Eighty Second Day of the Third Battle of Ypres

Lord Ampthill [X550/9/2]

Saturday 20th October 1917

Over the last two days Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Ampthill, formerly commanding officer of the 8th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, and more recently Director of Indian Labour at Headquarters, has been with the 1st Battalion and today he inspected them on parade.

The 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, part of 63rd (Royal Naval) Division is at Houtkerque on the border between France and Belgium west of Poperinghe. They have been training, specifically learning how to attack pill boxes and so it looks as if their introduction to the Third Battle of Ypres may not be long delayed.

The 6th Battalion is at Epsom Camp, Westouter. Three days ago an officer, Second Lieutenant S van der Linde was killed and another officer, Second Lieutenant A Foll as well as three other ranks were wounded when an enemy aircraft dropped a bomb on them whilst north-east of Ypres. Today Second Lieutenant A Stone MC, Second Lieutenant F J Smith and fourteen other ranks have joined as reinforcements.

Sources: X550/2/5; X550/5/3; X550/7/1

1st/5th Bedfords Relieved

Battalion Headquarters in the Front Line - from The History of the Fifth Battalion Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment (TA)

Saturday 19th May 1917

Last night 1st/5th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment was relieved from the front line near Gaza. By exchange of telegrams, your correspondent was able to learn something of what they had been doing in their tour in support to the front line and in the front line itself in addition to what has been reported in the last few days.

During the whole period the Battalion found working parties. The whole Battalion less necessary specialists worked at communication trenches for three to four hours each night, cutting a considerable length of new trench and openings to allow stretchers to pass, another the long length. The whole battalion was employed for about four hours a day - generally between 7 and 11 a.m. - on erecting terraces and dug-outs and also in building splintered roof verandahs on these terraces which act as protection nfrom artillery to the dug-outs behind.

During the period that the Battalion was in the front line trenches six hours work a day was performed usually from 7 to 9 a.m. and from 7 to 11 p.m. This work consisted chiefly in reconstructing fire bays, levelling parapets and heaped up traverses, widening and deepening the communication ways behind the firestep and constructing deep dugouts and company headquarters.

There has been a considerable amount of sickness and a very large proportion of this is due to slight abrasions got while digging, and at other times, becoming septic. It was found useful for each company headquarters to keep a bottle of iodine and some cotton wool and orders were issued that any man who grazed himself, however slightly, was at once to be iodized.

Meanwhile at Hulluch on the old Loos battlefield 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment’s commanding officer Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Ampthill has left the battalion and proceeded to General Headquarters for employment under the Director of Labour. The new commanding officer is Major H R McCullagh.

Sources: X550/6/8; X550/9/1

Aerial Darts

Wednesday 4th April 1917 from our correspondent in the field

We hear from the 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment that Lord Ampthill assumed command today, Lord Henry Scott leaving for a staff post at General Head Quarters. The enemy in the Loos sector is lively. They use a type of projectile referred to as “aerial darts” by the adjutant. They are especially fond of using them at night. Yesterday an officer, Second Lieutenant Clark, was wounded, one other rank killed and three more wounded by them. Clearly the two sets of trenches are fairly close at this point.

Source: X550/9/1

A New Adjutant, A New Commanding Officer and A New Ally?

Lord Ampthill [X550/1/82]

Tuesday 3rd April 1917 from our correspondent in the field

The adjutant of the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, Lieutenant G A Anstee has been admitted to hospital, sick. The new acting adjutant is Lieutenant L A L Fink MC. This afternoon the battalion left its billets in Bailleulmont heading for Blaireville. This place is quite close to Agny, where the battalion has been for much of the year. Both Agny and Blaireville are south-west of the town of Arras.

The 8th Battalion are in the front line near Loos. They came under intense bombardment for about ten minutes at 10 o’clock this morning and braced themselves for an enemy raid or attack – but nothing happened. They lost one man killed and thirteen wounded. The adjutant noted wryly that it was as if it was a fanfare to welcome their new commanding officer, none other than Lord Ampthill, cousin to the Duke of Bedford. He is a thoroughly familiar figure to many of the men, who undertook their training at Ampthill Camp where he was commandant. It is understood that he has been desperate to command one of “his” battalions at the front and so one peer of the realm succeeds another (Lord Henry Scott) as the 8th Battalion’s commander. He is expected to assume his duties tomorrow once he has “learned the ropes”.

Undoubtedly the biggest news out here, however, comes from our former colonies in North America. Yesterday President Wilson requested Congress to declare war on Germany. The enemy’s arrogance in opening a campaign of unrestricted submarine warfare, posing a real and present danger to all American shipping, and their foolish suggestion of an alliance with Mexico against three of the USA’s southern states has rebounded on them in the fullest fashion. All fingers are firmly crossed that Congress backs their president.

Sources: X550/3/WD; X550/9/1

3rd Bedfords' Easter Parade

Easter Sunday 4th April 1915: This Easter Sunday the 3rd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Ampthill GCSI, GCIE, paraded to witness the presentation of medals for Distinguished and Gallant Conduct in the Field to Sergeant A. Cooper and Private W. Falla. Brigadier-General M. C. Curry, CB, DSO commanding at Landguard Camp [Suffolk] made a short speech to the regiment and pinned the coveted decoration on the breasts of the two gallant soldiers, who have added to the good name and reputation for deeds of valour of the county regiment.

