Bedfordshire Regiment soldiers and their deployments

[Frank Thompson]

My Grandfather was in the Bedfordshire regiment from 1915 to 1917 when he was severely wounded on the Somme and discharged.

I have his service number but I have been unable to find out what battalion he served in. I am particularly interested in finding out what section (s) of the line he may have been deployed to and indeed where else he may have served prior to the Somme.

Do any members know how I may find out this information?

Frank

[PRC]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

 

If you have access to an online source like FindMyPast \ Ancestry, you can check to see if his service records have survived. Unfortunately most went up in flames during the blitz and of those that survive most are burnt or water damaged and are missing key pages.

 

If you don't have access to FMP or Ancestry and you live in the UK, your local library may be able to help you out. They normally offer one or t'other, (and sometimes both) while you are onsite, but due to the Covid-19 restrictions many have come to an arrangement to allow home access, so worth checking out your local library service website.

 

If you have access to Ancestry via subscription \ library, (only source I'm afraid), and his records haven't survived, you can check out the Service Medal Roll for his Victory Medal & British War Medal, (he served in a Theatre of War so he will have qualified). If the clerk at the records office completed this in line with the instructions it should show all the battalion(s) he served with overseas. It won't show you dates but it will then open up other lines of enquiry.

 

There is also a document called the Medal Index Card (MiCs). These literaly were index cards created at the records office late 1918/early 1919 to control the issue of medals. It is unlikely to show you battalion(s) served with as it contains a summary of the information more fully available on the full Service Medal Rolls, but if he landed in a Theatre of War before the end of 1915 it will show you the date. Additional medals applied for men who served overseas before that cut-off point.

 

Depending on the date shown it can also give a clue as to whether he went out with a unit or was later posted to them as part of a replacement draft - which means he must have served with at least one other unit in the UK when he trained. For a list of dates when various battalions of the Bedfordshire Regiment entered a theatre of war see this page on our parent site, the Long, Long Trail. https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-british-infantry-regiments-of-1914-1918/bedfordshire-regiment/

 

MiCs can be seen in a heavily watermarked preview version on the National Archive site: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/british-army-medal-index-cards-1914-1920/

or if you sign up even for just a free account with Ancestry, (which includes a library account!), you can see a better scan of the document. This includes the reverse of the card, although for non-officers a good 90% are blank in my experience.

 

The National Archive is also currently offering free downloads on War Diaries if you register for an account, so once you've nailed down the battalions, this will give you a better idea of where they were serving.

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/british-army-war-diaries-1914-1922/

Alternatively with an Ancestry subscription you can see diaries for units that served in France & Flanders, or Gallipoli on a page by page basis.

Diaries are unlikely to mention your relative by name.

 

The Bedfordshire Regiment in the Great War also has a brilliant source online - http://www.bedfordregiment.org.uk/index.html

It includes anotated transcriptions of the war diaries, and there is a photo and bios section that might be worth a look as you don't know what Battalion your grandfather served with.

 

I believe there are also one or two Bedfordshire experts on the forum, so if you care to post some details they may be able to tease out some more information for you.

 

Hope that gets you started,

Peter

 

 

Edited 5 August , 2020 by PRC
Typo

[Frank Thompson]

Hi Peter,

Apologies for the late reply, I am at sea at the moment and working 6 on 6 off, so not much opportunity to write e-mails.

 

I do have an Ancestry membership and I have done reasonably well tracing the military history of my family. Grandad came back but his brother Joe was MIA at the battle of Arras and his body was never found. Going further back, Grandads Mother had a relative who also lost his leg but this time on the field of Talavera during the peninsula wars. I found more info on him than I did on Grandad, including the fact that his leg was amputated on the field of battle and not in a field hospital.

 

Its when one tries to focus in on a given soldier down to his unit and where they may have been in the order of battle that one often finds that that information is not on line.

 

I have Grandads silver war badge listing which is where I found his service number but thats about all. I have managed to track down where battalions 4, 6, 7 and 8 of the Bedfordshires were deployed on the Somme by finding their relevant division and which army they were attached to, but I am having to assume that he was in 6, 7 or 8 battalion since the others were more specialised in their functions.

