Cloud and Rain

Saturday 16th March 1918

D Company of 1st/5th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, managed to salvage another hundred Turkish artillery shells on the night of 14th/15th near Mejdel Yaba. Yesterday morning snipers were sent out and remained out all day, which was very dull, the clouds hanging on the hills and making observation very difficult. In the evening heavy rain fell. Patrols sent out at dusk found no sign of the enemy.

Source: X550/6/8

The Fall of Roeux and a regimental Round-Up

Monday 14th May 1917

Readers will remember that yesterday Brigadier-General Cumming of 91st Brigade was relieved of command because his commanding officer did not like his plan of attack on The Red Patch in Bullecourt. An alternative plan was tried by his replacement, which was unsuccessful. Today Cumming’s original plan was used to attack this beastly place. Ironically, it looked for a while as if this plan might actually work. Then a bomb dump being used by the attackers was blown up by an enemy shell and, lacking sufficient ammunition the attacks petered out with nothing achieved.

Our old friends 51st (Highland) Division are in the field again. Having replaced 4th Division in the line, last night they attacked and took Roeux, which had been abandoned by the enemy.

News has reached us from three of the battalions of the Bedfordshire Regiment. Firstly from Palestine: yesterday 1st/5th Battalion remarked on groups of camels seen on the road from Gaza to Beersheba. A nearby brigade of howitzers decided to try their luck, at 6,500 yards range, but their shots fell some 200 yards short.

During the morning a Battalion signaller was mending a line outside a communication trench behind the front line when he was sniped and killed by a Turk some 1,400 yards away(1). At the moment their war seems to be at long range.

The commanding officer of 6th Battalion, Colonel F H Edwards MC has been transferred to Home establishment for three months’ rest. He has been replaced by Lieutenant-Colonel W R Campion, Member of Parliament for Lewes in Sussex(2).

The 8th Battalion, in the front line at Hulluch reports that last night gas was vented along the whole line and sent drifting towards the enemy. Gas bombs were also fired from projectors and then the British artillery bombarded communication trenches to catch men hurrying from the front line with pas poisoning and to the front line expecting an attack. The enemy’s artillery was very feeble in response

Sources: X550/6/8; X550/7/1; X550/9/1

(1) This must have been 200870 Private G Pratt, aged 19, son of Sophia of Pyne Cottages, Chalton near Toddington who is buried at Deir el Belah War Cemetery, twelve miles or so south-west of Gaza.

(2) and later Governor of Western Australia from 1924 to 1931.

8th Battalion back in the Front Line

Thursday 25th January 1917

The 8th Battalion is once more in the front line near Loos. They have been actively sending out patrols. Their snipers have also been active and have claimed at least two hits without suffering casualties themselves. The adjutant tells us that a successful raid was carried out by the Brigade on their left. This resulted in some enemy retaliation on the Bedfords but no damage was done.

Source: X550/9/1

Day One Hundred and Eight on the Somme

Lieutenant Hopkins

Monday 16th October 1916: From our Correspondent in the Field

8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, are still in the line east of Gueudecourt. They reported that in the clear skies which we have had for most of the day, aircraft have been very active, resulting in less hostile shelling during daylight. There was intense hostile shelling for half an hour commenced at 5.45 this evening, though, resulting in four dead and four wounded. Good news is that another German sniper has been shot down.

Second Lieutenant Oakley

The 2nd Battalion moved into Flers Trench today, near Le Sars where they are acting as reserve for 21st Brigade. Lieutenant R Hopkins has taken over command of B Company and Second Lieutenant R E Oakley of A Company. The strength of the Battalion in the trenches is that all four companies – A, B, C and D have just two officers and fifty men each. Headquarters comprises four officers and 107 men under the command of Major J W H T Douglas.

Major Douglas.

Today 6th Division took some gun pits near Lesboeufs whilst 39th Division fought off no fewer than three German attempts to retake the Schwaben Redoubt. This was a particularly fine performance by the division as the enemy were employing flame-throwers.

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

Day One Hundred and Seven on the Somme

Sunday 15th October 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

The attacks made by 4th Division last night, we have been told this morning, were unsuccessful. Before dawn this morning 6th Division occupied gun pits in front of Cloudy Trench east of Gueudecourt.

