Battalions
of the Regiment and War Diaries on this site
Between 1914 and
1918, the following Battalions served within the Bedfordshire Regiment,
and who's War Diaries can be viewed by following the links:
1st
Battalion - A pre-war 'Regular' Battalion dating back to
1688, and later re-named the '16th Regiment of Foot'. Apart from
a few months in Italy during the winter of 1917-1918, they served
on the Western Front from August 1914 until April 1919.
2nd
Battalion - A pre-war 'Regular' dating back to 1858, which
was stationed in South Africa when war broke out. Served entirely
on the Western Front between September 1914 and April 1919.
3rd Battalion
- A 'Reserve' Battalion who were initially a 'Militia' battalion
dating back to 1757. They served entirely at Harwich in England,
providing home defence and training drafts for front line units.
4th
Battalion - The second 'Reserve' Battalion who provided
home defence at Harwich until mobilised to France July 1916. They
served the rest of the war on the Western Front within the vaunted
63rd (Royal Naval) Division until April 1919.
5th
Battalion - A 'Territorial' Battalion initially raised as
a 'Rifle Volunteer Battalion' in 1860, becoming the 5th Territorial
Battalion in Haldene's reforms in 1908. They were embodied in August
1914 and initially provided home defence on the Norfolk coast until
sent abroad July 1915. Served in Gallipoli, Egypt and Palestine
until disembodied June 1919. The 2nd/5th and 3rd/5th Battalions
were raised in October 1914 and June 1915 respectively and trained
drafts for the front line 1st/5th Battalion.
6th
Battalion - A 'Service' Battalion raised for the war in
August 1914). Served in France from August 1915 until it's personnel
transferred into the 1st Hertfordshire Battalion in May 1918. An
Officer and NCO cadre trained American Units until finally disbanded
in August 1918.
7th
Battalion - A 'Service' Battalion raised in September 1914
as a part of K2, specifically for the duration of the war. Served
entirely on the Western Front. Transferred into the 2nd Battalion
May 1918, with a cadre assigned to training American Units until
disbanded in July 1918.
8th
Battalion - A 'Service' Battalion raised in October 1914
as a part of K3, specifically for the duration of the war. Served
entirely on the Western Front between August 1915 and February 1918,
when disbanded. Personnel were transferred into the 2nd, 4th, 6th
and 7th Battalions.
9th Battalion
- A 'Service' Battalion raised in October 1914 as a part of K4,
specifically for the duration of the war. Remained in England as
a "Reserve" Battalion providing drafts for the front line units
until transferred into the 28th Battalion Training Reserve in August
1916.
10th Battalion
- A 'Service' Battalion raised in December 1914 as a part of K4,
specifically for the duration of the war. Remained in England as
a "Reserve" Battalion. Transferred into the 27th Battalion Training
Reserve in September 1916, later becoming the Regiment's 53rd Battalion
in October 1917.
11th Battalion
- A 'Territorial' Battalion raised in January 1917, that provided
home defence on the Suffolk coast until disbanded in 1919.
Transport Workers
Battalions - The 12th and 13th Battalions were raised December
1916 and March 1917 respectively and disbanded August and September
1919 respectively. Based in Croydon and although dressed as Infantry,
they were never armed.
Graduated Battalions
- The 51st and 52nd Battalions were raised initially as Norfolk
and Suffolk Battalions respectively that provided home defence from
October 1914. Also served in the British Army of the Rhine between
March and August 1919 until disbanded in March 1920. Following the
introduction of conscription and lowering of service ages, the 53rd
'Young Soldiers'Battalion was affiliated to the Regiment in October
1917 to train young recruits until fit for active service abroad.
Remained in England until 1919. Also served in the British Army
of the Rhine between March and August 1919 until disbanded in March
1920.
Garrison Battalions
- The 1st Battalion was raised in December 1915 and served in India
between February 1916 and December 1919 until disbanded January
1920. The 2nd Battalion was raised in December 1916 and served in
India between February 1917 and December 1919 until Disbanded January
1920. The 3rd
Battalion was raised in January 1917 and served in Burma between
March 1918 and June 1919, thereafter in India from June to December
1919. Disbanded January 1920.
The 1st and 2nd
Volunteer Battalions - Citizen units formed in November 1914
by patriotic citizens for non-specific home defence. Between July
and September 1918 they became a 'Special Service' unit that provided
defence of the coastline around Hunstanton due to the acute manpower
shortage in France.
The
1st/1st Battalion, the Hertfordshire Regiment - A territorial
unit who were sent to France as early as November 1914 and remained
on the Western Front throughout the war. Also called the "Hertfordshire
Guards" due to serving in the 4th Guards Brigade of the veteran
2nd Division for some time.