Inspections

Saturday 26th January 1918

2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment has been inspected by its brigade commander today at Beaulieu-les-Fontaines. 4th Battalion has undergone a similar inspection at Beaulencourt. Meanwhile 7th Battalion has gone back into the front line at Houthulst Forest north of Ypres, relieving the 11th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers.

Sources: X550/3/wd; X550/5/3; X550/8/1

Commanding Officer Again

Lieutenant-Colonel Poyntz [X550/1/82]

Thursday 17th January 1918

Lieutenant-Colonel Hugh Stainton Poyntz has rejoined 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. He went sick on 8th April last year, the day before the Battalion took part in the first day of the battle of Arras. He resumes his role as commanding officer in lieu of Lieutenant-Colonel E I de S Thorpe who has left to command the 1st Battalion in Italy. 51 other ranks also joined the battalion at Vauvillers today.

The 7th Battalion are in the front line at Houthulst where it is cold, with showers of snow. There is much water again in front line posts, which has to be constantly baled out. A considerable number of duck boards have been carried up and put into these floded posts in the hope that by raising the floor it may help keep the men’s feet dry.

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

The Yeomanry

Tuesday 15th January 1918

Early this morning 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, relieved 11th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers in the front line at Houthulst Forest north of Ypres. The night was cold and frosty and the relief was carried out without incident. After this there has been rain all day and the positions, really just a group of shell holes, has become very wet

We have not heard from the Bedfordshire Yeomanry in many months. It turns out that they are currently at a work camp at Mesnil-Bruntel, just south-east of Péronne. They were severely shelled today, resulting in three other ranks being killed, four dying of wounds and twelve more being wounded, in addition to one officer, Second Lieutenant Andrew.

Keeness and a Dashing Manner

Thursday 15th November 1917

This afternoon at about 4.30, 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment had to repulse an attack by the Germans on the junction of the French and British armies just south of Houthulst Forest. The adjutant mentioned to me on the blower that Colonel Carot commanding the 43rd French Regiment personally congratulated the 54th Brigade and in particular the Bedfordshire Regiment on their keeness and dashing manner in repelling the German attack.

1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment has been relieved from its front line trenches today. A little excitement preceded this event, however; an enemy patrol of two men approached the trenches, were detected and attacked. One of the enemy was killed and the other was captured.

Lieutenant Primrose-Wells [X550/1/81]

A further three other ranks joined the 4th Bedfords today along with another officer, Lieutenant J B Primrose-Wells(1).

Source: X550/2/5; X550/5/3; X550/8/1

(1) James Bowen Primrose-Wells would be wounded in the same action in which his commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel J S Collings-Wells was killed. He would die of his wounds on 4th April 1918 as a prisoner-of war and now has no known grave, being commemorated on the Bécourt German Cemetery Memorial in Blighty Valley Cemetery, Authuille Wood.

One Hundred and Second Day of the Third Battle of Ypres

Friday 9th November 1917

6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment has taken over trenches in the Hollebeke Sector, where other battalions of the regiment have found themselves at times this year. Their approximate positions are shown on the

map above. The adjutant remarked to us: “The sector is very much quieter than any trenches previously held by the Battalion this year”. Meanwhile 18th Division has taken over the front line in the northern sector of the battlefield on the southern fringes of Houthulst Forest. The 7th Bedfords are expecting to move up to the support line tomorrow.

In Gaza yesterday 1st/5th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment had a very quiet day following the Turkish withdrawal. An enemy plane was brought down by one of our machines over their positions. A large explosion was seen in the direction of the enemy railhead and it was afterwards found out that an enemy dump had been blown up. Six Turks who had tarried behind were captured by the Battalion’s patrols during the day and at 5.30 pm the Battalion moved back to the support line.

Since 31st October the Battalion has lost 31 men killed and died of wounds. By the standards of the Western Front this has been a comparatively light butcher’s bill for so impressive a gain.

Source: X550/6/8

Eighty Fourth Day of the Third Battle of Ypres

Monday 22nd October 1917

Three divisions have made attacks here today in an advance from Poelcapelle in the south to Veldhoek in the north - the northernmost part of the current battlefield. 18th (Eastern) Division took most of Poelcapelle on 12th of this month. Today 53rd Brigade has taken the Brewery on the eastern side of the town, which had held up their advance in 12th. They have also taken Meunier House, another target on 12th, as well as Noble’s Farm and Tracas Farm. This has been a highly satisfactory attack to add to the laurels of this élite division.

On their left flank, 34th Division pushed forward with two brigades, 101st and 102nd. 102nd Brigade took their objectives including Requete Farm. 101st Brigade had much more difficulty, being very badly handled, we understand, by a nest of pillboxes, and then by a counter-attack which seems to have pushed them back a good way.

35th Division has replaced the Guards Division in the line and their attack, with two brigades, was made due north against ground immediately south of Houthulst Forest. 104th Brigade has taken Colombo House and all its objectives, though, rather rashly, they pressed on into Houthulst Forest and were then forced to withdraw to the southern edge. 105th Brigade took Marechal Farm and Panama House and all their objectives. However, late this afternoon we are told, the Germans managed to break through 16th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment in a counter-attack, causing that battalion to retreat all the way back to its start line.

Thus today has been, as so often, a day of mixed fortunes. There has been sufficient success, however, to make the army believe that one more push, at one point or along the whole battlefront and some real success may result.