The 8th Battalion adjutant tells me that they are still in front line trenches east of Gueudecourt. There has been intermittent shelling all day, very intense for about half an hour at midnight last night. Three enemy snipers have been shot down. Casualties Second Lieutenant John Seear Gibson has died of wounds inflicted by the shelling and two other ranks have been killed, with eight wounded.

At the Schwaben Redoubt today the Germans launched desperate counter-attacks with their favoured flame-throwers. All of these, I am glad to report, have been defeated.

Source: X550/9/1

Day One Hundred and Five on the Somme

Captain E S M Poyntz

Friday 13th October 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

The 2nd Battalion tell me that the night passed quietly and the enemy did not counterattack. Today I have learned a little more about the Battalion’s attack of yesterday. Captain Poyntz told me that they reckon to have gained about 200 yards of Bite Trench and about 70 yards of Gird Trench. He commented: “The Battalion did magnificently and were the only Battalion to gain any ground on the whole of the Corps Front, all the others having to withdraw to their front trenches”. I am very pleased to say that the message carried by second Lieutenant Pitts reached Captain Beal's party last night and they were able to withdraw to the original front line.

Second Lieutenant Chadwick

The total of dead comes, so far, to 82 dead. Officers killed were: Second Lieutenant Joseph Chadwick; Second Lieutenant Harold Fyson; Second Lieutenant Lawrence Walker and Lieutenant William White. Amongst the wounded were Lieutenant-Colonel Poyntz, Second Lieutenant William Bird, Lieutenant R. Hopkins and Second Lieutenant J P Pitts. The latter two were both slightly wounded but remain at duty.

The 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, are in front line trenches near Gueudecourt. Enemy artillery has been active, as have snipers. There was an intense bombardment this evening which ended about three-quarters of an hour ago, which we hope does not foreshadow an enemy attack. So far today casualties have been four other ranks killed and eleven wounded.

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

Sniped

Sunday 18th June 1916: The adjutant of the 1st Battalion tells us that they have lost another officer. Second Lieutenant Edgar Millson was killed by a sniper a few hours ago. He was examining the German front line through field glasses and was shot through the head.

Second Lieutenant Millson was 29 years of age and came from Brixton. He had been educated at Epsom College and was a railway engineer in Colombia before joining the colours. His father is Medical Officer of Health for Southwark.

Source: X550/2/5; Bedfordshire Times 23rd June 1916

Settling In Eventful

Saturday 11th March 1916: The 1st Battalion’s first few days in their new home near Arras have been eventful. The night before last Second Lieutenant Beale and one of his men were wounded when out on patrol in no man’s land when a German patrol threw a bomb at them. Then yesterday Second Lieutenant Cook was shot through the head by a sniper and killed instantly.

Source: X550/2/5

Swarmed with Rats

Sunday 5th March 1916: Sapper Harper from Bolnhurst told us yesterday of a visit he had made to Lieutenant Collisson’s grave at Cérisy-Gailly. He then told us of his other experiences: “I am at present in one of the most advanced positions of the British line and am living in a dug-out twenty feet below the ground level. We are swarmed with rats and have to chase them away in the middle of the night. They have eaten half my great coat. I have often read in English papers that the Germans cannot shoot, but that is a great mistake. I was pulling down some wood for new dug-outs, when a sniper put a bullet into a piece a foot from my head. I hung up my hat for him to shoot at, but he was too sharp for that. Now I must ring off as my candle is short and I must get to sleep before the rats parade”.

Source: Bedfordshire Standard 31st March 1916

A Warm Night on the Somme

Thursday 6th January 1916: The 1st Battalion are back in the front line near the village of Fricourt on the Somme. The adjutant reports that our artillery cut the German wire opposite and at dusk last night a patrol ventured out to inspect the damage and found the trench very strongly held, suggesting the enemy expected an attack or a raid. Our artillery fired around sixty shells of which twenty were six inch shells – some idea of their power can be obtained by the fact that they six inch guns form the main armament of a light cruiser.

Next door, as it were, are 7th Battalion who experienced considerably more rifle fire from the enemy last night, perhaps as a result of what 1st Battalion was up to. The Germans seemed to be playing a game involving snipers trying to smash the Bedfords’ periscopes with which they peer over the trench into No Man’s Land (to stick one’s head up is to invite instant death).

