The 1st Battalion in France 1919

WAR DIARY FOR JANUARY 1919

1-9 Jan 1919 - Gembloux In Billets in GEMBLOUX Education & training carried on. Sports held every afternoon weather permitting.

10 Jan 1919 As above Photographs of Officers, Sgts, & Corpls taken.

11-16 Jan 1919 In Billets as above. Training etc. as above.

17-23 Jan 1919 In billets as above. Training & Sports as above.

24 Jan 1919 As above. Divisional General visited Battalion.

25 Jan 1919 As above rehearsal for the Trooping of the Colour at LEUZE.

26 Jan 1919 As above rehearsed for the trooping of Colours at GEMBLOUX.

27 Jan 1919 As Above.

28 Jan 1919 Ceremonial parade for trooping the Regt Colour in Place St.Aubyn, Namur, together with the 2nd Batt King's Own Scottish Borderers. This ceremony was performed in commemoration of the taking of the town and citadel of Namur in 1695, in which this Batt and the 2nd Batt King's Own Scottish Borderers took part.

Reviewing Officer: - Lt.General Sir G.M.HARPER K.C.B., D.S.O. Comdg. IV Corps

Officer Comdg. the Colour Guard: Capt.J.C.A.[James Charles Abbott] BIRCH.

Lieutenant of the Escort. Lt.YOUNG.

2/Lt. for the Colour: - 2/Lt.[Ernest Charles] HERBERG..

N.C.O. for the Colour: No.10339 C.S.M.MEADE. D.C.M.

29 Jan 1919 Photographs of Batt taken and also of Colour Guard and Escort.

30 Jan 1919 Training and Sports carried on as usual.

31 Jan 1919 As above.

WAR DIARY FOF FEBRUARY 1919

1-2 Feb 1919 - Gembloux In Billets in Gembloux. Usual training in morning. Games in afternoon.

3 Feb 1919 100 men visited Waterloo by lorries with C.O. Remainder training as above.

4-8 Feb 1919 Training and games as above.

9 Feb 1919 Church Services for all Denominations.

10 Feb 1919 Training and games carried on. Cross Country Race Battalion Team, 20 finished out of 25 thereby winning race. Medals for runners and Cup for Battalion.

11-15 Feb 1919 Training as above.

16 Feb 1919 Church Service for all Denominations

17-22 Feb 1919 As above. Demobilization of Battalion practically finished.

23 Feb 1919 Church Service for all Denominations.

24 Feb 1919 Training and Sports as above. The Brigadier General presented Cup to Battalion Cross Country Team.

25 Feb 1919 As above

26 Feb 1919 Draft of 2 Officers 7 143 O.Rs (for Rhine) proceeded to Calais to join 11th Suffolk Regiment, 61st Division

27 Feb 1919 As above

28 Feb 1919 As above. Mobilization Stores despatched to Charleroi Dump.

WAR DIARY FOR MARCH 1919

1 Mar 1919 - Gembloux Battalion billeted in Gembloux.

2-6 Mar 1919 Battalion Band arrived from England. Billetted as above.

7 Mar 1919 As above. General & Lady HAKING inspected Coy Banners of the Division at the Hotel de Ville, Gembloux

8 Mar 1919 Billetted as above.

9 Mar 1919 Church Service for all Denominations.

10-11 Mar 1919 As above.

12 Mar 1919 As above. Divisional Dinner for Officers at Brussels.

13-15 Mar 1919 Billetted as above.

16 Mar 1919 As above. Church Service for all Denominations

17-22 Mar 1919 Billetted as above.

23 Mar 1919 As above. Church Service for all Denominations

24-26 Mar 1919 As above

27-29 Mar 1919 As above Lt.Col.C.E.G.[Charles Edward Gowran] SHEARMAN D.S.O., M.C. detailed to join 53rd Bn. Bedford Regt. on expiration of leave.