The following extract from the regimental Orders is of interest: “The Commanding Officer has great pleasure in informing all ranks that the last two drafts for the Expeditionary Force furnished by this Battalion, have established a record by arriving at the overseas base absolutely complete as regards clothing, equipment and necessaries etc. He understands that no draft from any other regiment has done equally well. This satisfactory achievement was very creditable, not only to men of the drafts, but also to the Company officers and NCOs who supervised their equipment. It is a fitting complement to the high reputation for gallantry and efficiency which the Bedfordshire Regiment has attained at the Front, and the Commanding Officer hopes that he present and all succeeding drafts will make it a point of honour to do equally well.

Source: Bedfordshire Times 16th April 1915

A Letter from Lord Ampthill

Lord Ampthill [X550/9/2]

Good Friday 2nd April 1915: Lord Ampthill, commander of the 3rd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment at Landguard Camp near Felixstowe has told us about things sent to the men by children from this county: “The comforts for the troops of which the Bedfordshire County Council Education Committee sent me such a large and generous consignment have now been distributed carefully to the men who were most in need of them and I am asked by all the recipients to express their grateful thanks to the donors. Many of the men who received articles which were ticketed with the name and address of the maker and often with charming little messages of good-will, are writing direct to those industrious little maidens to thank them. I think that all were very much touched at receiving these gifts from the little school-girls of the county, and the workmanship has been greatly admired”.

“Altogether the kindly thought of all those concerned has produced a very pleasant impression which will go far to knit the Regiment more closely to the county. The scholars who made the woollen garments will like to know that many of them have been given to men who have already been to the front and have returned here to recover from their wounds on being discharged from hospital. I have about four hundred wounded men in the Battalion and as many of them as are still able to march and shoot will go out as soon as they have regained their strength. The gifts therefore have for the most part been placed in the hands of men who have already shed their blood for out country and deserved well of the nation”.

“I hope also that it is well known throughout the county that few Regiments have done better or behaved more gallantly than the Bedfords. The comforts arrived at a very opportune moment, as we have had another spell of cold weather with ice and snow and this place is always windy. A large number of men have been on guard or on outpost night and day and it is then that the mufflers and cuffs are particularly welcome. The socks are always useful, as much marching soon wears out those supplied by the Government”.

“Finally let me say that we have all greatly appreciated that fact that the 3rd Battalion has not been forgotten. The 3rd Battalion is now completely blended with the two Regular Battalions at the front, for most of my men are with them and many of them are with me”.

Source: Bedfordshire Times 9th April 1915

3rd Bedfords' Christmas

Ampthill Park Camp [Z1306/1/34/2]

Sunday 27th December 1914: Christmas with the 3rd Bedfords was a memorable occasion. After breakfast every man received a present from Lady Ampthill(1) suitably inscribed. The diet for the day was on a liberal Christmas scale and after tea the Duke of Bedford's new recreation hut was opened(2). The hut has been built to replace the Duke's recreation tents. It is 115 feet long and 35 feet wide; corrugated iron outside, match-boarding inside and fitted up with every regard for comfort. At the bar refreshments can be purchased from 6.30am to 8.30pm. In connexion with the Post Office there is a Savings Bank, with five per cent interest on all money deposited for over a month. Since the end of November, when the bank was started, £160 has been deposited. The opening ceremony was conducted by Lord Ampthill and an excellent concert followed.

Source: Bedfordshire Times 8th January 1915

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(1) The commanding officer's wife

(2) The duke was Lord Ampthill's cousin.

The 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment

"Charlie Chaplin" at Landguard Camp [Z50/141/47]

Friday 20th November 1914: We hear continually of the 1st and 2nd Beds Regiment and rejoice in their "magnificent" achievements at the front. We know all about our Territorials, the Yeomanry, the 5th Battalion and the Engineers, and the Field Ambulance. We "ken weel" the Scotsmen who are in our midst[1]. But how little we hear of the Special Reserves! Some of us know that they are under the command of Lord Ampthill at Landguard Camp, near Felixstowe, where they carried out their training in June, but few know more than that. It is time we realised in Bedfordshire what the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion of the county regiment has done and is doing.

All this time the men have been engaged in the work of coast defence and have watched day and night against a raid; but more than that, it is due to them that the 1st and 2nd Beds Regiment have been able to keep in the field. Something like 1,500 men and a large number of officers have gone out from the Special Reserves to the 1st and 2nd Battalions, and have taken part in their gallant deeds at the front. Further it is from the Special Reserve that the nucleus of officers, instructors have been provided for the New Army[2].

So during the last five months the 3rd Battalion at Landguard have been busy as bees, what with the constant departure of drafts, the return of wounded men from the front and the arrival of batches of recruits. The result of all this is, naturally, that just now the Battalion has taken on the character a Training Dêpot, and more officers and men are being rapidly licked into shape, and being imbued with the fine spirit of discipline and loyal performance of duty under Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Ampthill. It is not spectacular work and does not come into the limelight; but it is most valuable and patriotic service and we in Bedfordshire should never forget the 3rd Battalion at Landguard.

Source: Bedfordshire Times 8th January 1915

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[1] 51st (Highland) Division, whose war base was in Bedford.
[2] The 6th, 7th and 8th Battalions formed the New Army and went to the Western Front in 1915.