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

More Details of the Yeomanry in France

Tuesday 4th January 1916: A trooper of the Bedfordshire Yeomanry has been telling us about his time in France: “The first two days after we left here we were in billets. We had to do fatigues from about 3.30 to 11 each afternoon and evening. Then on the third day we marched off, and my platoon was one of those to go direct to the front line. When we got there we were told that if we left the Germans alone they wouldn’t molest us, but we didn’t. All day the only thing we had to do was to keep watch through the periscope and improve the trench – and eat. Two of us were on for an hour together, and then we had two hours off – one of which was supposed to be of work and one of rest. The first night we spent largely potting at supposed Germans. There was a sniper opposite me and we tried to get him. We were firing at the flashes and so was he. I don’t know how near to him I got but I do know that he sent several bullets whistling by my head. It got rather exciting As long as they kept to rifle fire we didn’t mind, for nothing but a chance shot could have hit, although it was a light night. But they started sending rifle grenades and trench mortars, and they aren’t so pleasant. We had a rifle grenade apparatus in my trench and the Germans were trying to hit it, so for some time we were the centre of attraction. I think they actually put three in our trench and several on the parapet but by some stroke of great good luck no one was hit, though the trench suffered. On the second day there was a good deal of shell fire and though the Germans don’t generally shell the front line they got very near it then. Also our own guns started and dropped a dozen or so shells within a few yards of us. Our second night was quieter, for there was a working party about and we didn’t fire for fear of drawing too much German fire onto them. It is a curious thing that although we didn’t have a man touched in our squadron in four days that working party had at least two killed and one badly wounded in three or four hours(1). All the time we were there we only had three casualties, I believe, and they were not dangerous. They were in other squadrons, too. We have a reputation as a lucky Regiment and are living up to it”.

“After two days in the front line we were moved back to the reserve some 100 yards or so back. There we had no actual fighting to do, we missed the rifle grenades and so on but we got we got shell fire, and hot, too at times. We also had to do fatigues – fetch rations from outside the trenches, and so on. It was there that I happened on the most exciting piece of work I’ve yet had to do. In front of our trenches we have saps. One of these sapheads is 30 yards from the German trenches – others are nearer – but I’m concerned with this one – and the Germans also have a sap coming to within 13 yards of it. The ground in front was unprotected and several of us had to put barbed wire round. We couldn’t fix it up outside so we had to put the wire on frames and then roll them over the side of the sap and afterwards creep over, put them in position and join them up. It was a bit exciting. Once I was out alone and I thought I was under the cover of the saphead. I was half sitting up and cussing our own men who kept sending up flares and shooting in our direction. I was called back and then I learn that so far from being under cover the German saphead was round that side, 13 yards away and there was a sniper there. I guess he wasn’t on the look-out, but he was a few minutes later for he nearly got one of my men who had his head over the parapet. I’m perfectly fit - more so than before I went in, I think, and after the good night’s rest, ready for nearly anything”.

Source: Bedfordshire Times 4th February 1916

(1) Not men of the Bedfordshire Yeomanry

Christmas is Coming

Friday 24th December 1915: As the second Christmas of this war approaches there seems to be no letting up in the killing. We have heard this morning from the adjutant of the 7th Battalion who are still near Fricourt on the Somme.

During yesterday afternoon Battalion snipers shot two men, this making five men shot at the same point in the last few days. One can only conclude that whatever work is being carried on there appears to be important. At 2.15pm the fired three of a new type of ball bomb from the West Gun to which enemy replied with rifle grenades.

The Bedfordshire Yeomanry intend having a very good Christmas. A member of Number 4 Troop told us the programme for a concert they are preparing for tomorrow night: “Under Royal Patronage, No 4 Troop, Saturday December 25th, 1915, for one night only. Starring Engagement of Sporty’s Orchestra and Concert Company under the able baton of Sporty himself. President, Sergeant Sale, Hinxworth; Vice-President Boko White. Artistes: Spirella Joe, the Canary from Highover; Chater (alias Tubby) the Mouth Organ Fiend; Ingums, the Man of Words, not Deeds; Bombagee, who will rattle his bones; Thameo, the Violin Comb Merchant; Marrashell, the Shoeing Smith, who will play the ‘cello comb; Gunpowder, Eccentric Comedian; Jerra, if not on guard, will sing songs of his own composing; the Woburn Trooper in sensational descriptions of Advance Guards and last, but not least, Jinky Jenks, the Man of Snores, who will pay £50 to any person if he or she can excel him in the noble art”.

