Reference
WW2/HGB/1/1
Title
1st Battalion Orders, Bedford
Date free text
July 1940 - Dec 1942
Production date
From: 1940 To: 1942
Scope and Content
Largely routine orders relating to allowances, training, parades clothing, weapons, ammunition and other equipment. Also includes:
- first aid treatment for phosphorus burns (31 July 1940);
- instructions for using Yelden Range (13 Aug 1940);
- possible 5th Column activities (28 Jan 1941);
- list of men commissioned as Lieutenants and 2nd Lieutenants (23 April 1941);
- Special Army Order from King George VI to Home Guard congratulating it on progress made in its first year (14 May 1941);
- escaped internees wanted by police (one Russian, one Belgian) (23 May 1941);
- bomb demolition demonstration at Elstow (30 May 1941);
- German prisoners of war: "German prisoners taken in England, are apt to be arrogant and truculent. Any form of kindness shown them is taken to be a sign of weakness. Treatment of German Prisoners will be such as to allow no opportunity for them to develop a truculent attitude" (20 June 1941);
- instructions on good saluting (25 June 1941);
- introduction of carrier pigeon service (25 July 1941);
- table of Company and Platoon strengths, showing total strength of 1st Battalion to be 75 officers and 2942 other ranks (12 Sept 1941);
- compulsory wearing of crash helmets by motor-cyclists (26 Nov 1941, 18 March 1942);
- showing of German propaganda films at Granada Cinema, Bedford on 1 March 1942 (10 & 19 Feb 1942);
- salvage of waste paper and cardboard (29 April 1942);
- church parade and march past with Queen Marie of Yugoslavia (14 May 1942);
- recognition of USA forces (27 July 1942);
- programme for concert for troops by BBC Orchestra at Bedford Corn Exchange to be given on 8 Nov 1942 (2 Nov 1942)
Level of description
item