Pause

Wednesday 4th September 1918

After their great advance yesterday the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment were relieved overnight. They marched back to Lebucquiere, east of Bapaume, where they have camped. Total casualties yesterday amounted to nine men wounded.

Source: X550/2/5

8th Battalion Begins to Disband

Tuesday 5th February 1918

Major Allason has taken command of 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment as Lieutenant-Colonel P R Worrall has proceeded to assume command of 1st Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, part of 14th Brigade of 5th Division.

 At Lebucquière near Bapaume the 8th Battalion has begun the mournful process of disbandment. Thirteen officers and four hundred other ranks are to be sent off to reinforce the 4th Battalion. To mark this the officers are holding a farewell dinner this evening. The adjutant noted the absurdity that Second Lieutenant Everett DCM and 36 other ranks joined the battalion during the course of the day from the Brigade Pioneer Company!

Sources: X550/2/5; X550/9/1

First Night at Rotonda Bidasio

Sunday 3rd February 1918

1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment are in the front line on the River Piave at a village called Bidasio. Last night they suffered their first casualties as two other ranks were wounded by Austrian light artillery of 77 mm calibre. The night was spent clearing communication trenches.

The adjutant of 8th Battalion, at Lebucquière near Bapaume, tells us that Lieutenant Leonard Dolman has been posthumously awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre; he died of his wounds on the last day of 1917; 20454 Lance Sergeant W Cooper of A Company has been similarly honoured but is still very much alive.

Sources: X550/2/5; X550/9/1

Life Carries On

Thursday 31st January 1918

Following the announcement of the impending abolition of 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, life carries on as normal. Today the battalion has been finding working parties as follows: one NCO and fifteen other ranks on Town Major’s fatigue, doing odd jobs in and around Lebucquière. Two NCOs and forty other ranks are working at the Brigade Grenade School; four officers and one hundred other ranks are working on strengthening the defences of the intermediate line; two other ranks have gone on a Third Army musketry course and one other rank is attending a pigeon course at 6th Divisional Headquarters.

Source: X550/9/1

Still Flat

Thursday 24th January 1918

The 1st Battalion has been marching today to Paese, a small town west of Treviso. The adjutant mentioned in his wire that the countryside is still as flat as Flanders.

The adjutant of the 8th Battalion, at Lebucquière, east of Bapaume spoke to me on the blower this evening. There has been a commanding officers conference as regards the defence scheme for the area. Company commanders had a parade for training from 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. Nine officers and four hundred other ranks are still being found for work burying signals cables.  

Sources: X550/2/5; X550/9/1

England v France

Tuesday 22nd January 1918

The 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment is currently in billets at Beaulieu-les-Fontaines, south-east of Roye and south-west of Saint-Quentin. The adjutant informed me this evening that during the day they played 106th French Heavy Regiment of Artillery at football, winning by seven goals to two.

The 7th Battalion has also been playing football, in their case against 12th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment. The team is as follows: Private Bidmead, Lance Corporal Sewell, Private Tingey, Sergeant Mears, Corporal Machin, Corporal Spring, Sergeant Reed, Second Lieutenant Donovan, Corporal Butler, Drummer Clarke and Drummer Skipper. Reserves were Private B Worrell and Sergeant Chapman, both backs, and forward Private Pudney.

To more serious matters - 8th Battalion are currently at Lebucquière, east of Bapaume. During the day officers reconnoitred assembly positions north and south of the Cambrai Road, which the battalion is to form up on in case of enemy attack. Nine officers and four hundred other ranks are being furnished by the Battalion to bury cables under direction of 6th Divisional Signals.

Sources: X550/3/wd; X550/8/1; X550/9/1