Fifty Fourth Day of the Third Battle of Ypres

Second Lieutenant F C Baldwin [X550/1/81] 

Saturday 22nd September 1917

Today the army has been busy spending a second day consolidating the gains made on 20th September, bringing up the runs, re-registering them on the next series of targets and so on. It is the third day in a row without rain, though the battlefield still resembles a swamp in places.

Second Lieutenant D D Warren [X550/1/81]

Following their action on 20th, the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment has moved back to a camp near the remains of the city of Ypres, though they have been finding some working parties in the front line. Five subalterns have joined them today - Second Lieutenants: D D Warren, J Kerr, W S Goble, F C Baldwin and S Courtney(1).

Second Lieutenant J Kerr [X550/1/81]

The 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, we have been told, have relieved the 6th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment, of 39th Division in the front line, at six hours’ notice, being brought up in a fleet of buses. The Battalion was heavily shelled on its way up to the line and the laconic adjutant of the Battalion simply described the whole operation as: “Extremely difficult”. 

Second Lieutenant S W Goble [X550/1/81]

Two officers, Captain J Hislop MC and Second Lieutenant C E Inch have been killed along with four other ranks, twenty men being wounded. The line they have taken over is shown on the map above, facing south-east.

Second Lieutenant S Courtney [X550/1/81]

Sources: X550/3/.wd; X550/7/1

(1) Second Lieutenant Frederick Charles Baldwin, from Bletchley [Buckinghamshire], would die on 11th May 1918 and he is buried at Esquelbecq Military Cemetery.

Another Battalion Round-Up

Wednesday 11th July 1917

His Majesty The King has been at the Front again today.m The adjutant of 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, tells me that he visited their area near Écurie, the Battalion lined the road from Arras to Souchez to salute him. On their way back to camp, the Battalion did an exercise, “The Attack in the Open” to keep sharp the skills so successfully put to use in the recent attack at Oppy.

Second Lieutenant Warren [X550/1/81]

The adjutant of 2nd Battalion, in billets at Polincove, remarked, with a certain snide amusement that they have, nevertheless, had a casualty, Second Lieutenant D D Warren as been injured in a fall from his horse.

The 6th Battalion are behind the lines at Kemmel south of Ypres. They have been providing large working parties all day. The adjutant noted that enemy aeroplanes have been very active - four of our balloons having been brought down east of the Battalion’s position.

Captain Miskin

Not forgetting our men in far-off Palestine - 1st/5th Battalion is training for a raid on the Turks at a place called Umbrella Hill south of Gaza. Their planning has been assisted by Captain C H Miskin building a replica of the hill from aeroplane photographs and plans. Captain H S Armstrong has been training the raiders. The adjutant remarked by wire that, owing to the lengthy preparation of orders, due to the number of arms and units concerned - Royal Field Artillery, Royal Engineers and Machine Gun Corps - it was considered best to start the general training at once and to complete the details when orders are issued. A patrol of Captain Armstrong, Lieutenant B W Smythe and Second Lieutenant R H Smith with two other ranks spent about ninety minutes in No Man's Land between the front line trenches and Umbrella Hill to better reconnoitre the lie of the land.

Lieutenant Smythe

Sources: X550/2/5; X550/3/WD; X550/6/8; X550/7/1

Suicide

Lieutenant Warren [X550/1/81]

Tuesday 20th June 1916: Another officer joined the 2nd Battalion yesterday, Second Lieutenant D D Warren. The raiding party, we understand, are still practising at Bray.

17796 Private Thomas Stephen Chambers, aged 22, killed himself yesterday. Perhaps the strain of the impending offensive which everyone is talking about, preyed on his mind(1), certainly yesterday was a very quiet day.

Source: X550/3/wd

(1) He has no known grave and is commemorated on the le Touret Memorial.

Soldiers Take French Leave

Sunday 6th December 1914: At the recent Luton Borough Petty Sessions Private Samuel Spencer of the 5th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment was charged with being a deserter. The defendant, who was wearing a medal ribbon, said he ought to have been at Bury Saint Edmunds. He put in for a pass four times and failed, so came away on his own – Evidence of arrest was given by Police Sergeant Hunt, who said the prisoner admitted that he had taken French leave and the prisoner was remanded for an escort.

Private William Sims was charged with being a deserter from the Royal Engineers. He joined in 1908 and was arrested in Maple Road by Police Sergeant Hunt when he admitted that he deserted while on a journey from Winchester to Bedford. He was also remanded for an escort.

Private Herbert Fisher, 1st Battalion Hertfordshire Regiment, was charged with being absent without leave. He was found in Hastings Street by Police Sergeant Hunt, he first said he belonged to the West Surrey Regiment and was on sick leave. The Sergeant, however, found identification marks on his clothing and then he admitted the charge. The prisoner, who said he failed to return at the proper time because he had been enjoying himself too much, was remanded for an escort.

Mr. G. Warren said the Bench were sorry to see three such respectable young fellows not attending to their duties. They were not getting themselves fit for the defence of their country.

Source: Luton News 3rd December 1914