Detailed Attack Training

H A Chamen [X550/1/81]

Monday 5th June 1916: The adjutant of the 2nd Battalion tells us that though behind the lines they are not idle. They are busy practicing attacks over ground selected as almost identical to that near Maricourt, with trenches laid out to imitate those of the enemy.  Clearly a major attack is anticipated. The adjutant is also happy to report the return to the Battalion of Second Lieutenant H A Chamen who was posted to 3rd Entrenching Battalion back in February(1).

Source: X550/3/wd

(1) He would die of wounds one month in to forthcoming battle.

1st/5th Bedfords Form a Band

Bedford High Street [Z1306/10/33/13]

Sunday 4th June 1916: From far-away Egypt Alfred Wood, at Biggleswade, has had a letter from his son Sergeant M T Wood, of 1st/5th Battalion, who writes: “We have just formed a band, and it is a treat to work and hear the band practising. They are doing well and we are looking forward when the time comes to march down Bedford High Street behind them”.

Source: Bedfordshire Times 9th June 1916

Roll of Honour - 4th June 1916

Killed in Action

1st Battalion: front line near Arras

• 13164 Private Sidney Thomas FLECKNEY, 23, born King's Walden [Hertfordshire], resided Luton, son of George and Hannah Fleckney (Arras Memorial)
• Second Lieutenant Vincent Stanton SANDERS, 19, C Company, son of Henry F and Amelia Sanders of 67 Seymour Road, Hornsey [Middlesex] (Thiepval Memorial)
• 18328 Private Edwin Charles SAUNDERS, 24, son of Edwin Thomas Saunders of 34a Church Street, Baldock [Hertfordshire] (Arras Memorial)
• 7500 Sergeant Leonard TRIGG, 30, born Manuden [Essex], resided Whitechapel [London], husband of Annie of 8H Peabody Buildings, Glasshouse Street, Upper East Smithfield [London] (Arras Memorial)

Distinguished Service Order for 7th Bedfords Officer

Distinguished Service Order by Robert Prummel on Wikipedia

Saturday 3rd June 1916: Temporary Second Lieutenant Harry Driver, 7th Bedfordshire Regiment, has been awarded the Distinguished Service Order. The following is the official statement which appeared with the announcement on Wednesday. “For conspicuous gallantry on several occasions, notably when leading a successful raid on the enemy’s trenches. He forced the enemy back to their dug-outs, entered a deep dug-out and personally bombed the occupants, shot the sentry over another dug-out and, though himself wounded in two places, remained at the point of exit till every man was reported present. He was wounded a third time on his way back to our trenches”(1).

Source: Bedfordshire Times 2nd June 1916

(1) One suspects he was a man who revelled in the thrill of war. At the end of World War One he transferred to 46th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers which went to Russia to take part in the Russian Civil War against the Bolsheviks. He died on 10th August 1919 aged 32 and is buried Troitza churchyard with a memorial in Archangel Allied Cemetery. The raid took place on the night of 26th/27th April 1916.

Roll of Honour - 3rd June 1916

Killed in Action

7th Battalion: B Company barge fatigue

• 17400 Private Walter SLADE, born Trowbridge [Wiltshire], resided Westbury [Wiltshire] (Bronfay Farm Military Cemetery, Bray-sur-Somme)

8th Battalion: front line trenches at Yser Canal bank

• 19560 Private William PICKARD, born Bury [Huntingdonshire], resided Great Whyte [Huntingdonshire] (Essex Farm Cemetery, Ypres)

A Raid Repulsed

Friday 2nd June 1916: The adjutant of the 1st Battalion, which is near Arras, reports that a German raid was repulsed yesterday. All afternoon they had suffered a bombardment by enemy artillery and this started up again just after dark around 9 pm. At the same time the enemy also blew up three small mines on the Bedfords’ left and raided the 1st Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, which was holding that part of the line. The Norfolks, assisted by fire from some of the Bedfords, repulsed the raid. The enemy opposite the Bedfords did not leave their trenches but the battalion suffered sixteen casualties from the shelling alone.

Source: X550/2/5

War Trophy of the Bedfordshire Regiment

Bedford Police Station in 1965 [BP65/54/3b]

Thursday 1st June 1916: An interesting ceremony was performed in the Police Station yard, Bedford yesterday morning when Major Lightfoot, of the Bedfordshire Regiment, handed to the Mayor of Bedford (Mr F R Hockliffe) the gun which was in November 1915 lent to the Bedfordshire Regiment in recognition of their gallantry in France when forming part of the 7th Division at the time the gun was captured from the Germans. The trophy was conveyed by a fatigue party of the Bedfordshire Regiment (amongst whom were several of the soldiers present at the capture), headed by the fine band of the Regiment, playing stirring tunes, and in formally presenting the gun Major Lightfoot said he had the honour of handing it over as a loan to the Regiment and hoped it would serve to remind those who saw it of the gallant conduct of their county regiment. They all, he knew, as he did, regretted that many gallant lives had been lost.

The Mayor thanked Major Lightfoot and the regiment for the honour done done to the Borough and said he had pleasure in taking the gun into safe keeping. He hoped that shortly they would have erected a suitable enclosure that would be worthy of the deeds done by the “Brave Bedfords”. He called for three cheers for the Bedford Regiment, which were heartily given and the brief proceedings concluded with the National Anthem.

Source: Bedfordshire Standard 26th May 1916