8th Bedfords Attack at Loos

Sunday 15th April 1917

Yesterdays rumours, it seems, were true. There have been no attacks at Arras today. This is familiar to us from the events on the Somme last year. A few days of violent offensive would be followed by a period of consolidation and planning before the next paroxysm of violence.

Looking back on the battle so far it is very reminiscent of the struggles of last year from the middle of July onwards. The first day was, overall, successful, though with some disappointments. Each successive day saw the enemy defences harden, communications between our own formations increasingly difficult and so our attacks increasingly less well co-ordinated and so less successful, with the inevitable effect on the casualty rate. As one of my waggish colleagues remarked last night, it is a pity that every offensive does not stop after the first day, wait a few days then have another first day. There are rumours that our French allies will begin an offensive of their own further south around Saint-Quentin in a few days’ time. We all hope their first day will be a success(1).

4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment is in the frontline at Gavrelle, north of Arras. Today it has been conducting a reconnaissance of the enemy village, along with 10th Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers. This has been a hazardous business as the Germans are alert to any forward movement, and two officers, Second Lieutenants Frear and Marshall, have been killed, three officers and fifty five other ranks wounded.

The fighting in France is not limited to Arras. The 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment is on the old Loos battlefield of 1915, this morning it was in a position between the villages of Vermelles and Grenay. I have spoken with their commanding officer, Lord Ampthill, who told me that the battalion, along with the 1st Battalion, The Buffs attacked and seized a position south of Loos under heavy shell fire from which the Germans were spotted retiring two days ago. They are now in a trench which prolongs a feature known as the Double Crassier (two long spoil heaps of waste material from coal mining) and will, it is believed, over the next few days work their way towards a position called Hill 70 to the east.. This small action has cost twenty eight other ranks wounded.

Sources: X550/5/3; X550/1/9

(1) The French commander, Robert Nivelle intended to have a short breakthrough battle which, as soon as it started to run out of steam would be halted. Sadly it proved more difficult to halt an offensive than Nivelle realised. The French, by this stage of the war, had already had vastly more casualties than the British, and from a smaller population, by the end of the war the French would have suffered around 1,150,000 deaths (from a population of 40 million – 2.875%), Britain would suffer 750,000 deaths (from a population of 45 million – 1.6%) This left the French army’s morale fragile. It is tragic that this “Nivelle Offensive” proved to be the straw which broke the camel’s back leading to mutinies in the army and robbing it of any offensive value for some time.

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 

Death of a Tall Yeoman

Chateau de Vermelles in 1914

Wednesday 16th February 1916: We regret to say that news has been received that Trooper Alex Taylor, C Squadron, Bedfordshire Yeomanry has been killed while doing duty in the trenches in France. He was the eldest son of F A Taylor, baker, of Clifton and was 21 years of age. He joined the Yeomanry nearly three years ago and has been at the front about nine months. He was a fine young man, standing 6 feet 5 inches high. Last Easter, prior to going out to France, he was married and left for the front a day or two afterwards and had been away since. He was expecting a short leave very soon. He was a great musician, playing various instruments, which helped him to cause the leisure hours of himself and his comrades to pass pleasantly on many occasions. He is said to have been the tallest man in the Regiment.

The officer of the troop wrote as follows to the unfortunate man’s wife: “It is with deep regret that I have to inform you of the death of your husband who was killed in the trenches yesterday morning [12th February]. He was shot in the head by a German sniper and died instantaneously. I had his body carried out of the trenches and he was buried in the cemetery at Vermelles where his grave has been carefully marked and a cross erected stating his regiment, rank, number and name and eleven of his comrades attended the service. He was always bright and cheery and such a favourite with all ranks and his loss is deeply felt. I was in command of the battalion at the time and knew and appreciated his qualities. I hope the fact that he died the most glorious death possible will be some slight consolation to you and help to lessen the terrible blow”.

