4th Battalion Changes

Tuesday 2nd July 1918

Today the 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment's chaplain Rev. H. G. South left and returned to England. Major P Sandilands of the Royal Marine Light Infantry has joined the battalion

Source: X550/5/3

On Board Ship

HMS Russell from Wikipedia

Friday 14th April 1916: We have received a cheery note from Private C. A. Thompson, Royal Marine Light Infantry, who says there are four “Bedfords” on HMS Russell , a painter, a baker and a stoker besides himself who helps to man the guns. They saw the evacuation at Cape Helles and it was a sight they will never forget.

Source: Bedfordshire Times 21st April 1916

(1) a pre-dreadnought battleship of 1903 the Russell weighed around 15,000 tons. She was named after Edward Russell, 1st Earl of Orford, commander-in-chief of the navy in the last years of the 17th century. The ship struck a mine not long after this letter was written – 27th April, and slowly sank off Malta. Only 125 of her 720 crew were lost. Coincidentally, Second World war Admiral of the Fleet John Cunningham was one of those who escaped – he lived in Ampthill in retirement and was a Deputy Lieutenant for Bedfordshire.