 

I will work my way through the info sources you gave me when I get ashore and hopefully I may find out which unit he was in.

 

My Grandad passed away in 1985 but I knew him for a good many years and he did tell me some stories from the front but he would only ever speak about the few amusing incidents that he remembered, never about the bad things that he witnessed. I know the circumstances of how he lost his leg (artillery fire) but that came from my mother, not from him.

Perhaps the most enduring memory I have of him is after my Grandmother died, he came to stay with us for a few months, prior to going into care. One evening the movie "All quiet on the Western Front" was on the TV and he sat in the chair with tears running down his face. While I do wish that I had asked him more, perhaps after all it was better not to have brought it all back again.

 

I am of course, very proud of what he did and as I get older I find myself wanting to know more, but its difficult now as I am the only one left and all that generation of the family are gone now.

 

Nevertheless I shall persist and see where it takes me.

 

Thanks for your kind reply and for the welcome to the forum Peter, its much appreciated.

 

Best regards,

 

Frank Thompson

[PRC]

2 hours ago, Frank Thompson said:

I do have an Ancestry membership and I have done reasonably well tracing the military history of my family. Grandad came back but his brother Joe was MIA at the battle of Arras and his body was never found.

 

Its when one tries to focus in on a given soldier down to his unit and where they may have been in the order of battle that one often finds that that information is not on line.

 

There are snippets here and there which the bloodhounds on the forum are very good at sniffing out. As I said originally, a name and service number would be a good place to start if you'd like our help.

 

Cheers,

Peter

[clk]

Hi Frank,

 

What was his name and service number please?

 

Regards

Chris

[EDWARD1]

The Bedfordshires at the Somme- Battles and Actions

1st Btn- Guillemont, Flers , Morval

2nd Btn- Albert, Transloy

4th Btn- Ancre

6th Btn- Gommecourt, Ancre

7th Btn- Albert, Bazentin Ridge, Ancre Heights, Ancre, Thiepval

nothing on the 8th Now found Flers, Morval, Transloy.

Edited 8 August , 2020 by EDWARD1

[Frank Thompson]

On 08/08/2020 at 14:49, clk said:

Hi Frank,

 

What was his name and service number please?

 

Regards

Chris

Hi Chris and all,

 

This is what I know.

 

Harry Rutt, born Langford Beds, 26/8/1895

Enlisted Bedfordshire regiment, 1/3/1915 service number 19844. Rank: Private, later Lance corporal although this does not appear to have been recorded (field promotion?).

Discharged at Warley 30/6/1917 (lost left leg below the knee due shellfire).

 

My mother told me that he was wounded during a raid on a lightly defended German trench at night, where they intended to try and capture prisoners, documents, maps etc

When they arrived at the trench, it was deserted. They searched the dugouts and then began to return across no mans land towards the British lines. At this point shells began to fall and the officer with them was wounded. They picked him up, and then shortly after that my grandfather was wounded by shrapnel in the leg. His mates carried him back and he was sent to a field hospital, where they amputated his leg a few days later and that was the end of his war. The fate of his officer is unknown.

 

I have no info on the exact date or where in the lines this took place. Neither do I know what other battles he may have been involved with earlier than May/June 1917.

If I knew his battalion then perhaps more may become apparent.

 

His brother Joseph Rutt, service number 32257 or 82257, born Langford Beds, 1891.

In the 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire regiment.

Disappeared on the 27th April 1917 during the battle of Arras. Commemorated on the Arras memorial, Pas de Calais.

 

In the Rutt family there were also 4 other brothers;  John, Eli, Charles and James. All served in the great war, I believe that Joseph was the only one who did not come back although I have not yet researched any of the other brothers. I suspect though that they would all have been in the Bedfordshire regiment.

 

If any of you can provide further info based on the above I would be most grateful.