A trooper of the Regiment told us of their tour in the trenches and of Trooper Taylor’s death: “I think we have made a good name for ourselves. Anyway our general said he is proud of us. They took the regulars out and put us in for the last ten days. So we have done more time in the trenches than the regulars. I am sorry to tell you that Alex Taylor was killed the last day we were in, in fact it was the last hour. I am very sorry for his wife. I told her we would be home on leave in a few weeks. We have had four killed and about fifteen wounded and strange to say three out of the four killed were in our troop”.

Another of his comrades, Sergeant Andrews, told his widow: “Alec was a general favourite, not only with his own troop mates, but with the whole Squadron and the news of his death created the keenest regret throughout the same. I know how, in such moments as these, when we lose our best and dearest, it is hard to find comfort from anything but the thought that he has given his life for his country so that others might live will, I trust, when the first bitter pangs have somewhat ceased, be a thought of solace to you. Your husband was absolutely devoid of fear and met his death with his usual smile on his face and his old friend (the pipe) in his mouth”

Source: Biggleswade Chronicle 25th February 1916; Bedfordshire Standard 10th March 1916

More from the Yeomanry Part I – First Going into the Trenches

Thursday 10th February 1916: Lieutenant Hargreaves of the Bedfordshire Yeomanry is home on leave and gave a talk in Bedford on the Regiment and its recent exploits, going into the front line trenches for the first time in January. The Regiment received news that the Cavalry Corps was to take a turn in the front line trenches for which information they were fully prepared, as some for months every cavalry regiment had formed within itself a dismounted unit, which had practised route-marching, learnt to adjust and carry a pack, and generally fitted itself for infantry work. It was not long, therefore, before the Cavalry Corps actually took over possession of a portion of the front line trenches. The Bedfordshire Yeomanry had had a somewhat long journey before they arrived at what is known as Reserve Billets. These consisted of a number of cellars in a ruined town(1). Fatigue parties were formed and various kinds of work were done in the neighbourhood. This meant that the men kept very hard at work throughout the day and a part of the night. It was, continued the Lieutenant, impossible for anyone unacquainted with life in the trenches to form anything like an accurate conception of what that life means. From the time of taking over the duty to the time when they are permanently relieved from what is known as the shelled area, the men are almost incessantly at work. They experience hours of uncertainty and may be subjected to fire at any moment; the work is very fatiguing, and often attended with danger. The duty of guarding the front line itself is undertaken by the regiments of the Brigade in turn – that is to say, when the Brigade is actually in the front line, some of the regiments will be in the front line, and the remainder in the reserve trench, further back. When the turn of the Brigade is at an end they all go into rest billets until their turn comes round again. He (the speaker) was fortunate in being among the officers who happened to be with the Bedfordshire Yeomanry on the first occasion on which they actually went up to the front line(2).

They started, as usual, very early in the morning and marched to the cellars in the village previously mentioned, where they remained for two days, at the end of which they again started very early in the morning, in full marching order and for the first time entered the communication trenches leading to the front line. Some idea of the extent and complexity of the trenches could be gathered from the fact that they had to march for two hours down the communication trenches before they reached the front trench at all. It was not always realised what a maze of trenches there were, and he could compare them to nothing more appropriate than the streets of a town. They lead in all directions, and it is quite impossible to find one’s way unless the trenches have sign-posts at the corners, or one is very familiar with the trench he is holding, or is able to make a little sketch of the position. So complicated are the trenches and so close to those of the enemy that there is risk of wandering into the danger zone, and it is difficult sometimes to ascertain if one is facing the English or the Germans. When they enter the front trench the first duty is to take it over from the men already there, and this is a business that takes some time. Every man has to take the place of a previous occupant and every officer has to make acquaintance with the trench he is taking over and has to learn all he can about the stores and about the Germans who are immediately opposite to him. The piece of trench held by the Bedfordshire Yeomanry was in close proximity to the German line, not more than fifty yards away in fact, with practically no wire defence in front and they heard all sorts of rumours of the Germans preparing to mine their trench.

