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2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment
The 2nd Battalion, The Bedfordshire Regiment can be traced back to 1858. In 1914 the battalion was stationed at Roberts Heights near Pretoria in South Africa when war broke out.
They were immediately recalled to England, landing at Southampton on 19th September 1914. Having rekitted for European warfare, joined 21st Brigade, 7th Division and left Southampton at 8am 5th October on the S.S. Winifredian and after a brief stop at Dover for supplies, landed in Zeebrugge at 6.30am on the 7th October to assist in the defence of Antwerp, they arrived too late prevent the fall of the city and took up defensive positions at important bridges and junctions to aid in the retreat of the Belgian army.
7th Division met the enemy for the first time in a brief skirmish on the 18th October 1914, around the 10 km marker stone on the Ypres-Menin road. Their involvement in the Great War on the Western Front would last for another forty-nine months, with their last action being fought at Preux-au-Bois on the 4th November 1918, 8 km north east of Le Cateau and not far from their first engagement four years earlier.
The Battalion was in action throughout the Western Front, being made up of regular soliders, they were regarded as the primary assault unit and despite sustaining many casualties they always acquitting themselves excellently. The 7th Division became the first British Troops to entrench in front of Ypres, suffering extremely heavy losses in the The First Battle of Ypres. By February 1915 the Division had been reinforced to fighting strength and they were in action at The Battle of Neuve Chapelle, The Battle of Aubers, The Battle of Festubert, The second action of Givenchy and The Battle of Loos. The 2nd Bedfords transferred with 21st Brigade to 30th Division in exchange for 91st Brigade on the 19th of December 1915. In 1916 they were in action during the Battle of the Somme, in which the Division captured Montauban. In 1917 they took part in the pursuit of the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, the Arras Offensive and The Battle of Pilkem Ridge. In 1918 They were in action on The Somme in March 1918 the 2nd Bedfords fought almost to the last man in attempting to stem the German advance after the Russian forces had capitulated, allowing additional troops to be transferred to the Western Front. So heavy were the casualties that they were amalgamated with the 7th Bedfordshire Battalion. On the 22nd of May 1918 they transferred to 54th Brigade, 18th (Eastern) Division and were in action in The Battle of Epehy, The Battle of the St Quentin Canal, The Battle of the Selle and The Battle of the Sambre.
4th Oct 1914 Orders Received
5th Oct 1914 On the Move
6th Oct 1914 On the Move
7th Oct 1914 On the Move
8th Oct 1914 On the Move
9th Oct 1914 Orders
9th Oct 1914 Anxiety
10th Oct 1914 Withdrawal
11th Oct 1914 Hostile Forces
11th Oct 1914 Orders
12th Oct 1914 On the March
13th Oct 1914 Enemy Closes
14th Oct 1914 On the March
14th Oct 1914 On the March 
15th Oct 1914 Hostile Column
16th Oct 1914 On the March
16th Oct 1914 Line Advanced
17th Oct 1914 Enemy Active
18th Oct 1914 Planning
19th Oct 1914 Hard Fighting
20th Oct 1914 Enemy Attack
20th Oct 1914 Defensive Line
21st Oct 1914 Hard Fighting
22nd Oct 1914 Bombardment
23rd Oct 1914 Under Fire
24th Oct 1914 Enemy Break Through
25th Oct 1914 Enemy Break Through
26th Oct 1914 Forced Back
27th Oct 1914 Orders Received
28th Oct 1914 Artillery Active
29th Oct 1914 Hard Fighting
30th Oct 1914 In Action
30th Oct 1914 In Action
30th Oct 1914 Hard Fighting
31st Oct 1914 Hard Fighting
5th Nov 1914 Reliefs
6th Nov 1914 Relieved for a Short Spell
6th Nov 1914 On the Move
16th May 1915 A lovely charge
21st Sep 1915 Orders
25th Sep 1915 Over the Top
26th Sep 1915 Counter Attack
1st of January 1916 Move
1st of January 1916 Night-time Shelling
2nd of January 1916 Direct Hits
10th of January 1916 Battalion Relief
13th of January 1916 5th Division in Reserve
11th Jul 1916 In Action
12th Jul 1916 In Action
27th Aug 1916 Artillery Active 18th Durhams hold Trenches in Festubert Sector .05.05. German deserter gave himself up coming into B Coy. lines at No 1 Island. Day showery but clear. 16.30. German artillery fire H.E. shrapnel over Festubert Road South of Barnton from 4.30pm, 5.30pm. 2nd Bedfords relieved 2nd Yorks. during night. 18th DLI war diary WO95/2361/1
5th Dec 1916 Return
21st Sep 1917 Reliefs
1st Oct 1917 Reliefs
1st Apr 1918 Training
2nd Apr 1918 Training
3rd Apr 1918 New MO
4th Apr 1918 On the March
5th Apr 1918 On the March
6th Apr 1918 In Camp
6th Apr 1918 Reliefs Complete
11th Apr 1918 Holding the Line
13th Apr 1918 In Depth
14th Apr 1918 Trench Work
15th Apr 1918 Reliefs
16th Apr 1918 Withdrawal
17th Apr 1918 Enemy Active
18th Apr 1918 Reliefs Completed
19th Apr 1918 Reliefs Complete
20th Apr 1918 Quiet
21st Apr 1918 Quieter
22nd Apr 1918 Gas
23rd Apr 1918 Gas Shells
24th Apr 1918 Gas Shells
25th Apr 1918 Enemy Advance
26th Apr 1918 Enemy Advance
27th Apr 1918 Withdrawal
28th Apr 1918 Heavy Fire
29th Apr 1918 Heavy Fighting
30th Apr 1918 By the Lake
1st May 1918 By the Lake
2nd May 1918 Reliefs Complete
3rd May 1918 In Camp
4th May 1918 In Camp
5th May 1918 Relief
6th May 1918 Holding the Line
7th May 1918 Shelling
8th May 1918 Enemy Attacks
9th May 1918 Relief
10th May 1918 On the March
11th May 1918 At Rest
12th May 1918 At Rest
15th May 1918 On the March
16th May 1918 Move
17th May 1918 At Rest
21st May 1918 At Rest
22nd May 1918 On the Move
23rd May 1918 Reinforcements
25th May 1918 On the March
26th May 1918 Training Cadre
27th May 1918 Merger
31st May 1918 Casualties
1st Jun 1918 Awards
2nd Jun 1918 In Reserve
3rd Jun 1918 In Reserve
4th Jun 1918 In Reserve
5th Jun 1918 Reliefs Complete
6th Jun 1918 Reinforcements
8th Jun 1918 Reinforcements
10th Jun 1918 In the Line
11th Jun 1918 Reliefs Completed
24th Jun 1918 Orders
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.
