Second Bedfords' Officers Command Other Battalions

Lieutenant Mudford

Sunday 26th November 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

The adjutant of the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, mentioned to me when I rode up to the rear areas at Berles-au-Bois today that they have temporarily lost three of their most experienced officers. 

Major J W H T Douglas

Lieutenant H E Mudford has proceeded on leave whilst Major J W H T Douglas has taken temporary command of 20th Battalion, King’s (Liverpool) Regiment and Captain R O Wynne temporary command of 17th Battalion of the Liverpools. 

Cptain R O Wynne

A Second Lieutenant (L A L Fink) has had to take over command of C Company.

Second Lieutenant Fink

Source: X550/3/wd

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 Thirty on the Somme

Sunday 30th July 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

Today the attack on Guillemont, anticipated since 16th of this month, has got underway. This attack has been undertaken by 30th Division, including 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Having spoken with the Battalion’s adjutant it seems they were in reserve for the attack which was spear-headed by 19th and 20th Battalions, King’s (Liverpool) Regiment with 17th Liverpools in support. The attack was made in conjunction with an attack by the French, 30th Division being the most right-hand units of the British Expeditionary Force in France. A Company of the Bedfords, however, was part of the assaulting troops. As well as the attack on the village, 89th Brigade of 30th Division attacked Falfemont Farm, south-east of the village. On the other side of 90th Brigade Guillemont station and trenches north-west of the village were attacked by 5th Brigade of 2nd Division.

The attack began at 4.45 am and A Company, under Lieutenant White, operating with the French 153rd Regiment on its right flank it advanced north and seized Maltz Horn Farm(1) without opposition. This place was taken on 8th July but subsequently abandoned. There is a rumour that Lieutenant White and his French counterpart advanced arm-in-arm for part of the way, though I have not been able to verify this. The attack was a brilliant success, from seventy to eighty Germans being killed in the Maltz Horn Trench in front of the farm and one prisoner taken. The farm was found to be unoccupied. Once the position was taken the company rejoined the rest of the battalion in reserve and the farm was abandoned. The company lost about thirty men killed and wounded in this small operation, including Lieutenant H C Lovely, who was wounded.

Lieutenant Lovely

The main attack by the Liverpools was greatly hampered by a German bombardment last night and a dense fog this morning and about 6.30 am reinforcements were called for. B and C Companies of the Bedfords, accordingly moved out, but the Commanding Officer of 17th Liverpools stopped them from going too far as he had no word from his fellow commanders of the two assaulting battalions as to where exactly the support was needed. So the two companies stayed at the 17th Liverpools’ headquarters. Fifteen minutes later Lieutenant H A Chamen was seriously wounded(2).

Lieutenant Chamen

At 9 o’clock Lieutenant J T Coe and Lieutenant A L Gordon were both wounded and an hour later Lieutenant White again led A Company off to get back in contact with the French. Their attack had also been held up and they were digging in, so A Company dug in on their flank, just south of Maltz Horn Farm. Second Lieutenant F A Sloan was wounded just before midday.

Second Lieutenant Sloan

About 1.30 this afternoon it became clear that the attack on Guillemont had stalled and the Bedfords were ordered to consolidate a line along the low ridge from a small wood called Arrowhead Copse, just short of Guillemont, east to the French left wing. This they did, digging a new trench about 300 yards long. It is anticipated that the battalion will be relieved tonight, having suffered 6 officers and 186 other ranks dead and wounded.

I have just heard that this morning’s attack succeeded in entering Guillemont. However, due to the inability to communicate due to fog and telephone wires being cut Major-General Shea commanding the division took the decision to consolidate the line from the west side of Guillemont south-west to Maltz Horn Farm rather than losing what had been gained to any German counter-attack. The attack by 2nd Division on the north-west of Guillemont was a complete failure. The final line now extends from Maltz Horn Farm, to the road running south from Guillemont to Hardecourt, then north-west to Arrowhead Copse.

To assist the attack on Guillemont subsidiary attacks were made to the north-west at Longueval and Delville Wood again. This attack was confused and extremely costly and seems to have gained little or nothing. The fighting in this area may be described, not melodramatically, as a blood-bath and one of the Battalions of 5th Division is reported to have been reduced from 1,000 at full strength to just 175.

Source: X550/3/wd

(1) The proper name was Maltzkorn Farm after its founder, an 18th century German called Paul Maltzkorn. Today the farm buildings are long gone but a large crucifix stands on the site.

(2) Aged 22, he died on 1st August and is buried at Corbie Communal Cemetery Extension.

Day Twelve on the Somme

Wednesday 12th July 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

The 2nd Battalion’s ordeal in Trônes Wood has continued today. About 10 pm last night the enemy surrounded the force formerly led by Captain Tyler, bombing it from three sides. In the circumstances Lieutenant L H Walker ordered the men to fall back to the old brickworks on the other side of Bernafay Wood where they joined the Battalion’s headquarters. C and D Companies, entrenched in the south-west of the wood managed to retain their toe-hold all night despite frequent attacks.

Lieutenant Walker

This morning Lieutenant W White and Second Lieutenant L A L Fink were sent from the reserve of officers at the Battalion’s transport lines to replace those officers who were lost yesterday. Lieutenant White took over command of A Company from the unfortunate Captain Tyler who is either dead or a prisoner.

Lieutenant White

Just after midnight two companies of 17th Battalion King’s (Liverpool) Regiment occupied the southern edge of the wood and linked up with C and D Companies of the Bedfords. Through the day this line has been held despite many determined attacks with bombs by the enemy. Second Lieutenant H J Bricknell was wounded during the day.

Second Lieutenant Bricknell

We understand that 55th Brigade of 18th Division (7th Bedfords are in 54th Brigade of that division) has been temporarily attached to 30th Division because, although the division now holds the southern part of the wood, it has suffered many casualties over the last four days and is exhausted. I can vouch that the lined faces of the officers and men I have seen today attest to their expenditure of strength and courage over the last day or more.

Source: X550/3/wd

Thinning Out the Ranks

Wednesday 28th June 1916: As the bombardment of the German lines continues on the Somme, the adjutant of the 2nd Battalion, at Maricourt, reports that the Germans have been replying powerfully, bombarding our front lines. So effective has this German barrage been that two companies of the Bedfords have been withdrawn to allow the 17th and 20th Battalions, King’s (Liverpool) Regiment to thin out their ranks. They were crowded together in the front line ready to advance at the moment decided by high command but the heavy German shelling wounded 120 of them during the night and early morning. To judge by this it seems as if the 2nd Battalion will not be one of those units making the initial assault but will, rather be in support, which should lessen the number of casualties suffered.

Source: X550/3/wd

2nd Battalion Sports Near the Front Line

Saturday 29th April 1916: The 2nd Battalion are at Grovetown Camp and have been indulging in some sports to keep them fit and happy. Yesterday No. 15 platoon won the inter-platoon relay race and B Company the inter-company relay. In tug-of-war the Battalion beat both the 17th and 19th Battalions, King’s (Liverpool Regiment) and success attended the Battalion’s boxers. Private Leray won the nine stone and under category and Private Pilkington the category for ten stone and under. Sergeant Baker won the heavyweight division(1). At the conclusion of Sports the Prizes were presented by Brigadier General Stanley.

The sports had been going on since 26th with heats etc. Now the men of the Battalion must gird up their loins as they are going back to the trenches at Maricourt today.

Source: X550/3/wd

(1) This may be Sergeant George Baker from Barking, Essex, who would be killed in action on 20th September 1917.