Changes

Lieutenant G M Betty [X550/1/82]

Monday 7th January 1918

Three new officers have arrived in Italy to join 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. They are Lieutenant G M Betty, Lieutenant W T Morris and Second Lieutenant L J Hobson. Meanwhile there has been training by platoons with boxing in the afternoon.

2nd Battalion has left the Stirling Castle area near Ypres. It got on trains at Dickebusch Station this morning and went to Ebblinghem, west of Hazebrouck. From there it marched to Wardrecques, which it reached about an hour ago.

The British soldier wears pouches, packs and so on attached to belts as a means of storing food, water, ammunition, tools and other necessities. Officially they are supposed to wear 1908 pattern webbing; the equipment being made from strong woven cotton. However, because of the vast increase in the army’s numbers since 1914 manufacture has been unable to keep pace, consequently many men went to war wearing equipment of the same design but made of leather, which is inferior to webbing as it is not so strong or so durable. Only now is 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, beginning to exchange its leather equipment for webbing. A and D Companies will retain the leather for now, whilst B and C Companies are being fitted out in webbing.

Sources: X550/2/5; X550/3/wd; X550/8/1

New Men and New Responsibilities

Saturday 6th January 1917

The adjutant of the 7th Battalion tells me that Second Lieutenant Trewman, Second Lieutenant Kydd, Corporal Mears, Lance Corporal Morris and Lance Corporal Hersted have all qualified as Bombing Instructors at 54th Brigade Bombing School(1).

Meanwhile 8th Battalion, which suffered so badly in a number of enganements on the Somme has received a draft of one officer and 174 other ranks as reinforcements. Meanwhile about two hundred men are engaged on working parties at Vermelles near the old Loos battlefield.

Source: X550/8/1; X550/9/1

(1) Second Lieutenant Chester Bishop Kydd would be killed at Chérisy on 3rd May, he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial. 13722 Sergeant John H Morris would be killed on 23rd March 1918 and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial 

Retaliation for Mines and a Re-organization

Thursday 4th January 1917

The land around Cuinchy and its northern neighbour Givenchy-lès-la-Bassée is somewhere that presents a face similar to the moon or to the face of an adolescent suffering with acute acne. The ground is covered with craters as the plan above shows. This assemblage was added to today when the army blew another mine close to positions occupied by the 1st Bedfords. With a certain gloomy detachment the adjutant told me: “The enemy retaliated very promptly with his artillery and eventually bombarded our left support trenches with 77 mm high explosive and shrapnel, blowing in a trench and causing ten casualties (three killed and seven wounded)”. He also mentioned that Lieutenant-Colonel F N Butler has gone on leave and that Captain C A S Morris has assumed command of the Battalion(1).

The adjutant of the 7th Battalion mentioned to me today that tey have set up different arrangements for specialist within the battalion: “Major J. H. Bridcutt was appointed officer commanding all specialists with other officers being in charge of their respective detachments such as signallers, Lewis gunners, snipers, scouts and so on. This organisation was started to keep under proper control men who were always away from their own Companies. The Companies continue to pay these men but all other administration is carried on independent of their Companies”.

Sources: X550/2/5; X550/8/1

Day One Hundred and Twenty Four on the Somme

Wednesday 1st November 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

Captain Morris and his intrepid men carried out their raid on the German trenches near the ruined watermill north of Quinque Rue(1) and just east of Festubert. The raid began at eight o’clock last night. Captain Morris told me today, by telephone, that the party on the right found very heavy wire and came under machine gun fire from a point in the front line trench and, owing to bomb and rifle fire, were unable to get into the trench. They remained in position and later were able to effect an entry and join the Left Party, which had quickly penetrated the enemy trench and completely surprised a patrol of Germans, killing five and taking three prisoner. It was not found practicable to continue over the open to the support line, owing to the rough nature of the ground.

When a counter-attack appeared imminent a withdrawal was ordered and carried out, covered by Lewis guns, the wounded being first evacuated. The trenches were found empty except for the patrol, and no material was found. Second Lieutenant Wright was wounded with one other rank killed, seventeen wounded and two missing, these were seen helping each other back. Sadly it is probable that they were buried by a Minenwerfer which opened fire at the end of Shetland Trench.

