Day One Hundred and Forty on the Somme

Friday 17th November 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

Lieutenant L T Despicht has taken over the duties of adjutant of the 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. There have also been changes in command of companies following the severe losses of officers in the attck on 13th November. Lieutenant A J Clarke has assumed command of A Company, with Lieutenant G F Wray has taken over B Company and Lieutenant E C Wilson D Company.

Source: X550/5/3

Roll of Honour - 17th November 1916

Died of Wounds

4th Battalion

• 27607 Lance Corporal Arthur Charles BOWLER, 20, ex-8835 Royal Flying Corps, born Elstow, resided Mansfield [Nottinghamshire], son of Christopher Ernest and Emily Bowler (Contay British Cemetery)
• 23309 Private William COLEMAN, 36, son of William Levi and Caroline Coleman of Woburn (Puchevillers British Cemetery)

7th Battalion

• 28084 Private Herbert Eric BERRY, born and resided South Heigham [Norfolk] (Contay British Cemetery)

Died

1st Battalion

• 8687 Private Charles PALLETT, 27, son of Hammond and Fanny Pallett of Essendon [Hertfordshire], died as a prisoner-of-war (Niederzwehren Cemetery, Hessen)

Day One Hundred and Thirty Nine on the Somme

Thursday 16th November 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

Today the 4th Bedfords, after their exertions near Beaumont-Hamel, have moved to bivouacs and huts on the road from Englebelmer to Martinsart, quite well behind the lines.

Source: X550/5/3

Roll of Honour - 16th November 1916

Killed in Action

6th Battalion: Battle of the Somme: at Wagon Road near Beaumont-Hamel

• 28445 Private Alfred James ADCOCK, 35, son of James and Emma Adcock of Chapel Street, Shipdham [Norfolk] (Redan Ridge No.1 Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel)
• 20006 Private Stanley ANGELL, 23, born Welwyn [Hertfordshire], son of Stanley Angell of The Meadows, Breachwood Green [Hertfordshire] (Thiepval Memorial)
• 43168 Private Albert Henry BEADLE, ex-1678 Essex Regiment, resided Walworth [London] (Frankfurt Trench British Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel)
• 22580 Private Frederick Charles BUNDY, 33, resided Boreham Wood [Hertfordshire], son of William Bundy, husband of Mary of 46 Malden Road, Boreham Wood (Waggon Road Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel)
• 19973 Private Ernest CANNON, 26, son of Charles and Edith Cannon of 86 Whinbush Road, Hitchin [Hertfordshire] (Thiepval Memorial)
• 13885 Private Joseph CLIFTON, 31, born and resided Battersea [London], husband of Annie Florence Millo (ex-Clifton) of 42 Gilbey Road, Tooting [London] (Thiepval Memorial)
• 28449 Private Horace Bertie EMMERSON, born and resided Wolferton [Norfolk] (Thiepval Memorial)
• 12487 Private John William FENWICK, born Camberwell [London], resided Barnes [Surrey] (Thiepval Memorial)
• 43232 Private James FOGG, ex-2047 Essex Regiment, born and resided Leek [Staffordshire] (Thiepval Memorial)
• Second Lieutenant Arthur JESSON, 28, son of Charles Jesson of Gumley [Leicestershire] (Thiepval Memorial)
• 18298 Corporal George KNIGHT, born Windsor [Berkshire], resided Stevenage [Hertfordshire] (Serre Road Cemetery No. 1)
• 19708 Private Ralph MABBOTT, born Clifton, resided Shefford (Waggon Road Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel)
• 7394 Private Arthur Thomas MILES, 33, born Buntingford [Hertfordshire], son of Walter and Rachel Miles of Newsells, Royston [Hertfordshire] (Frankfurt Trench British Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel)
• 28105 Private John Thomas MORTIMER, born and resided Marlingford [Norfolk] (Waggon Road Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel)
• 28200 Private Percival John NOBBS, 28, born Hoveton Saint Peter’s [Norfolk], resided Tasburgh [Norfolk], son of John and Emily Nobbs of Erpingham [Norfolk] (Waggon Road Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel)
• 13739 Private Herbert James PINK, born Plumstead [London], resided Greenwich [London], son of Frederick Pink of 61 Christ Church Street, East Greenwich [London], husband of Lily of 15 Evelyn Street, Deptford [London] (Thiepval Memorial)
• 18303 Private George PLUM, born and resided Willian [Hertfordshire] (Thiepval Memorial)
• 19000 Private George Aldred POULSON, 25,son of Thomas and Frances Poulson of Harwich Road, Ardleigh [Essex] (Frankfurt Trench British Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel)
• 12938 Private Frederick RUSSELL, 22, son of W Russell of Gustard Wood, Wheathampstead [Hertfordshire] (Serre Road Cemetery No. 2)
• 14868 Private Harry TURNER, 35, born Babbacombe [Devon], resided Bristol, son of Henry and Elizabeth Rose Turner of Avoca, 5 South Ford Road, Dartmouth [Devon] (Waggon Road Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel)
• 12227 Private Joseph WALLER, 26, son of Eliza Waller of 8 New England Street, Saint Albans [Hertfordshire] (Thiepval Memorial)
• 10623 Acting Sergeant Harry WHITE, 24, son of Thomas White of Almshouses, Stratford-upon-Avon [Warwickshire] (Thiepval Memorial)
• 14733 Private George WILDER, 22, son of Susan Wilder of of 29 High Street, Markyate [Hertfordshire] (Thiepval Memorial)
• 25249 Private John Henry WILLIAMS, born and resided Watford [Hertfordshire] (Thiepval Memorial)