30 Mar 1919 Church Service for all Denominations.

31 Mar 1919 Capt.G.McM.[George Macmaster] BETTY, M.C., Capt.W.HOBBS, M.C., Capt.W.R. [William Robert] CAMPION, M.C., Capt.A.J. [Arthur James] FYSON, 2/Lt.F. [Frank] WHATELY-KNIGHT, Lt.R.HALL proceeded to join 52nd Battn Bedfordshire Regt.

WAR DIARY FOR APRIL 1919

1-5 Apr 1919 - Gembloux Battalion in billets in Gembloux

6 Apr 1919 As above. Battalion preparing for move to Gilly, first stage in journey to England.

7 Apr 1919 - Gilly Battalion moved to Gilly & billeted. See O.O.178

8 Apr 1919 As above

9 Apr 1919 As above. Captain W.C.SEARLE proceeded to 52nd Battn.

10 Apr 1919 As above

11 Apr 1919 As above. 2Lts E.C.[Ernest Charles] HOWLETT & D.LYDLE proceeded to England. 2Lts L.G.[Lawrence George] CALE & E.W.P. [Ernest Walter Pillis] ROBINSON to the 5th Divisional Details Battalion.

12-15 Apr 1919 As above.

16 Apr 1919 As above. Received orders for entrainment on 17th.

17 Apr 1919 - on board train Battalion marched to HAUTEVILLE Station, CHARLEROI & entrained. trains moved at 19.00 hours see O.O. 179.

18 Apr 1919 - Embarkation Camp, Antwerp Train arrived ANTWERP 07.00 hours. Battalion detrained & marched to Embarkation Camp.

19 Apr 1919 In Camp as above.

30 Apr 1919 Embarked for England

Operational Orders; April 1919

OPERATION ORDER NO. 178 1st Battalion the Bedfordshire Regiment. 6th. April 1919

1 MOVE. The Battalion will move to GILLY tomorrow, parade at Orderly Room at 09.25 hours - Dress Marching Order less packs. Water bottles to be filled, water proof sheets to be carried.

2 KITS Officers kits, blankets, packs, and Orderly Room boxes to be taken to Q.M. Stores by 08-30 hours band boxes etc. will be ready for loading at "A" Chateau by 09-00 hours.

3 REVEILLE reveille will be at 06-30 hours

4 Breakfasts Breakfast will be at 7-30 hours

5 Advance Party Corpl. DIEMER and 1 O.R. will go with first lorry leaving Q.M. Stores at 09-00 hours

6 DINNERS Dinner will be on arrival in billets. All ranks are warned to carry the unexpired portion of the days rations with them as no haversack ration will be issued.

7 MARCHING STATE Marching out states will be rendered to the R.S.M. who will render complete state to the Adjutant on parade

8 TRANSPORT Transport will march in rear of the Battalion.

OPERATION ORERS NO.179 1st Battalion The Bedfordshire Regiment 16th April 1919

1 MOVE The Battalion will entrain for ANTWERP tomorrow. Battalion will parade in front of Q.M.Stores at 12.00 hours. Dress Marching Order less packs, Water-bottles to be filled.

2 REVEILLE Reveille will be at 06.30 hours.

3 MEALS Breakfast will be at 07.30 hours, dinners at 11.00 hours.

4 KITS Officers' kits, blankets in bundles of ten, packs etc. to be at Q.M.Stores by 11.00 hours.

5 COLOUR PARTY The following W.O. & N.C.O.s will form the Colour Party for the journey: - C.S.M., J.T.TRUNDLEY D.C.M. Sgt., T.BRYAN D.C.M. Sgt., A.DAVISON

6 LOADING PARTY Cpl.Iley and 6 O.R.s from the band will proceed to HAUTEVILLE Station level crossing at 08.00 hours and will meet lorry there at 08.30 hours. They will proceed with lorry to the Barracks CHARLEROI and load Band boxes etc.

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