 

Best regards,

 

Frank Thompson

 

[Frank Thompson]

On 08/08/2020 at 15:54, EDWARD1 said:

The Bedfordshires at the Somme- Battles and Actions

1st Btn- Guillemont, Flers , Morval

2nd Btn- Albert, Transloy

4th Btn- Ancre

6th Btn- Gommecourt, Ancre

7th Btn- Albert, Bazentin Ridge, Ancre Heights, Ancre, Thiepval

nothing on the 8th Now found Flers, Morval, Transloy.

Hi Edward1,

Many thanks for this. If we can confirm what battalion he was in this will help immensely.

Best regards,

Frank Thompson

[EDWARD1]

The Soldiers Effects has 19845 and 19848 in the 4th Battalion

[Pat Atkins]

Can't add to your knowledge about Harry Rutt, I'm afraid, although I gave it a go on Ancestry. Thwarted, I looked at the MICs for Rutt plus Bedfordshire Regt, only one possible candidate for the brothers appeared, so it's likely some/all of them served in other regiments (mind you, the MICs on Ancestry aren't a comprehensive list, so you never know).

 

3/7777 Pte James Rutt, Bedfordshire Rgt. A pre-War Regular or Special Reserve soldier (that 3/ prefix might indicate a SR man whose number was issued at the Regimental depot), he landed in France on the 11th August 1914. Subsequently served as 2102014 Border Regiment, and then transferred to Royal Defence Corps with the number 75012. He was issued with a SWB. 

 

Just looking for Rutt only turned up 76 records (none for an Eli); here are some potential candidates:

 

S/5171 Pte John J Rutt, Army Ordnance Corps. Another Old Contemptible.

195965 Gnr John Rutt, Royal Artillery. Went overseas on or after 1st Jan 1916.

4394 Pte John Rutt, 1st Royal Dragoons. Another Old Contemptible. Discharged 2nd Feb 1916.

22482 Pte Charles Rutt, Devonshire Regiment, later 90640 Labour Corps. Went overseas on or after 1st Jan 1916.

1890 Pte John D Rutt, Hampshire Regt. A Territorial man with a low number and the Territorial Force Medal, so probably lived in Hants?

19896 Pte Charles W Rutt, Royal Army Medical Corps/1 A.T. (No1 Ambulance Train?). Another Old Contemptible; SWB.

6593 Pte Charles E Rutt, Northumberland Fusiliers. Went overseas on or after 1st Jan 1916. Original number a Territorial one, so you'd think this might possibly not be your man. Moved around a number of units.

 

Anyway, good luck in your research.

 

Pat

 

 

 

[johnboy]

If he was 4th bttn this might help

 

http://bedfordregiment.org.uk/4thbn/4thbattalion.html

[Blue Dragoon]

Cant seem to find the 8th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment war diary on ancestry.  Found it at TNA.  My ancestry search techniques may be suspect but the Divisional drop down on ancestry doesn't show 6 Div.  Before I pay for the diary at TNA is it definitely not on Ancestry?

[kenf48]

5 minutes ago, Blue Dragoon said:

Cant seem to find the 8th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment war diary on ancestry.  Found it at TNA.  My ancestry search techniques may be suspect but the Divisional drop down on ancestry doesn't show 6 Div.  Before I pay for the diary at TNA is it definitely not on Ancestry?

 

Diaries are free at TNA at the moment see banner top of page

 

It's here at Ancestry

 

Tip take TNA Reference i.e. 1611 (ignore the full reference WO95/1611/1) put it in the keyword box and there you are/ alternatively browse the Brigade/ alternatively transcribed at Johnboy's link above

[Blue Dragoon]

Nice one Admin Ken!  Many thanks.  Got it!

[kenf48]

On the 8th September 1916 the Biggleswade Chronicle reported that Harry Tutt was "progressing very favourably but it has been found necessary to amputate his right leg below the knee. He is in the Canadian Military Hospital at Taplow."  We can therefore rule out any actions after that date, and are probably looking for a raid (if the family story is true, and we have no grounds to doubt it) probably in August 1916.  I have not searched the casualty records.