7th Battalion: Battle of the Somme: improving communication trenches near Ovillers

• 28991 Lance Corporal Robert DUNGAY, born Denver [Norfolk], resided Royston [Hertfordshire] (Regina Trench Cemetery, Grandcourt)
• 40535 Private Amos HICKMORE, 40, ex-29019 Essex Regiment, born Eastbourne [Sussex], resided Ramsgate [Kent], husband of D. Mildred of 12 Hollicondane Road, Ramsgate (Regina Trench Cemetery, Grandcourt)
• 14161 Lance Corporal Frank HOBBS, born and resided Croxley [Hertfordshire], son of Thomas and Martha Hobbs (Thiepval Memorial)
• 29084 Private Frederick Charles OSBORNE, 39, ex-29084 Essex Regiment, born Wortwell [Norfolk], resided Starston [Norfolk], husband of Annie Eliza of Dairy Cottages, Starston (Thiepval Memorial)
• 27848 Private William Charles PITTS, 24, son of Charles and Eliza Pitts of Great Barford (Regina Trench Cemetery, Grandcourt)
• 40508 Private Herbert William THOMPSON, ex-29085 Essex Regiment, born and resided Swaffham [Norfolk] (Thiepval Memorial)
• 15760 Private Arthur TURVEY, born and resided Houghton Conquest (Regina Trench Cemetery, Grandcourt)
• 40532 Private Walter WARD, 38, ex-29102 Essex Regiment, son of William Ward of Brewery Yard, White Hart Lane, Swaffham [Norfolk], husband of Harriet of 2 Albert Terrace, Swaffham (Thiepval Memorial)

Died of Wounds

4th Battalion

• 22378 Private John Abraham PEACHEY, 35, born Marylebone [London], resided Rickmansworth [Hertfordshire], husband of H M Peachey of 26 Elfrida Road, Watford [Hertfordshire] (Wimereux Communal Cemetery)

6th Battalion

• 18688 Private Albert Stanley HOLLOWAY, born Chorley Wood [Hertfordshire], resided Chenies Bottom [Buckinghamshire] (Serre Road Cemetery No. 1)

Day One Hundred and Thirty Eight on the Somme

Wednesday 15th November 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

Today Munich Trench (just east of Wagon Road, itself just north-east of Beaumont-Hamel) has been taken by 51st (Highland) and 2nd Divisions. Early this morning 63rd (Royal Naval) Division, including the 4th Bedfords, was relieved by 37th Division, including the 6th Bedfords. An attack on Frankfort Trench, east of Beaucourt, by part of 37th Division, including the Bedfords, was unsuccessful. The Battalion lost three officers killed – Second Lieutenant John Griffin, Second Lieutenant Cecil le Messurier and Second Lieutenant George McEwan. No other ranks were killed.

The adjutant of the 7th Bedfords has been in contact today. They have been in the front line at Regina Trench, waiting to attack Petit Miraumont and the bridge over the River Ancre. However: “The Battalion moved back to Huts in Ovillers. During this tour in the trenches all preparations were made for attack on Miraumont but the weather was very wet and it was not carried out before the Battalion was due for relief”.

Sources: X550/5/3; X550/7/1; X550/8/1

Roll of Honour - 15th November 1916

Killed in Action

6th Battalion: Battle of the Somme: attack on Munich Trench near Mailly-Maillet

• Temporary Second Lieutenant John James Wahab GRIFFIN, 22, son of Robert Anderson and Alice Griffin of Saint Catherine's Park, Rathfarnham [Dublin] (Frankfurt Trench British Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel)
• Temporary Second Lieutenant Cecil Cooper LE MESSURIER, 32, son of Alfred Noel and Louisa Arabella le Messurier, husband of Winifred Lucy of 16 Hungerford Road, Holloway [London] (New Munich Trench British Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel)

7th Battalion: front line at Regina Trench near le Sars

• 16524 Private Nathan CAIN, born and resided Kempston (Thiepval Memorial)
• 29761 Private Bertie REDDING, born Peterborough, resided Old Fletton [Huntingdonshire] (Thiepval Memorial)

9th Battalion

• Second Lieutenant George Edward MCEWAN, attached 6th Battalion (Thiepval Memorial)

Died of Wounds

4th Battalion

• 25126 Private Sidney RISELEY, born and resided Carlton (Varennes Military Cemetery)

7th Battalion

• 29798 Private Samuel Samson PARKER, 31, born Bethnal Green [London], son of Tom Parker of 8 Great Butts Street, Bedford, husband of Mary Louisa of 50 Sandhurst Road, Bedford (Thiepval Memorial)

Day One Hundred and Thirty Seven on the Somme

Tuesday 14th November 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

During the day today 4th Bedfords have been counting their losses whilst acting as carrying parties taking bombs, sand-bags and other accoutrements to the men in the front line in front of the village of Beaucourt. This afternoon they withdrew to their second line trenches of yesterday.

The  commanding officer told me today that he reckons nine officers and 57 other ranks were killed yesterday(1). Five officers, including the Medical Officer have been wounded. 108 other ranks have been wounded and 16 are missing. The officers killed were:

• Captain F G C Ashmead-Bartlett
• Lieutenant Bartlett L S Frere
• Lieutenant Richard H Boys
• Lieutenant William A Turnbull
• Second Lieutenant John Brodie
• Second Lieutenant Harold B Hudson
• Second Lieutenant Sydney H Agate
• Second Lieutenant Thomas H Hill
• Second Lieutenant L S Wilkinson

Source: X550/5/3

(1) The total killed actually seems to have been 81.