“Owing to leave we are unable to star Robin, the bird with the voice of a gramophone”.

“Price of Admission: first two beds 5/-; near Beds 2/6, standing 6d. Seats may be booked and plan of room seen at the Stotfold Pork Butcher’s. Doors open 7.30; commence at 8. During the performance Bulmer will have a “luke” round”.

“Notice - The Management reserve the right of admission. No seats guaranteed, only by booking. Commissioned Officers are requested to come in dress uniform. Persons misbehaving themselves will be instantly expelled. Come in thousands! Nothing to suggest vulgarity!”(1)

Source: X550/8/1

(1) Much of the humour, of course is very dated and relies on references to in-jokes. The report has been edited as it contains some casual racism, something else which dates the piece.

Fashionable Wear for Snipers

 Sniper camouflage at the Imperial War Museum

Wednesday 13th October 1915: The adjutant of the 7th Battalion reports that they shot another sniper yesterday. Captain Meautys told us: “he was wearing a kind of brown canvas helmet with eye holes”. In this war snipers take whatever precautions they can in order not to be seen. We have even heard reports of fake tree stumps being made and snipers secreting themselves inside them!

Source: X550/8/1

A Blinded Sniper

Scenery near Suvla Bay

Monday 11th October 1915: We have heard from a Corporal in the East Anglian Royal Engineers serving in Gallipoli: “We have been working at night on barbed wire. One of our party out on night work heard faint cries of “Allah”. The next night the same thing occurred. The third night when they went, the Australians informed them that they had just found out that it was a Turkish sniper shot through both eyes. They brought the poor chap in and he was taken to our hospital”.

“The gullies and waterways are all named out here. We go down Farm Gulley and have to pass by Staffordshire Gulley, Hampshire Lane, Finsbury Vale, New Bedford Road(1) and turn up Radlett Road. Quite city like, you know”.

Source: Bedfordshire Times 12th November 1915

---

(1) Presumably named after the street in Luton 

Hunting Snipers

Sniper camouflage at the Imperial War Museum

Sunday 10th October 1915: The adjutant of the 7th Bedfords has sent us some more information about the hunt for German snipers. Last evening observers and sentries reported two masked snipers at a certain position. These Germans kept putting up dummies and firing from behind and between them. These dummies and the snipers were dressed the same and could be easily seen through glasses, thus showing the dummies to be ineffective as decoys. After three hours the Battalion’s own snipers scored a hit and the enemy fire ceased.

Source: X550/8/1

A German Attack at Loos

Captain Cavan and Second Lieutenants Lovely and Gudgeon 

Saturday 9th October 1915: We hear that the Germans have launched an attack at Loos, hoping to regain territory lost since 25th September. The 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment are in front line trenches at Cuinchy, a few miles to the north. The adjutant reports that their own trenches were shelled fairly heavily all day. Last evening about 6 o’clock they were alerted that they may be moved to the area of the German attack if it develops. What a nice surprise for Captain P C Cavan and Second Lieutenants Lovely and Gudgeon who joined the Battalion as the alert was given.

The adjutant of the 7th Battalion, still in the front line near Fricourt on the Somme reports that last evening a German working party was reported and both shrapnel and high explosive from British artillery opened fire and the noise of tools being hastily dropped was then heard!

A German sniper was shot yesterday evening while endeavouring to signal the direction of the Battalion’s snipers’ shots. This shows what a cat-and –mouse game hunting with telescopic sights in the trenches is.

Source: X550/3/wd; X550/8/1

News of the 1st Battalion

Thursday 30th September 1915: Whilst the fighting at Loos has been raging those veterans of Mons, le Cateau, the Marne, First Battle of Ypres and Hill 60, the 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment have been enjoying themselves in a quiet part of the line – the area newly taken over from the French just north of the River Somme.