Source: Bedfordshire Standard 25th February 1916

(1) Vermelles near Loos

(2) 17th January 

The Battle of Loos – Second Day

The 7th Division Attack at Loos (Official History of the War - Military Operations in France and Belgium 1915 - Vol II)

Monday 27th September 1915: The battle of Loos entered its second day yesterday but 2nd Bedfords played little part in it. They were left to man Gun Trench until 8 pm when they were relieved and went back to the original German front line.

The 8th Battalion, nearby, forming part of 24th Division were ordered at 3 am yesterday morning to support 9th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment in an attack on the quarries [shown in yellow on the above plan] from which rifle fire hit the 2nd Battalion in their advance yesterday.

The morning was thick and misty. The Battalion advanced north from la Rutoire in open formation as far as the Vermelles road [shown in yellow on the above plan]. Their advance was four hours behind that of the Norfolks and when they came on trenches occupied by the Cameron Highlanders(1) they discovered that they knew nothing of the whereabouts of the Norfolks. Patrols were sent out but they failed to get in touch with the Norfolks.

All this while the 8th Bedfords were subjected to severe rifle and shell fire as well as gas bombs. After three hours as no news could be obtained of the Norfolks, so the Commanding Officer decided to reoccupy the front line British trenches, as the Cameron Highlanders stated there was no room in the captured enemy trenches.

On returning to the First Line British trenches the Battalion became somewhat separated owing to portions of the trench being occupied by other units. The Battalion was relieved about 6 pm and returned to Vermelles for the night where they bivouaced. Casualties received were two other ranks killed and Second Lieutenant A G Hodges and 23 other ranks wounded. Colonel E S C Kennedy and two other ranks were gassed(2).

We hope that this Battalion can overcome the disappointment of this somewhat farcical introduction to active service and achieve great things in the future(3).

Sadly we hear that the popular and able commander of 7th Division, Sir Thompson Capper is dead. He was wounded by a sniper yesterday, the bullet passing through both lungs and he died this morning, aged 51(4).

Source: X550/9/1

---

(1) Probably 1st/4th Battalion, Cameron Highlanders of 21st Brigade, 7th Division (the same Brigade as 2nd Bedfords).

(2) These light casualties contrast strikingly with the 9th Norfolks, who had 64 dead that day.

(3) 8th Battalion do not seem to have been a lucky unit and, by contrast with 7th Battalion, for example, would have a frustrating war.

(4) he is buried in Lillers Communal Cemetery.

The Battle of Loos Begins Today

The Attack of the 7th Division (Official History of the War, 
Military Operations France and Belgium 1915 Vol II)

Saturday 25th September 1915: As these words are written the latest and largest offensive so far undertaken by the British Expeditionary Force is under way around the coal-mining town of Loos in Northern France. We will report on the part taken in this conflict by our regiments tomorrow as information becomes available. We know that 7th Division is to make an attack on the village of Hulluch and that 2nd Bedfords are in reserve. The adjutant tells us that just after midnight the Battalion proceeded to ab position of assembly at the village of Noyelles, arriving there 3.35 this morning. From there it proceeded at five minutes past 6 a.m. moving by platoons at 200 yards distance to Vermelles, moving up a trench called Chapel Alley.

The following document, leaked from I Corps Headquarters shows what is taking place.

GENERAL PRINCIPLES FOR THE ATTACK

1. The enemy is to be beaten on a certain length of front and driven out of it and must not be allowed time to reform in rear of the captured trenches.

For this a violent and continuous action is required.

The keynote of all the work, both as regards details and the general idea, is offensive action.

When once the enemy's front system of trenches is broken, delay is usually the chief cause of failure and heavy casualties.

Commanders must, however, bear in mind that, once the enemy's line is broken, it is the intention to follow up by such action as will cause a general retirement of a great part of the enemy's line. Thus the operations will be continued during a considerable period.

Supports and Reserves.

2. Bearing the above in mind, it is of the highest importance that all commanders should consider carefully the handling of their reserves to maintain the forward movement.

