Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue

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Reference
X550/3/WD/1412
Title
War Diary for December 1914 1 Dec 1914 - trenches near Fleurbaix? New fire trench commenced by digging. Moonlight. Iron loopholes issued. 2 periscopes issued. 2 Dec 1914 Captain H.C.Jackson joined. 3 Dec 1914 - Fleurbaix? In Billets. 4 Dec 1914 The G.O.C. 7 Div, inspected the Battalion on parade with the special purpose of saying a few words to those who had fought at YPRES. He expressed himself satisfied & pleased with the turnout & appearance of the Battalion & glad to see the strength of the Battalion. He reminded us that at Ypres we had been put to a severe test, that of holding the line against 3 times our own numbers & congratulated the Battn. on the way it had behaved especially in view of the fact that so many of the officers had been killed & wounded including the C.O. & 2nd in command. He further reminded us that the enemy must be pushed back before we could consider ourselves the victors & that we must all bear this in mind & he was sure that when the time came we should do credit to the name of the Regiment & the Army. 5 Dec 1914 6-8 Dec 1914 - in trenches In trenches. 9-11 Dec 1914 - Fleurbaix? Billets. 12 Dec 1914 - in trenches In trenches Captain Saner & Lieut.Mayne & 30 other ranks joined. 13 Dec 1914 - Fleurbaix The Battalion was relieved from the trenches. The Right flank & Centre Companies being relieved by Gordon Highlanders 20th Bde. & Left flank by S.Staff.R.22 Bde. A Company (centre) were not actually relieved till 8.30 A.M. Dec.14. The Battalion billeted in old billets around FLEURBAIX. 14 Dec 1914 - le Pont-de-Nieppe the Brigade moved to billets at PONT DE NIEPPE, Battalions moved independently at hour intervals. A.Company followed independently to the Battalion; following later. 14-17 Dec 1914 In billets at PONT DE NIEPPE in Corps Reserve to III Corps. The Battalion was to support an attack by 10th Infantry Bde. which did not take place. 18 Dec 1914 - trenches near Fleurbaix The Battalion marched back to FLEURBAIX & went into old billets for the afternoon. The Battalion proceeded to the trenches at dusk & were prepared to support an attack to be delivered by 2 Bn. Yorkshire Regt. from our trenches. C.Company was to take German advanced trench to the right of the Yorkshire Regt. The attack was however countermanded early in morning Dec.19th. the Battalion remained in the trenches. 19 Dec 1914 In trenches. 2/Lieut.DUSCHENES [sic] 3rd Battn.Bedf.R. 2/Lt.W.HUTTON WILLIAMS, 3 East Surrey Regt. & 6 other ranks reinforcements. 20 Dec 1914 21 Dec 1914 - Fleurbaix Battn. relieved by 2 Bn.Yorkshire Regt. 22 Dec 1914 FLEURBAIX shelled at night. 10.20pm. Shrapnel bullets entered C.O. & Adjutant's Bedrooms from shell which struck the MAIRIE. No one hurt. 23 Dec 1914 Brigadier inspected drafts. Snowing. Lieut.F.G.C.ASHMEAD-BARTLETT, 4 Battn.Bedf.R. & 2/Lt.F.POWELL Indian Army joined. 24 Dec 1914 -in trenches In trenches 25 Dec 1914 Christmas day. "The Truce". The following is the substance of a report forwarded by C.O. to Brigade H.Q. "On evening of 24th Dec.1914 at about 8 p.m. the Germans were singing in their trenches. There were numerous lights on their parapets apparently on Christmas trees. A voice shouted from their trenches & could be distinctly heard "I want to arrange to bury the dead. Will someone come out & meet me". 2/Lt.de Buriatte went out with 3 men & met 5 Germans the leader of whom spoke excellent English but was not an officer. He said he had lived in Brighton & Canada. This German said they wished to bury about 24 of their dead but would not do so at night as they were afraid of their artillery might open fire and they could not stop them and this would not be fair to us. No arrangement was made at the time. During the conversation the German said he belonged to the 15th Regt. & gave Lt.de Buriatte a postcard with the following information. The addressee was in the 12th Company 3rd Battalion 15 Infantry Regiment 26 Infantry Bde. 7th Army Corps. The men also had 15 on their shoulder straps. The red band round their Caps was covered with grey cloth. This morning 25th inst. at 10 A.M. a German officer and 2 men unarmed came out of their trenches with a white flag and were met by Captain H.C.Jackson and asked to be permitted to bury their dead so we said we would not fire till 11.30 A.M. to give them time & this was done. My men had already buried some on night of 24/25. It was noticed that the German trenches were strongly held their [sic] being a large number of men sitting on the parapet during the time the bodies were being buried. The men were a young lot from 19-25 years well turned out & clean. I had given strict orders that none of my men were to go towards the enemy's lines without definite orders & that no one except those on duty were to be looking over the parapet. No Germans were allowed to come near our trenches. The German wire was closely inspected & is as previously reported. During the period that no firing was taking place one of my Company Sergeant Majors was speaking to a German when an elderly officer passed. The German said he was the "Divisioner". This German also said they were very comfortable in a nice village behind but did not give the name! He seemed surprised that our troops were not an elderly Reserve class. The general impression was that the Germans had had enough and were anxious for the War to come to an end. 26 Dec 1914 Rumoured attack on 8th Div. Battalion ordered to stand to during night. All quiet. 27 Dec 1914 - Pont-de-la-Justice Relieved by 2 Bn.Yorkshire Regt. Return to billets at PONT DE LA JUSTICE. 28-29 Dec 1914 In billets. 30 Dec 1914 - in trenches In trenches. 31 Dec 1914 The Germans apparently welcomed New Year in by Berlin time as they ran [sic] bells at 11 p.m.
Date free text
1-31 Dec 1914
Production date
From: 1914 To: 1914
Level of description
item