They have been sending out constant patrols at night to observe the enemy, learn what work they are undertaking and damage their defences wherever possible. The Battalion has erected numerous dummy sniper posts in the hope of attracting enemy sniper fire, which may be observed and answered, thus making the hunters into the hunted. The adjutant tells us: “The dummy posts attract a gratifying amount of attention from the enemy's marksmen”. Since 25th of September, the day the Battle of Loos opened, the Battalion has lost one man killed and two wounded.

Source: X550/2/5

Money for Telescopic Rifle Sights Wanted

Saturday 21^st August: As mentioned in our article of 7th August, telescopic sights are needed for newly formed bands of snipers. We would again draw the attention of our readers to the appeal made by Mr Pym, Hassells Hall, Sandy, for funds to provide telescopic rifle sights for the crack marksmen of our Bedfordshire Battalions at the Front. It is known that all German snipers are with these telescopic rifle sights, which enable them to pick off our men with almost certainty up to 500 yards, while our own troops have only two such special rifle sights to each Battalion. The disadvantage to our men and the necessity of putting them on an equality with the enemy in this matter will be apparent, and it is earnestly hoped that the subscriptions asked for will quickly be forthcoming. Six telescopic rifle sights are wanted for each of the two Bedfordshire Battalions at the Front, more, if possible, and from £150 to £200 is required. The Duke of Bedford, Mr Pym and Mr C Guy Pym have each subscribed £5 5s to the fund. Mr Archibald Allen £1 1s and Mrs Josselyn 10s. Further sums may be sent to Mr Pym, Hassells Hall, Sandy or to Barnard’s Bank, Bedford. A list of the subscriptions will be published next week.

Source: Bedfordshire Standard 27th August 1915

German Watch Saves Soldier’s Life

Wednesday 4^th August: Today is one year since war was declared. Sergeant A. Humphries of the 1st Bedfordshire Regiment, has had a remarkable escape from death at the Front. The Sergeant went out with the second draft of the now famous County Regiment and landed at Zeebrugge on October 6th. He took part in the first great battle of Ypres and fought continuously on until the struggles of Neuve Chapelle and Festubert. Since those fights he has been in the trenches at Festered and Givenchy and on the night of July 31st he was engaged in repairing the parapets of the trenches under continual fire from the enemy’s snipers, whose aim, of course, was uncertain in the darkness. However, at about 10 o’clock a German bullet found its billet, piercing Sergeant Humphries’ tunic right above the heart and then glancing across the body, inflicted a severe flesh wound. When the tunic was removed it was seen that a watch which the Sergeant carried had saved his life, for the bullet had gone clean through the face of the time-piece, smashed the works and emerged at the back, in an oblique direction, it being evident that the metal works of the watch had turned the bullet out of its course. The irony of it all is that plainly stamped upon the works of the watch are the words “Made in Germany”.

Source: Bedfordshire Standard 10th September 1915

The Perils of Gathering Brushwood

Saturday 23rd January 1915: Private S. Lovell of the 2nd Bedfords, who lives at 38 Sandhurst Road, Bedford(1) tells us: “The 6th Gordons occupy the trench on our right(2) and I don’t think I shall ever forget them. I will tell you why. Two days ago one of our officers told six of us to go  and collect brushwood for the bottom of the trench (also some planks) We proceeded to the rear of 6th Gordons where a farm had been heavily shelled by German artillery, when we were fired at by German snipers. We all made a belt for the farmhouse, at least five did, myself being too far away in a field adjoining. I had to make the best cover possible so I chose the side of a ditch with large trees along it. I lay down behind one and four shots wee fired at me, three hitting the tree and one miss. Where I was lying I could see my comrades in the farmhouse. They told me to crawl round the ditch and then make a run for it, about fifty yards. I did so and reached them safely. The 6th Gordons’ trench is immediately in front of the farm, so four of the party went through into ours. I and another fellow, not to be done out of our brushwood, waited until dark, and then dragged it home.

Source: Bedfordshire Times 22nd January 1915

---

(1) This may be 9095 Sergeant S Lovell MM, 32, whose wife lived at 23 Eastville Road, who died with 2nd Battalion on 23rd August 1918 and is buried at Daours Communal Cemetery Extension.

(2) 1st/6th Gordon Highlanders were part of 20th Brigade, 7th Division (the same division as the 2nd Bedfords) from 5th December 1914.