Under the existing conditions, only one definite offensive blow can be expected from one body of infantry, and, therefore, fresh troops must be pushed through those making the first attack to develop the success won. Troops heavily engaged during the day should not ordinarily be expected to continue the offensive on the following day, but should be either actually be relieved or arrangements made for fresh troops to pass through them. The Organization of reserves in depth should be made with this object.

Supporting and reserve troops must be close up from the commencement of the operations, so that they can follow close on the heels of the troops in front.

Commanders of such troops must clearly understand the objective and their role, and use their initiative.

Ample cover must be provided for the reserve troops well forward, with good and sufficient communication trenches. Direction boards must be put up to prevent mistakes in the existing labyrinth of trenches.

The Infantry Attack.

3. Infantry Commanders must know the time table of artillery fire, and regulate their progress and time their assaults in accordance with it.

The attack on the front trenches will probably not be equally successfully all along the line. Support must be given at once to the units which have been successful to enable them to press on. Where unsuccessful a new attack must be organised from a flank where the line has been broken.

If a certain body of infantry fails to gain its own particular local objective, there is no reason why the troops on either flank should be held up. Every body of infantry must push on and thereby facilitate the task of the troops on the right and left.

The whole operation can be regulated with the greatest precision. Parties of infantry should be detailed beforehand for the capture of the several localities at definitely stated times in accordance with the artillery time table. The accuracy of the photographic maps permits of this being done.

We must not wait to be counter-attacked, but must follow up our attack at once. Infantry must push on, and field guns, trench mortars, machine guns, etc., must be pushed forward in close support of the attacking infantry to batter down houses, etc. The responsibility for supporting the attacking infantry in this way rests with Infantry Commanders, and special guns will be allotted to them for this purpose.

Localities must be seized promptly to act as supporting points to further advance, but only the necessary number of men will be left to entrench each of these points.

All ground gained will be secured.

Artillery.

4. The artillery objective is not only the wire entanglements and front trenches, but the whole position, with a view to destroying the hostile infantry, actually and morally; (i.e. second line, communication trenches, shelters, etc., must be systematically dealt with).

The task of the artillery is: -

(a) The support of the infantry during its attack.

(b)To gain superiority of fire over the hostile artillery.

The artillery fire must be time-tabled and registered as far behind the enemy's front line trenches as possible, with due regard to range and accuracy.

The guns must be registered beforehand on all the objectives and tactical localities as far forward as possible.

Similarly, the barrages of shrapnel must be arranged beforehand. These will be gradually expanded as infantry advances.

The nature of the artillery support required by the infantry depends on the local conditions of the fight.

Some field or horse artillery guns must be ready to push forward rapidly in support of the infantry as the latter get beyond the support of the remaining guns.

Special Parties.

5. Special parties must be detailed for work subsidiary to the attack, such as bomb parties, sandbag parties, bayonet parties, entrenching tool parties.

These parties must all be conversant with their various duties.

The idea of the offensive must be inculcated in the grenadier parties, so that their efforts are directed to bombing so as to assist the movement to front and flank, rather than to mere defensive work and blocking approaches.

Special attention must be given to repairing roads, and detachments of Royal Engineers, with infantry working parties attached, must be organized and in position to follow up the attack for clearing away obstacles and mending roads, to allow free passage for troops.

Special parties for extending and maintaining the telephone wires must also be organized beforehand (see para.7).

Royal Engineers Stores and Materials.

6. Advanced depots of RE stores must be established close up behind our own lines at short intervals along the front of the attack. The depots should contain material for entanglements, sandbags, trench-bridging materials, tools, etc.

Parties of RE with infantry must be specially detailed to move forward with these stores to secure positions gained.

The experience of Neuve Chapelle gives a good indication of the nature and quantities of stores required for any given length of line, and estimates should be framed accordingly with regard to the length of the probable successive lines likely to be required to be placed in a state of defence.

Communications.