 

Close service numbers are not too helpful:-

19842 enlisted 2 March 1915 and posted to 8th Bn 18.1.1916.(Service Record)
19843 ?
19844?
19845 wounded 23 April 1916 serving with 1st Battalion (subsequently kia)
19846 killed on 4 September 1916 while serving with 1st Battalion (trenches shelled)
19847 enlisted 1st March posted to 2nd Bn 22.6.15 (Service Record)
19848 wounded whilst serving with 4th Bn 11.2.1917 (DoW)
19849 wounded 6th Battalion 30.10.1916

 

Pte Harry Rutt was awarded the BWM and Victory Medal, which means he did not go to France until after 31 December 1915.  Therefore his service at the Front was no longer than eight and a bit months i.e. no earlier than January 1st 1916 to 8th September 1916 when he is reported to be in hospital in the U.K.

Assuming he was wounded August 1916:-

The 6th Bn heavily engaged, many casualties (Battle of Pozieres Wood) no 'raids' recorded.

The 7th Bn carried out a 'dummy raid' on the 15th August although the diary records the enemy response as 'feeble' 2nd Lt Roeber was killed along with three other ranks and 2 O.R.wounded.

The 8th Bn carried out a 'dummy raid' on the 16th August 1 OR killed 1 OR wounded no mention of officer casualties.

 

Therefore the action of the 7th is the best fit to the family story but the diary records, 'the enemy manned the parapet', so not unoccupied.

 

More questions than answers

 

3 hours ago, Frank Thompson said:

Lance corporal although this does not appear to have been recorded

 

Lance Corporal was an appointment, as soon as he was evacuated he was taken off strength and lost the stripe when posted (administratively) to the Depot Battalion strength.

[clk]

Hi Frank,

 

1 hour ago, kenf48 said:

On the 8th September 1916 the Biggleswade Chronicle reported that... He is in the Canadian Military Hospital at Taplow.

 

I don't think that it's available as an online download, but in the Canadian archives they have this (link):

 

 

I don't know if the Canadians kept their hospital admission and discharge registers in the same format as the Brits, but if they did it might record a Bn number for Harry. An example page of a British Admission/Discharge Register is:

Image sourced from Findmypast

 

Regards

Chris

[PRC]

Has anyone with subscription access to Ancestry actually checked the VM & BWM Service Medal Roll - I can't see a specific statement to that effect in the replies so far.

 

I've tried FMP papers and The Times to see if he crops up in a Casualty List there, but no luck.

 

Cheers,

Peter

[clk]

Hi Peter,

 

I did, but unfortunately the roll is silent on the specific battalions.

 

Regards

Chris

[PRC]

5 hours ago, clk said:

Hi Peter,

 

I did, but unfortunately the roll is silent on the specific battalions.

 

Regards

Chris

 

Thanks Chris for checking.

 

14-8-16 Very quiet day. Our artillery cut two gaps in enemy's front wire in preparation for a dummy raid. Lewis guns fired on gaps during night.

15-8-16 Day quiet. At 10 p.m. a dummy raid was carried out. Our artillery & mortars bombarded a section of enemy's trenches for 30minutes & then simulated a lift, at the same time we showed pole targets above our parapets & sent over smoke. Enemy manned his parapet & opened fire with machine guns & rifles. A very heavy fire was then opened by our 18 pounders & Stokes mortars & it is thought that enemy suffered severe losses. His artillery reply was feeble. Our losses were 2nd Lieut.Roeber [David Arnold ROEBER] & 3 O.R. killed & 2 O.R. wounded.

http://www.bedfordregiment.org.uk/7thbn/7thbtn1916diary.html

 

So I doubled down on the Casualty List and went looking for the 3 others killed and 2 other ranks wounded in the raid on the 15th August 1916 to see if Harry Rutt appears in the same list but has been mistranscribed.

 

The 7th Battalion were relieved on the night of the 16th, so it would seem likely any man of the Battalion who died of wounds over the next few days might have been wounded in the raid if they are still fairly close to the front line.

