The Bedfordshire Regiment in The Great War

The 4th Battalion in France, 1916
 
 

WAR DIARY FOR SEPTEMBER 1916

4/9/16: Coupigny 10 am - Lieut.Colonel R.P.Croft proceeded to 17th Infantry Base pending further deployment

5/9/16: Coupigny Command of the battalion taken up by Major A.E.Greenwell: 2nd in command Major J.S.Collings-Wells. Lieut.B.L.S.Frere took over command of A Coy.

7/9/16: Coupigny-Calonne II 4.30 am - The battalion proceeded to CALONNE in relief of 1st H[onourable] A[rtillery] C[ompany] in Support line. In the firing line in CALONNE I there were the 1st HAC and in CALONNE II the 10th R[oyal] F[usiliers]

11/9/16: Calonne II 8 am - The battalion took up a position in the firing line in relief of 10th RF in CALONNE II The trenches occupied were:- RIGHT COY M.15.c.20.20 - M.15.c.65.80 CENTRE COY M.15.c.65.80 - M.15.b.22.40. LEFT COY M.15.b.22.40 - M.9.d.25.10 SUPPORT COY - M.9.c.95.20 - M.15.a.45.20 The troops on the Right of the battalion were 7th RF; on the left the 14th H[ighland] L[ight] I[nfantry] who were relieved on the 13th inst by the 13th E. Surreys; in support was the 13th R[ifle] B[rigade]

15/9/16: Calonne II 9 am - The battalion was relieved by the 13th RB in CALONNE II and proceed to BULLY-GRENAY in reserve. trenches occupied in case of alarm were (36 BSE 2) R.12.c.63.20 - M.8.a.45.06

17/09/16: Bully-Grenay 3.30 pm - The battalion proceeded to COUPIGNY en route for DIEVAL

18/09/16: Coupigny 7.30 am - The battalion left COUPIGNY and arrived DIEVAL 12.30 pm

20/09/16: Dieval 9.15 am - The batallion left DIEVAL and arrived ORLENCOURT 12 Noon [A.E.Greenwell, Major, commanding]
 

WAR DIARY FOR OCTOBER 1916

Not available

WAR DIARY FOR NOVEMBER 1916

2/11/16: Knightsbridge Captain B.C.R.Loder (Adjutant) evacuated to C[asualty] C[learing] S[tation] - Lieut.W.A.Turnbull takes over duties of A/Adjutant

3/11/16: Knightsbridge 11 am - Bn was relieved in front line trenches Q.17.d by 10/R[oyal] D[ublin] Fusiliers and proceeded to ENGLEBELMER

7/11/16: Englebelmer 7.30 am - Bn left ENGLEBELMER and proceeded to HEDEAUVILLE by route march arriving at 12 noon and after dinner proceeded to Hutments at PUCHVILLERS arriving about 5 pm

9/11/16: Puchvillers Bn was inspected by Brigade Commander (Brig.Gen.W.C.G.Heneker DSO ADC)

10/11/16: Puchevillers Bn was inspected by Divisional Commander (Maj.Gen.C.D.Shute CB)

11/11/16: Puchvillers 1.30 pm - Bn left PUCHVILLERS and proceeded to VARENNES

12/11/16: Varennes 2.30 pm - Bn marched to assembly trenches off BEDFORD ST and VICTORIA ST to take up position as right centre Bn of the Division preparatory to attacking between BEAUMONT HAMEL and RIGHT bank of R.ANCRE. 7/R.Fusiliers on our right, 10/RDF on left

13/11/16: Beaucourt Sector 6.45 pm - Bn attacked at 6.45 am Operations on the North Bank of the ANCRE - Nov 13th 1916 The Battalion advanced with the remainder of the Brigade at 6.45 am and sustained heavy casualties among Officers and NCOs in and near the enemy front line from a strongpoint established between enemy front line and second line which had been passed over by the leading Brigades. Battalion advanced to enemy second line and from there parties pushed forward to Station Road and beyond.

Casualties

Officers Killed:

Captain F.G.C.Ashmead-Bartlett

Lieut.B[artlett] L[aurie] S[tuart] Frere

Lieut.R[ichard] H[arvey].Boys

Lieut.W[illiam] A[rthur]Turnbull

2nd Lieut.J[ohn] Brodie

2nd Lieut.H[arold] B[aldwin] Hudson

2nd Lieut.S[ydney] H[erbert] Agate

2nd Lieut.T[homas] H[ooton] Hill Died of Wounds

2nd Lieut.L[eslie].S[tuart].Wilkinson Wounded [DOW 21st]

2nd Lieut.A.R.Fraser

2nd Lieut.L.Brooks

2nd Lieut.W.T.Bridges

2nd Lieut.R.J.Thomas

Lieut.G.Arthur RAMC

Other Ranks Killed: 48, Died of Wounds – 9, Wounded – 108, Missing - 16

In the evening all available men were withdrawn and taken down to HAMEL, refitted and moved into position in Station Road, close to BEAUCOURT Road

14/11/16: Beaucourt Sector Bn acted as carrying parties for taking bombs, sand bags etc. up to BEAUCOURT 4 pm - Bn withdrew to our original second line (ROBERTS TRENCH) and reorganized there

15/11/16: Roberts Trench Bn remained in ROBERTS TRENCH

16/11/16: Bn moved to bivouacs & huts on ENGLEBELMER-MARTINSART road

17/11/16: Bn assisted to clear the battlefield and bury the killed. Lieut.L.T.Despicht takes over duties of A/Adjutant Lieut.A.J.Clarke assumes command of A Company Lieut.G.F.Wray assumes command ob B Company Lieut.E.C.Wilson assumes command of D Company

18/11/16: Martinsart 8 am - Bn proceeded in motor omnibuses to LONGUEVILLETTE

19/11/16: Longuevillette 9.30 am - Bn proceeded to HEUZECOURT by route march

20/11/16: Heuzecourt Bn inspected by Divisional Commander (Maj.Gen.C.D.Shute CB)

21/11/16: Heuzecourt 9 am - Bn proceeded to DOMLEGER by route march 22/11/16: Domleger 11 am - Bn proceeded to NOYELLES-en-CHAUSSEE by route march

23/11/16: Noyelles-en-Chaussee 9 am - Bn proceeded to Lamotte-Buleux by route march

24/11/16: Lamotte-Buleux Bn proceeded to NOUVION-EN-PONTHIEU [J.S.Collings-Wells, Major, Commanding]

WAR DIARY FOR DECEMBER 1916
Not available yet

Site built by and © Steve Fuller 2005-2008