Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    X550/6/8/1903
  • Title
    War Diary for March 1919 1 Mar 1919 - Helmieh 49 men were sent off to KANTARA for demobilisation. Capt HARE returned from hospital and resumed duty as Adjutant 2 Mar 1919 Church Parade in Brigade Theatre at 0900. Weather for the last two days very hot, with temperature considerably above the average for the time of year 3 Mar 1919 Battn cross country team ran in the morning in the trial for the selection of a team to represent the EEF in the Imperial Sports. Capt R.G. FERGUSON and Pte MEDCALF secured places in the team, which otherwise consisted largely of Indians. Battn heavy & light weight teams pulled the 4th Northants. The heavyweights won but the lightweights were beaten. There was an orchestral & vocal concert in the Bde Theatre at 2000 by the Divisional Orchestra & some civilian singers 4 Mar 1919 The lightweight tug of war team pulled the 6th Essex who were disqualified for being over weight. Out two teams thus won the Bde Competition and commenced training for the EEF championship at Alexandria 5 Mar 1919 Routine and Educational Classes as usual CO presented medals to winners of Divisional Cross Country Race at Orderly Room. 6 Mar 1919 Battn had use baths 0600 to1000. Meeting of Bedfordshire officers 1000 in Regimental Associations etc. A lecture on Germany's War Aims was given at 1100. Battn football team beat the 8th Hants 3-1 in the Welfare Cup 7 Mar 1919 Routine & Educational Classes as usual. CO inspected men proceeding to UK early in the morning of the 8th. Men who had been 28 days in hospital 28 Demobilisers & pivotal men 5 8 Mar 1919 BGC 162 Bde inspected the Regimental accounts. Party for demobilisation paraded with drums 0445 and marched to station 9 Mar 1919 Church parade in Bde Theatre at1000 for ourselves & 11th London. The battn was on Bde and Divl duty 10 Mar 1919 Picquet of 4 officers and 100 OR dod not return from CAIRO in the morning owing to native disturbances. 3 officers and 75 OR returned this evening, the remainder being detained at NASRIEH hospital. Orders received in the evening for 200 men with a proportion of officers to stand by. All leave and passes to CAIRO cancelled 11 Mar 1919 Remaining officer & 25 OR of picquet returned about 1900. Orders received for 300 men to be in readiness to proceed with 400 men of 11th London REgt under Lt Col A.H.WINDSOR, CMG to relieve 1/10th London Regt who were on duty at BAB-EL-HADID barracks. Two provisional Coys formed udner Capt R.G.FERGUSON & Capt J.C.DOWNIE, MC and orders issued 12 Mar 1919 All proceeded to Cairo on duty in consequence of the disturbances. The party to be retained as cadre was selected 13 Mar 1919 Information re. the probable reorganisation of the Battalion published in orders. The CO decided to form two companies one consisting of men for early demobilization & the other of Army of Occupation men and the C.O. visited detachment at Bab-el-Hadid 14 Mar 1919 Routine as usual & Bathing. Town picquets returned from Cairo 15 Mar 1919 Reorganization of the Battalion into two companies. E.E.F. boxing finals 16 Mar 1919 200 O.Ranks ordered to proceed to KHANKA at 0600 on account of the disturbances 17 Mar 1919 A Flying Column was formed & held in readiness to move 18 Mar 1919 The Flying Column was standing by all day 19 Mar 1919 Q Coy (100 OR) flying column ordered to proceed to Bab-el-Hadid by 1300 20 Mar 1919 One coy flying column standing by 21 Mar 1919 One coy flying column standing by 22 Mar 1919 The C.O. & Adjutant left for WASTA & Col Daniell took command of the Flying Column 23 Mar 1919 Orders received for P Coy Flying Column to proceed to Kasr-el-Nil Barracks by 0800 tomorrow 26 Mar 1919 Orders received to the effect that certain posts at KHANNA will be relieved by 1/5th Norfolk Regt 31 Mar 1919 Orders received for Battalion Headquarters to prepare to move to HELOUAN 1/5 BEDFORDSHIRE REGIMENT ORDER No.3. 11 March 1919 (1) A party of 700 men of 162nd. Infantry Brigade under the command of Major Hooper M.C. 1/11th London Regiment will relieve the 1/10th. London Regiment in CAIRO tomorrow. (2) 1/5th. Bedfordshire Regiment will provide two provisional Companies of 4 officers and 150 men each, to be known as "C" and "D" Coys respectively under the command of Capt. R.G. Ferguson & Capt. J.C. Downie M.C. (3) Dress will be "Marching Order" with 50 rounds S.A.A. and 1 blanket, 24 hours rations per man will be carried. (4) The party will be ready to move C Coy at 0700 and D Coy at 0900, and will load into Motor Lorries at Divisional H.Q. at that hour. (5) 15 Latrine Buckets will be taken. (6) Capt. Ferguson will report to Major Hooper outside Divisional H.Q. at 0700. (7) On arrival in Cairo all officers will report to A.P.M. at Bab-el-Hadid. (8) Q.M. & T.O. will arrange for 2 Cookers with Cooks to proceed to Bab-el-Hadid Barracks during the morning for use of the party as long as it is on this duty. Cooks and Drivers will be armed as in para (3) (9) Acknowledge. AMENDMENT TO 1/5th BEDFORDSHIRE REGIMENT ORDER No.3 11 March 19. 1. "C" and "D" Provisional Coys will be concentrated on the ground lately occupied by 1/4th Northamptonshire Regt. by 0650. The Lorries will be dispatched as quickly as possible in batches of 5. 2. Lieut. Col. A.M. Windsor. C.M.G. 1/11th London Rgt will be in command of the Brigade Party. 3. Breakfasts for "C" and "D" Coys will be at 0600
  • Date free text
    1-31 Mar 1919
  • Production date
    From: 1919 To: 1919
  • Level of description
    item
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