 

The weird thing is there no men recorded on CWGC as serving with the 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment and who died between the 15th and 18th August 1916.

 

The explanation comes the CWGC record for the 18 year old Second Lieutenant David Arnold Roeber. He is shown as having died on the 14th August 1916.

He is buried at Ration Farm Military Cemetery, La Chappelle-D-Armentieres in Grave II.C.2.

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/58785/DAVID ARNOLD ROEBER/

 

CWGC has two other ranks recorded as having died on the 14th. All the other men recorded as having died on the 14th August 1916 and buried at Ration Farm Military Cemetery were serving with the 11th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers.

 

The two 7th Bedfords men are:-

 

Serjeant 13834 W.H. Price, also buried at Ration Farm Military Cemetery. He is in Grave II.D.2.

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/58749/

Soldiers Died in the Great War has him as William Henry Price, Killed in Action, born, resident and enlisted Bristol.

No obvious match The Times.

No surviving service records.

Sergeant 13834 W.H. Price, Bedfordshire Regiment, next of kin recorded as living at Bristol, appears under the heading “Killed” in a Casualty List that appeared in the Western Daily Press on Friday, 15th September 1916. It is said to be the previous nights Casualty List.

 

Private 22868 C. Tyler is in the same Cemetery, in Grave II.D.5

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/58874/

Soldiers Died in the Great War has him as Cecil Tyler, Killed in Action, born Datchworth, Herts, resident Burnham Green, Welwyn and enlisted Hertford.

No obvious match The Times.

No surviving service records.

Lives of the first World War adds nothing relevant to resolving this issue https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/5355674

Private  C.Tyler, 22,868 of the Bedfordshire Regiment was reported as Killed in a Casualty List that appeared in the Hertford Mercury and Reformer dated Saturday, September 23, 1916. Unfortunately for our purpose someone has gone through probably several days Casualty Lists and shown them sorted by place – in Private Tylers’ case that’s Welwyn.

 

So that gives a more targeted source to look for the relevant complete casualty list which appears to be the one that appeared in the Times on Friday, September 15th, 1916.

 

Killed.

 

Bedford R. – Hall, 15475 L.-Cpl S; Hibbert, 15454 W.J.;Linsell, 25782 G.; Price 13834 Sgt. W.H.; Tyler 22868 C.; Tyler, 19960, J.

 

15475 Sidney Ball 12/08/1916 , 15454 William James Hibbert 18/08/1916, 25782 G. Linsell 18/08/1916, 19960 J. Tyler 17/08/1916 – all 8th Battalion.

 

Died of Wounds.

 

Bedford R. – Bavister, 18577 W; Croot, 17751 H; Edwards, 14081 L.-Cpl. F.

 

18577 W Bavister died in the UK 03/08/1916, 17751 Hugh Croot, 6th Bn died 16/08/1916 Rouen, 14081 F. Edwards, 6th Bn died 19/08/1916 Rouen.

 

Wounded.

 

Bedford R. – Avery, 19441 J.H.; Annison, 28158 T.H.; Barrowclough, 15736 N.; Brewer, 19473 G.A.; Church, 26764 S.; Cook, 23654(?) P.; Denton, 19705 E.G.; Dimmock, 13007 L.-Cpl. J. : Findlay, 14174 S.; Goodman, 20334 F.; Janes, 22423 W.; Jordan, 18277 A.; Keep, 27048 C.A.; Lees, 23677 A.; Mills, 14627 E.G.; Moore, 16482 J.H.; Pendle, 20050(?) P.A.; Price, 20669 J; Pyett, 17091 Sgt. F.R.; Racher, 17265 B.; Richards, 16824 L.-Cpl. E.; Sharp, 19985 A.F; Smith, 15202 F.; Sturgeon, 13393 V.H.

 

19941 John H. Avery, Lives of the First World War has him as 8th Bn.

28158 Thomas Henry Annison, surviving Service Records. Wounded 09/08/1916 with 6th Bn.

15734 Norman Barrowclough Admitted August 1917 to a Field Ambulance while with the 4th Bn.

19473 Geoffrey Albert. Brewer, surviving Service Records. Admitted Field Ambulance August 1916, GS \ Shell Wound. Serving 8th Bn.

