Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    X550/6/8/1810
  • Title
    War Diary for October 1918 1 Oct 1918 - Haifa Battn moved 0520 and arrived HAIFA 0900. About 9 miles. Bivouac area on beach W of town near Franciscan Convent. Town out of bounds to all ranks. 2 Oct 1918 Coys at disposal of Coy Comdrs for interior economy. Short parade for practising guard mounting. Washing & mending clothes etc. Shorts in very bad condition. Troops allowed in town on pass up to 1800. 3 Oct 1918 Coys at disposal of Coy Comdrs. Orders received to move next day to ACRE. CO rode there to find out duties to be taken over from 7th Div. 4 Oct 1918 - Acre Battn moved 1100. Halted at 1300 for dinners. Went on 1415, arrived ACRE 1645. Going very good along beach. Bivouaced on beach S of town. A Coy took over guards from 7th Div, B Coy established line of picquets to prevent inhabitants leaving town. CO takes over OC Troops ACRE. 5 Oct 1918 Owing to mosquitoes bivouac moved to edge of sea N of town. Duties organised as follows. Guard 3NCO 6 OR HAIFA gate and 5 picquets each of 1 NCO & 9 OR to prevent inhabitants leaving town. System of permits arranged by which villagers can enter & merchants can leave town between 0500 & 1700. Permit officer on duty at HAIFA gate 0500 to 1700 assisted by local gendarmerie. Main Guard of 1 officer 4 NCO's & 21 OR finding two guards of 1 NCO & 6 each and also all police patrols in town. Water Tower guard 1NCO & 9OR also doing duty of No.4 picquet. Guard of 1NCO & 6OR on bridge over Nahr NAMEIN. Men allowed in town without pass 1100 to 1700. 6 Oct 1918 Coy cash drawn from HAIFA. Draft of 68 OR arrived. Voluntary service 1500. 7 Oct 1918 A Coy wnt on to MUSHEIREFEH starting 0730 to protect 34th Sikh Pioneers & 495 Field Coy working on road. 8 Oct 1918 Working party of 1 Coy for RE working on bridge over Nahr NAMEIN. Coy parades 9 Oct 1918 RE working party. Coy parades etc. Particular attention paid to close order drill. 10 Oct 1918 Picquet line round ACRE withdrawn 1700. Guards except HAIFA gate guard as usual. RE working party and Coy parades. 11 Oct 1918 Working party & Coy parades as usual 12 Oct 1918 Divisional Comdr presented ribbons to recipients of DCM & MM in recent operations 1115. Training progamme for following week issued. 13 Oct 1918 Church parade 0800. 14 Oct 1918 NCO's class of 5 NCO's per Coy started for instruction in drill, PT & BF Battn route march 0800. Through ACRE & out along NAZARETH road returning 1200. Route march for all employed men 1300. NCO's exam for all below rank of substantive Sgt 1300, 2 hr paper. 15 Oct 1918 CinC passed through on way to BEIRUT about 0630. Met by CO on S of town and guided through. Battn drill 0815-0900. remainder of morning Coy parades & specialist training. NCO's exam concluded by 1 hr paper 1300. 16 Oct 1918 Battn route march 0800 along road running NE from ACRE, return 1200 met by BGC. 17 Oct 1918 Battn drill 0800-0900. Coy parades & specialist training 18 Oct 1918 Battn Route March. Commenced list of old guns in ACRE with locations & positions 19 Oct 1918 Battn Drill 0800-0900. Specialist & Coy Drill after 20 Oct 1918 Battn Church Pde 0800. C.C Conference 1000. List of Old Guns completed Toital Number 120. 21 Oct 1918 Battn Drill 0800-0900. Coy & Specialist Training after. 22 Oct 1918 Battn Drill 0800-0900. Coy & Specialist Training after. C.O. to meet Maj.Cumberbach Staff Training Officer at 0900 23 Oct 1918 Battn Drill 0800-0900 Coy & Specialist Training after. 24 Oct 1918 - Khirbet el Musherifye 0635 Battn moved with Brigade Group from ACRE to KH.EL.MUSHERIFYE arriving there at 1130. 25 Oct 1918 - Ras el Ain 0540 Battn moved with Bde Group to RAS EL AIN arriving there at 1130. Thunderstorm with heavy showers in evening 26 Oct 1918 - Nahr el Khasimye 0713 Battn moved with Bde Group to NAHR EL KHASIMYE arriving there at 1040. Heavy rain on arrival for 4hrs. 27 Oct 1918 - Ain el Burak 0723 Battn moved with Bde Group to AIN EL BURAK arriving there at 1120 28 Oct 1918 - Saida 0700 Battn moved with Bde Group to SAIDA arriving there 0930 29 Oct 1918 - ed Damur 0636 Battn moved with Bde Group to ED DAMUR arriving there at 1130 30 Oct 1918 - el Hadeth 0941 Battn moved with Bde Group to EL HADETH arriving there at 1430 31 Oct 1918 - Beirut 0746 Battn moved with Bde Group through BEIRUT. Bde halted outside town & prepared for a Ceremonial march through. 1030 Bde Group less wheeled & camel transport marched through BEIRUT. When in the SQUARE Corps Commander with other General officers British & French took the salute. Troops were received by populace wit henthusiasm. Bde bivouaced one mile E of town. Troops allowed into town until 1900. Official Wire received Re Armistice between TURKEY and the ALLIES. During the month an epidemic of fever has been experienced malarial cases being numerous 1/5th. BEDFORDSHIRE REGIMENT Order No 2 3rd. october 1918 1. The Bn. will move tomorrow to ACRE, complete with 1st. Line Transport, Baggage Wagons, and Camels, and will take over all duties from the 7th. Indian Division and will be responsible for the defence of ACRE. 2. The Bn. will be ready to move at 1055. Coys will move in the following order: - "A" Coy. H.Q.Coy. "B" Coy. Drums. "C" Coy. "D" Coy. Stretcher Bearer Section. 1st. Line Transport under T.O. 2nd. Line Transport under T.O. Camel Transport under Q.M. 3. The Bn. will halt at about 1300 for dinners. 2nd. Line Supply Wagons will be drawn loaded from Supply Depot by the Q.M. and join Bn. in passing.
  • Date free text
    1-31 Oct 1918
  • Production date
    From: 1918 To: 1918
  • Level of description
    item
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