Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    X550/2/5/1411
  • Title
    War Diary for November 1914 1 Nov 1914 - Gorre 4 a.m. returned to GORRE 2 Nov 1914 - in trenches east of Festubert 5 pm ordered back to support native troops on line E. of FESTUBERT. 3 Nov 1914 6 a.m. returned to Gorre. 4 pm ordered to proceed to trenches occupied by Black Watch & reinforce them. This section of line to be under command of Lt. Col. Griffith 1 Bedf Regt. 4 Nov 1914 - Gorre Relieved about 9 p.m. by Indian Troops, & returned to GORRE about midnight. 1 man killed. 5 Nov 1914 - Locon Hd Qrs & 2 companies received orders at 5pm to move at once to LOCON, en route to rejoin 15th Infantry Brigade. Battn moved at 7pm. 6 Nov 1914 - trenches south of Menin Road Left LOCON 7 a.m. in motor 'buses, & proceeded to near YPRES where we halted. Moved again on foot at 5 p.m. via Ypres, & Hooge to trenches in wood south of road, where remaining two companies of Battn had arrived on previous day. Passed 2nd Bn. Bedf. Regt near BAILLEUL, resting: 1st Battn relieved them in firing line. 7 Nov 1914 Enemy broke through line held by Regt about 200 yards to our left, carrying next Regt & some of our men with them. Our supports were moved to left by self, Capt.Monteith & Adjutant, & assisted in driving enemy back. Qr.Mr.Sergt.Byford (awarded Distinguished C. Medal) collected about 40 men & captured trench held by 21 Germans, killing or capturing all. Pte.Falla (awarded Distinguished C. Medal) ran on in advance, & getting on left of trench enfiladed enemy whilst remainder were rushing the trench. Our casualties about 7 officers & 140 other ranks killed wounded 7 missing. 8 Nov 1914 No serious attack 9 Nov 1914 Sergt.Mart, assisted by Corporal Cyster succeeded in creeping up to trench occupied by enemy, where 2 machine guns had been previously lost. Found only about 1 German actually with guns, though adjoining trench, a few yards away in prolongation, was occupied. Sergt.Mart shot the German & guns were safely brought back. 1 wounded soldier found in trench also. He was brought back by Mart assisted by 2nd Lt.Garrod & others. Mart & Garrod in turns facing the enemy to keep their heads down by accurate fire at a few yards range. Battalion thanked in wire from Corps Commander. Sergt.Mart wounded. Casualties about 17 killed 7 wounded. 10 Nov 1914 No serious attack: 2 Lt.Garrod wounded. 11 Nov 1914 Enemy broke through Fusiliers line about 200 yds from our left. In attack on our line about 5 killed & 17 wounded. Line partially restored by counter attack on our left. 12-13 Nov 1914 Fairly quiet in Bedfordshire front, except for heavy shelling which affected other Battns more than us. Our casualties about 5 men from rifle fire. Battn ordered to prepare new line of front, as withdrawal possible owing to situation on our left 14 Nov 1914 In consequence of enemy having broken through line to left of Battn Bedfords & Cheshires ordered to withdraw front line to new position about 300 yards in rear, about 4 pm. Germans enfiladed & drove back part of Cheshire Regt advanced trench on right of small advanced trench held by Bedfords leaving our right 'in the air'. In subsequent hand to hand fighting in advanced trench, Lt Pope & about 10 men missing, believed to be captured; about 11 men killed & wounded. Hard to see exactly what happened as it was getting dark. 15-18 Nov 1914 Fairly quiet. Usual bursts of rifle fire at intervals, & constant intermittent shelling only mild attacks at various parts of line. 3 killed 7 wounded. Shells usually over front trenches & slightly to left of supports. 19 Nov 1914 - Sanctuary Wood, Hooge Relieved at 8.30 pm by Worcester Regt, & retired about 3/4 mile to reserve dugouts in wood, near HOOGE, arriving about midnight. 20 Nov 1914 Remained in dugouts awaiting relief by French. Occasional shelling, nor very near us. 21 Nov 1914 - Loker Battn relieved in support trenches by French troops: marched via YPRES, VLAMERTINGE to LOCRE to billets. Road shelled occasionally with shrapnel, 22-23 Nov 1914 Remained in billets at LOCRE. Endeavoured to reorganize as far as possible & to get all ranks washed: considerable difficulties as freezing hard & accomodation [sic] very limited 24 Nov 1914 - St-Jans-Cappel Marched to St.JANS CAPPEL to be billeted 25 Nov 1914 Remained in billets 26 Nov 1914 Major Mackenzie V.C. joined the Battn. bringing with him 2nd Lt.Baker (4th Kings Own) & 11 N.C.O. & men. 27 Nov 1914 Remained in billets; drawing clothing etc as far as possible to make good deficiencies 28 Nov 1914 - trenches north west of Wulvergem Marched via DRANOUTRE to trenches N.W. of Wolverghem, & relieved Worcester Regt. at 8 pm 29 Nov 1914 Trenches disconnected & in bad condition: communicating trenches full of water. Men kept hard at work trying to revet & improve trenches, & bail out water. Casualties - 8 wounded. 30 Nov 1914 An extra section of trench about 300 yards in extent handed over to the battn. This section full of unburied French soldiers & old trenches. In very close contact with Germans, whose trenches, on slightly higher ground, were within about 25 yards. A company of another Regt. detailed to assist in reserve owing to weakness of Battn.
  • Date free text
    1-30 Nov 1914
  • Production date
    From: 1914 To: 1914
  • Level of description
    item
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