Captain Morris commented that the enemy trenches are very similar to our own - floorboarded and with a low parados (bank at the rear to prevent silhouetting of men looking over the parapet at the front).. Several dug-outs were entered and were very similar to those in our lines. The Salient does not appear to be held, but only patrolled.

The captain added that electric torches fixed to the rifles near the hand grip proved exceedingly useful. The fact that the men had their faces blacked raised the morale of the men enormously.

Early this morning a patrol went out from our lines and searched the whole of the ground over which the raiding party had passed. They failed to find the two missing men. The body of the man killed was recovered

The commanding officer of the battalion, Lieutenant-Colonel Allason, told me that the two companies which had been holding that sector were ordered to submit names of men who could be considered fit to take part in the raid. Owing to casualties on the Somme, he said, the choice was very restricted, and arrangements had to be made to give further instruction in live bomb throwing to the majority of those selected.

Enlargements of an aeroplane photo were made and issued to group leaders. The trenches were also staked out on the ground and the attack practised, first by the demonstration method, then by the whole party. This was done twice by day, and when all the groups understood their role, by night also. Thus the raid was very thoroughly planned.

Apparently the raid has been judged a success. Brigadier Turner has been asked by the Corps commander, Lieutenant-General Haking “to convey to Lieutenant Colonel Allason DSO and the officers and men of 1st Bedfordshire Regiment, my appreciation and thanks for the successful raid carried out by them last night. The operation was skilfully planned, and carried out with a fine fighting spirit, and the damage done to the enemy and the capture of the prisoners was most commendable”.

Source: X550/2/5

(1) Now called Rue de Lille (D72)

Day One Hundred and Twenty Three on the Somme

Tuesday 31st October 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

The 1st Battalion is near the old 1915 battleground at Festubert. Plans have been made for a group of eighty men under Captain C A S Morris to enter the enemy's trenches, bomb his dug-outs, kill as many Germans and do as much damage as possible. The plan is as described below

They will enter at points shown on the map above as silently as possible with four parties. A Bangalore torpedo detachment will accompany each party, in the event of the wire proving too thick. On entering the trench a stop will be formed (to prevent enemy reinforcements reaching the attackers) and the remainder of the party will attack inwards, using the bayonet and bombing their way, if strongly opposed. The rear parties following on the same line and close on the heels of the leading party will continue along the line of the ditch until reaching support trench at the points shown. On reaching these points they will form a block and attack inwards.

Each party will consist of an officer and four groups of one NCO and four men each. No.1 group will consist of bombers and wire cutters; No.2 group will be a Lewis gun detachment. Nos.3 and 4 groups will be bayonet men and bombers. The leader of each group will carry a torch. Faces will be blacked. Bayonets will be dulled with soot and oil. Each man will carry two bombs in each pocket and there will be a wire-cutter to every two men. To avoid rattling, oil bottles will not be carried in the rifles. Equipment will not be worn. One bandolier of ammunition will be carried. The men have been reminded that they should not give any information if captured, beyond that of their number, name and regiment. No letters or diaries will be carried by anyone.

At the end of this month, 8th Bedfords, who suffered so greatly in September, have recovered their strength. They currently have 30 officers and 780 other ranks. This month they have lost 2 officers and 46 other ranks killed, one officer and 65 other ranks wounded. 135 men have gone to hospital sick and 58 have returned.

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

Day One Hundred and Twenty on the Somme

Saturday 28th October 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

We understand that 33rd Division has taken a small step towards the village of Le Transloy having captured Rainy and Dewdrop Trenches east of Lesboeufs early this morning.

The adjutant of the 1st Battalion tells me that Captain Morris has been put in command of a composite company, composed of eighty men from B and D Companies, who are to take part in a raid near Festubert in the near future. All, for the moment, is quiet.

Captain L F Beal

Captain L F Beal of 2nd Battalion has been made Town Major of Pommier, a village just to the north of the Somme battlefield. This means he is in charge of keeping good order in the place. The Battalion has been joined today by Lieutenant H de Buriatte, who has been posted to A Company.

Lieutenant de Buriatte

Sources: X550/2/5; X550/3/wd