. Very heartily reciprocate. Good Wishes. Trust 30th Division will find Xmas at Home next year. I wish all ranks A Happy New Year".

Source: X550/3/wd

(1) Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby would be Secretary of State for War from, December 1916 to April 1918 and Ambassador to France from April 1918 to 1920. In October 1915 as Director General of Recruiting he introduced the Derby Scheme in order to stave off conscription but it did not raise the necessary number of men and conscription was introduced in March 1916.

The Forgotten 6th Battalion

Saturday 6th November 1915: Corporal A W Nightingale of the 6th Battalion has spoken with us about the letter from a member of the 6th Battalion suggesting they had been forgotten by the press [22nd October]: “Forgotten? Surely not! And yet it seems so sometimes. We are one of the first regiments [sic] formed on mobilisation – i.e. most of our fellows came up during the month of August 1914 and when we read in the paper we get out here occasionally in the fighting line, of what is being done for those lucky fellows in newly-formed battalions we wonder why we have been allowed to miss these little marks of appreciation on the part of our fellow town and countrymen”.

“Not that we are in any way forgotten by the Military Authorities. On the contrary, everything has been and is being done to make our life as enjoyable as possible. It is difficult, no doubt, for the people at home to conceive a correct notion of what life out here is like but I can assure you it has its variations. At one time you find yourself knee-deep in mud and water with the rain drizzling down upon you in the trenches, at another time you are resting, or rather working a mile or so behind the actual fighting line, with occasional football matches and such amusements between times to take away the monotony and gloom which comes into our lives through continuous separation from our home life in the old country”.

“Nor are we without pride in our own achievements. We have been the recipients of congratulations from H M King George and also from Lord Kitchener and General French on the splendid way we are carrying out our share in this conflict, and other expressions of praise which are no less gratifying to us, and help to stimulate our efforts to prove a valuable link in the line which has proved itself to be up to the present unbreakable”.

“You would not find a more cheery set of fellows than there are in our battalion if you searched the whole of the allied armies through. I cannot say much about the German temperament, and I guess ‘uns suffers from an abrupt change of feeling when we meet, but they appear to be much more fed up than the German Emperor would care to acknowledge. If you could for a moment take a glance at our fellows in their fur jackets you would smile. Wrapped up in these they look like Eskimos, but withal they are a happy band of pilgrims and are making good progress, which is appropriate for representatives of Bunyan’s famous haunts”.

“We have started on our “leave” programme and with the proverbial patience of Job we shall all hope to get away home before our children’s children are obliged through old age to come and meet us in bath chairs and crutches. I hope that when you are thinking of the newly formed battalions of the Bedfordshire and other regiments you will spare a thought for those of us who have already tasted the glories of “warfare”.

Source: Bedfordshire Times 22nd November 1915

The King’s Order of the Day

Tuesday 2nd November 1915: The adjutant of the 2nd Battalion tells us of the special Order of the Day received from His Majesty the King yesterday. “I am happy to have found myself once more with my Armies. It is especially gratifying to me to have been able to see some of those that have been newly created. For I have watched with interest the growth of these Troops from the first days of Recruit Drill and through the different stages of training until their final inspection on the eve of departure for the Front as organised Divisions. Already they have justified the general conviction then formed of their splendid fighting worth. Since I was last among you, you have fought many strenuous battles. In all you have reaped renown and proved yourself at least equal to the highest traditions of the British Army. In company with our noble Allies you have baffled the infamous conspiracy against law and liberty in Europe, so long and insidiously prepared”.

“These achievements have involved vast sacrifices. But your countrymen who watch your campaign with sympathetic admiration will, I am well assured, spare no effort to fill your ranks and afford you all supplies. I have decorated many of you. But had I decorated all who deserve recognition for conspicuous valour, there would have been no limit, for the whole Army is illustrious. It is a matter of sincere regret to me that my accident(1) should have prevented my seeing all the Troops I had intended, but during my stay amongst you I have seen enough to fill my heart with admiration of your patient cheerful endurance of life in the trenches, a life either of weary monotony or of terrible tumult. It is the dogged endurance evinced by all ranks which will at last bring you to victory. Keep the goal in sight and remember it is the final lap that wins”.

Source: X550/3/wd

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(1) George was inspecting 2 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps at Hesdigneul; without warning the men gave three cheers, the king’s horse reared in fright, he fell off and the horse fell on top of him. He was carried from the scene on a stretcher and taken in a hospital ship back to England where he made a full recovery; he was fifty years old at the time.

A Message from the King

Saturday 2nd October 1915: We have heard that on 30th September His Majesty King George V sent the following message to the Commander-in-Chief of the British Expeditionary Force, Field Marshal Sir John French: “I heartily congratulate you and all ranks of my Army under your command upon the success which has attended their gallant efforts since the commencement of the combined attack. I recognise that this strenuous and determined fighting is but the prelude to greater deeds and further victories. I trust the sick and wounded are doing well”.

As this is the first offensive on such a scale that the army has launched in this war, His Majesty no doubt felt compelled to acknowledge such success as it has had. It is true that it has not achieved the breakthrough which had been hoped for but some progress has been made and the Germans have been given a taste of their own medicine, being on the receiving end of the poisoned gas they introduced into this war.

We understand that Sir John replied to His Majesty yesterday thus: “Your Majesty's Forces in France are deeply grateful for your Majesty's most gracious message. There is no sacrifice the troops are not prepared to make to uphold the honour and traditions of Your Majesty's Army and to secure final and complete victory”.

Source: X550/3/wd

A Visit from the King

King George V

Saturday 28^th August: His Majesty the King and Princess Mary paid a visit to the camp of the 3rd/5th Bedfordshires in Windsor Park last week, and after he went the following notice was posted in the camp – “His Majesty the King was graciously please to express to the Commanding Officer this morning His Majesty’s sorrow at the losses which the 1st/5th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment has received in the fighting in which they had been engaged, which he said he knew had been heavy and the CO thanked His Majesty for his kindness”.

“The CO would also express his deep sympathy with those in the battalion who are suffering personal anxiety on behalf of their relations and friends, and to say the whilst he knows how hard it is to bear, he feels assured that the spirit of all will be cheered and strengthened by the magnificent proof of the determination of Bedfordshire men to their duty in the face of serious difficulties”.

More on the 3rd/5th Battalion at Windsor tomorrow

Source: Luton News 2nd September 1915

Royal Recognition

Wednesday 12th May 1915: Readers may remember that on 18th March we featured the Cogan family who have lost so many of their family to the ravages of this war. We have now heard that their sad plight has touched even the highest in the land. J. W. Pensenby, Keeper of the Privy Purse sent the letter below to Mr. W. Cogan of Furneux Pelham in Hertfordshire.

"It has been brought to the King's notice that you have had four sons and a son-in-law in the Army, three of whom have been killed, while the fourth has been severely wounded".

"Although an expression of the King's sympathy will already have been conveyed to you, His Majesty wishes me to assure you that he much appreciates the spirit of patriotism and self-sacrifice which prompted your sons to come forward and give their lives for their Sovereign and Country".

Source: Bedfordshire Times 14th May 1915