4th Battalion Receives Reinforcements from 8th Battalion

Lieutenant-Colonel Thorpe [X550/1/82]

Thursday 7th February 1918

Lieutenant Colonel E I de S Thorpe DSO has joined 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, in Italy as their commanding officer today. Meanwhile the disbandment of 8th Battalion got underway today as twelve officers and 299 other ranks marched from Lebucquière to Fremicourt whence buses took them to their new home - the 4th Battalion currently at Albuera Camp, Beaulencourt. The officers concerned are: Captain R B Knight; Captain N C F Nixon; Second Lieutenant R Bland; Second Lieutenant J W Bradfield; Second Lieutenant W H T Cottrill; Second Lieutenant R C Cowell; Second Lieutenant P W Everett DCM; Second Lieutenant H L Gudgeon; Second Lieutenant Hawkes MC; Second Lieutenant E Kinkead MC; Second Lieutenant Mallinson; Second Lieutenant Oakley and Second Lieutenant E C Webb(1)

Source: X550/2/5; X550/5/3; X550/9/1

(1) Captain Richard Brodnax Knight would die on 5th September and be buried at Saint-Sever Cemetery, Rouen; Captain Noel Charles Frederick Nixon would be killed on 24th March and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial; Second Lieutenant Ernest Charles Webb would die on 17th February and be buried at Rocquigny-Equancourt Road British Cemetery, Manancourt; 

A German Attack at Loos

Captain Cavan and Second Lieutenants Lovely and Gudgeon 

Saturday 9th October 1915: We hear that the Germans have launched an attack at Loos, hoping to regain territory lost since 25th September. The 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment are in front line trenches at Cuinchy, a few miles to the north. The adjutant reports that their own trenches were shelled fairly heavily all day. Last evening about 6 o’clock they were alerted that they may be moved to the area of the German attack if it develops. What a nice surprise for Captain P C Cavan and Second Lieutenants Lovely and Gudgeon who joined the Battalion as the alert was given.

The adjutant of the 7th Battalion, still in the front line near Fricourt on the Somme reports that last evening a German working party was reported and both shrapnel and high explosive from British artillery opened fire and the noise of tools being hastily dropped was then heard!

A German sniper was shot yesterday evening while endeavouring to signal the direction of the Battalion’s snipers’ shots. This shows what a cat-and –mouse game hunting with telescopic sights in the trenches is.

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