26764 Sydney Church, died at Arras in 1917 with the 7th Bn.

Cook \ Cooke –

19705 Edward George Denton, died in the Kaiserlacht with 7th Bn

13007 John Dimmock admitted 11 CCS 31/10/1916 while with 6th Bn.

14174 Scott Findlay 6th Bn on MiC.

20334 Frank Goodman

22423 William Janes admitted 3 CCS 18.08/1916 while with 8th Bn.

18277 Arthur Jordan admitted 3 CCS 18.08/1916 while with 8th Bn.

27048 Cecil Arthur Keep. Surviving service records. GSW Neck admitted FA 10/08/1916 probably with 6th Bn.

23677 Albert Lees Missing from the 27/03/1918 while with 4 Bn (ICRC) \ Kia 25/03/1918 SDGW.

14627 Ernest Mills.

16482 James Henry Moore, surviving service records.1st Bn attached 15th Trench Mortar Battery. GSW ankle, 27/07/1916.

P.A.Pendle ???

20669 James Price, surviving service records. 2 pages Regimental Conduct sheet, multiple undated amendments relating to unit.

17091 Frederick R Pyett FMP has Part 11 Orders sheet dated 02/05/1917 – NCO to be attached to a Training Reserve Bn.

17265 Bert Racher

16824 Edward Richards

19985 Arthur Frederick Sharp. Surviving service records. Multiple GSW (Shell) August 19th 1916 with 8th Bn, discharged June 1917 as a result.

15202 Fred Smith

13393 Victor H Sturgeon Discharged 11 CCS 14/01/1918 to 2nd Bn. Captured Kaiserlacht 22/03/1918 with 2nd Bn.

 

Wounded – Shell-Shock.

 

Bedford R. – Dawes, 28935 G.W.; Parkins, 18339 E.H.

 

28935 George William Dawes, KiA 10/08/1917 with 6th Bn.

18339 Ernest H Dawkins admitted 149th Field Ambulance 15/11/1916 while serving with 6th Bn.

 

I didn’t go through every page of every edition of The Times, but checking the casualty lists over the following fortnight there is no sign of Harry Rutt.

 

Not sure how much that helps,

Peter

Edited 10 August , 2020 by PRC
Formatting

[kenf48]

On 10/08/2020 at 12:02, Frank Thompson said:

If any of you can provide further info based on the above I would be most grateful.

 

The Biggleswade Chronicle 21 December 1917 again (courtesy of BNA on FMP)

 

 

[PRC]

26 minutes ago, kenf48 said:

 

The Biggleswade Chronicle 21 December 1917 again (courtesy of BNA on FMP)

 

 

 

Unfortunately the Biggleswade Chronicle of the 18th January 1918 posted an apology (of sorts!)

 

 (Source - FindMyPast).

 

Cheers,

Peter

 

 

[kenf48]

Further update from the Biggleswade news desk (ibid)

25 August 1916

I've looked at the previous week's newspaper but can't find the original report the previous week (but they don't seem very accurate as Peter shows) but it is pushing his wounding further back

 

Incidentally they published a letter from Stanley on the 4 August

[kenf48]

Found it 11 August (courtesy of FMP)

 

Frustratingly still does not give his Battalion

 

[PRC]

So we can rule out the trench raids in the middle of August if it appears in a newspaper dated Friday 11th August 1916 and said to have arrived Wednesday 9th .

 

And as the Somme was raging, I suspect any longer term casualties would have been medically evacuated back to the UK asap, so unless his letter was held up, you are probably looking at no more than a fortnight, allowing for mail delivery, of roughly the 25th July 1916 to the 8th August 1916. I believe that would pretty much rule out the 7th & 8th Battalions.

 

For the 6th Battalion we have several possibilities in which officers are killed or wounded.