7. In order that the offensive may be continued without interruption and be suited to the changing conditions of the fight, the several commanders must be kept in close touch with the situation; hence communications must be carefully organised beforehand and adequate means of getting information back from the front provided. Wherever possible communications should be triplicated and arrangements made to carry on communications by flags, lamps, etc. when wires are broken. This is of the first importance, and all commanders will give this matter their close attention.

The ground over which the attack is to pass and the localities to be attacked can in most cases be seen and studied, so far as is possible, therefore, arrangements should be made beforehand between what points communication by flag or otherwise is to be established as the attack progresses.

The position of commanders must be carefully thought out and suitably protected points organized for commanders near their troops.

Telegraph and telephone wires must be buried up to our front trenches, and arrangements made to push wires on as soon as possible after the attack has passed beyond them.

Staff officers must be pushed well forward with the object of collecting information and keeping commanders regularly informed of the situation.

With this object in view, positions of observation and dugouts should be made, and special communications established beforehand with these places.

Special attention must be given to instructing signal companies in their duties and action during an advance, and all preparations must be made with a view to the forward movement being sustained.

Divisional Cavalry and Cyclists.

8. Divisional Cavalry and Cyclists must be kept handy to push on rapidly as opportunity offers, to anticipate the enemy in occupying houses and other tactical points, and so facilitating the advance after the enemy's main lines of defence have been broken.

Source: X550/3/wd

Looking After the Animals

Monday 20th September 1915: It seems that offensive operations are indeed soon to take place around the town of Loos on the flat plain, interspersed by slag heaps, in northern France. The following memo has been leaked from 7th Division Headquarters

“The following are the Veterinary arrangements for the forthcoming operations: -

The Officer Commanding No.12 Mobile Veterinary Section has posted an advanced Collecting Station at le Marais, opposite the 37th Field Artillery Brigade Ammunition Column lines. All seriously wounded animals should be sent to this station and handed over to the veterinary personnel; conducting parties to return at once to their units”.

In case of an advance necessitating the forward movement of any considerable number of animals, another Collecting Station will be opened at Noyelles and posts placed on the roads West of Vermelles to intercept and direct men bringing in wounded animals”.

“In case of a general advance, the Mobile Veterinary Section will move forward in the rear of the Divisional Train”.

“Wounded horses will not be evacuated until after dark unless large numbers are received and congestion is feared”.

Source: X550/3/wd

Protection from the All Seeing Eye of the Aeroplane

Albatross C I

Saturday 4th September 1915: The adjutant of the 2nd Battalion, thinking to illustrate the sort of life they lead, has sent us the following, which they have had from Brigade Headquarters:

“Officers and troops in billets within the ordinary shell area of the enemy's guns are to see that the arrangements for their troops taking cover in cellars or dug-outs on the occasion of hostile artillery fire on the billets they are in, are complete and well known to everyone concerned”.

“These precautions are especially to be observed in taking up new billets inside the zone of shell fire”.

“There is no doubt that hostile aeroplanes early this morning were able to locate gun positions and infantry billets and shelters in or about Vermelles. There is to be no unnecessary movements about these places. Except when duty demands the contrary, troops are to be kept under shelter during the hours of light. Sentries over billets, shelters, artillery positions &c., are to be placed to see this order is carried out”.

“Aeroplane look-outs are to be posted on every occasion where troops are necessarily employed in the open, and arrangements made for such troops to take cover on the signal from the look-out that aeroplanes are about.The Officer or NCO in command of the body of troops on the spot is responsible that this is done”.

“Any aeroplane is to be regarded as suspicious, and precautions taken, until the distinguishing mark clearly shows it to be a friendly machine. Lately, hostile aeroplanes have been especially active very early in the morning and late in the afternoon. These are the times when men are outside billets, washing etc., and getting ready for work. Such preparations are to be made as much as possible under cover, and when this cannot be done, the aeroplane look-outs are to be especially alert”.

“Nothing is to be gained by neglecting these precautions, and the plans of our commanders may easily be upset if the presence of troops, in certain places, is observed by the enemy”.

The tenor of these instructions leads us to believe that a major offensive may be coming.

Source: X550/3/wd