 

31 Jul 1916 - Becourt Wood Battn marched to BECOURT WOOD 2500 yds E. of ALBERT.

WAR DIARY FOR AUGUST 1916

1 Aug 1916 - Becourt Wood Batt at BECOURT WOOD. 11 officers arrived.

3 Aug 1916 - Bottom Wood Trenches To trenches at BOTTOM WOOD north of FRICOURT

5 Aug 1916 1 Offr. 10 O.R. wounded in working party.

6 Aug 1916 - Bazentin-le-Petit Batt at BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT (1 O.R. wounded).

7 Aug 1916 8 O.R. killed. 1 offr & 24 O.R. wounded.

8-9 Aug 1916 [The Battle of Pozières] 1 O.R. killed. 1 offr. & 13 O.R. wounded. 1st intermediate line attacked at 9.20 pm. 1 Offr & 8 O.R. killed. 25 O.R. missing. 2 offrs & 49 O.R. wounded [comment; see Report on Operations below for details]

At 9.15 p.m. a heavy artillery barrage was opened by the Germans which enfiladed our trenches. This fire came from the direction of HIGH WOOD.

At 9.30 p.m. Nos 1, 2, 3 & 4 patrols left the trenches. No.5 and the party under Lt. Jesson [Arthur JESSON] waited because ordered by O.C. B Coy. till artillery fire slackened.

Elements of Nos 1 & 2 patrols got over the ridge but were held up by M.G.s & rifle fire. No.2 patrol had great difficulty in getting out of the trench & the officer was rendered unconscious as soon as he got on the parapet. This patrol appears to have become somewhat disorganised & did not get very far forward.

No.4 patrol had both officers & Sergeant killed [William Hugh SHERVINGTON and Wallace Bernard HAMILTON]

No.5 patrol suffered most casualties, losing its officer [Lt. Jesson] [Arthur JESSON] & 2 Sergts. Lt Saunders [Douglas Mill SAUNDERS, MC]

I/C No.2 patrol says that he could see Germans manning the trench. The impression seems to be that there were at least 2 M.G.'s between the black [remarks crossed through] road 5.2.d central Lt. Jesson [Arthur JESSON] who was making for the C.T. at S.2.c.8.4., could not get within bombing distance owing to M.G. & rifle fire. Fire also appears to have come from the switch line & from the NE direction, perhaps HIGH WOOD. The patrols found shell holes sand bagged in front of the intermediate line.

My own impression is that the Intermediate [unreadable] is strongly held with M.G.s & with men & has not been much damaged by our artillery fire. If a patrol attempt is made under a barrage, the hostile artillery in the direction of HIGH WOOD must be smothered if heavy casualties are to be avoided

F.H. EDWARDS, Lt-Col, [Francis Hyde EDWARDS, DSO, MC] Cmdg 6/Bedf. R. 9/8/16

Source and acknowledgement to http://www.bedfordregiment.org.uk/6thbn/6thbtn1916diary.html#6thBn8Aug1916report

 

The 2nd Battalion were in action on the 29th & 30th July 1916.

http://www.bedfordregiment.org.uk/2ndbn/2ndbtn1916diary.html

 

The 1st Battalion were in action at Longueval from the 27th July 1916 to the 2nd August 1916.

http://www.bedfordregiment.org.uk/1stbn/1stbtn1916diary.html

 

Hope that helps - would one persons patrol, (which could have taken place during a consolidation after an assault as well as the normal attempt to dominate no-mans land), have been another persons raid?

 

Cheers,

Peter

 

Edited 11 August , 2020 by PRC
Typo

[kenf48]

1 hour ago, PRC said:

I believe that would pretty much rule out the 7th & 8th Battalions.

 

I tend to agree, it also rules out the 4th, I feel we're groping towards a resolution but the Biggleswade Chronicle could help a bit more!

I think they are probably steering clear of naming Battalions thanks to DORA though they do occasionally in lists of the wounded. 

Searching it is making me cross eyed as his name doesn't come up on a straightforward search.

 

Mind you it would have been even easier if the clerks had completed the Roll like every other Infantry Regiment instead of adopting the LC, MGC approach.

 

Ken