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Those known to have served with2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment during the Great War 1914-1918. - Birch MM Frank Ernest. Pte. (d.21st September 1918)
- Coxhead Edward Stuart. Pte.
- Currant Daniel. Pte.
- Darrington Alfred. Pte. (d.22nd Nov 1917)
- Fortune Albert. Pte. (d.6th Nove 1918)
- Gardiner Frank Cecil. Cpl. (d.28th Mar 1918)
- Hull Horace. Pte. (d.23rd Aug 1918)
- Hull Horace H. Pte (d.23rd August 1918)
- Logan Arthur. Lt.
- Osgood Albert William. Pte. (d.30th July 1916)
- Panter Cyril. Pte. (d.23rd Oct 1918)
- Perry Thomas Edward. Pte. (d.25th Sep1915)
- Price J. F.N.. Mjr. (d.13th August 1918)
- Stanbridge Percy. L/Cpl. (d.2nd August 1917)
- Sturgess Robert Edward. Pte (d.10th Nov 1914)
- Thoroughgood Sidney. Pte. (d.31st October 1914)
- Willett Richard. Pte. (d.30th Oct 1914)
All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please Add a Name to this List
Records of 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment from other sources.
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Pte Horace H Hull 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment (d.23rd August 1918) We have visited my Great Uncle Horace Hull's grave out in Combles. I would like more information of what he was actually going through up to the time of his death. I was told he lied about his age to get into the Army.
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Pte. Edward Stuart Coxhead 2nd Battalion, C Company Bedfordshire Regiment Edward Coxhead enlisted on the 30th of October 1916 in Preston, Lancashire. He was assigned to the 2nd Bedfordshire Regiment. On the 22nd March 1918 he was wounded in combat (if my research is correct) there is a record of the engagement in the battalion war diary.
According to my great granddad, Ted was rescued from being shot by a German soldier after they came across him on the battlefield. He had his left leg amputated at the thigh and walked using a prosthetic leg until his death in 1971. On 31th of August 1918 Edward sent a postcard to his wife in England from Zerbst POW camp. He was discharged on 28th of February 1919.
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Pte. Alfred Darrington 2/5th Btn. Gloucestershire Regiment (d.22nd Nov 1917) Alfred Darrington was born in Roxton, Bedfordshire to George and Hannah Darrington on 8 March 1897.
He started at Roxton School on 23rd April 1900 and gained his Exemption Certificate on 18 October 1910. In the 1911 census he is working as a farm labourer and on 29th March 1912 he left Liverpool on the Virginian with his brothers George and Peter for Canada. They all returned on 31st October 1913 on hearing that land had been obtained by the Small Holding Society.
Alfred volunteered on 11th of September 1914 into the 2nd Bedfordshire Regiment and was promoted to Lance Corporal. He was sent out to France in 1915 and whilst overseas transferred to the 2/5th Gloucestershire Regiment.
He died on the 22nd of November 1917 in France and is remembered on the Arras Memorial in France, and on Roxton War Memorial in School Lane, Roxton, Bedfordshire.
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Pte. Sidney Thoroughgood 2nd Btn. Bedfordshire Regiment (d.31st October 1914) Sidney Thoroughgood was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Thoroughgood, he was born in Ampthill, Bedfordshire, and he lived and enlisted in Bedford. Sidney served with 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment and was killed in action on 31st of October 1914 during the First Battle of Ypres in the retirement from the Geluveld-Zanvoorde Road to the Menin Road, aged 19 years and is commemorated on Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium. He is remembered on both The War Memorial and The Alamada, St. Andrews Church, Ampthill. Information courtesy of www.roll-of-honour.com
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L/Cpl. Percy Stanbridge 2nd Btn. Bedfordshire Regiment (d.2nd August 1917) Percy Stanbridge was born and lived in Ampthill, Bedfordshire, and enlisted Bedford. He served with 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment and was killed in action on 2nd August 1917 in Flanders. He has no known grave and is commemorated on Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium. He is remembered on both The War Memorial and The Alamada, St. Andrews Church, Ampthill. Information courtesy of www.roll-of-honour.com
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Mjr. J. F.N. Price attd. 2nd Btn. Bedfordshire Regiment (d.13th August 1918) Major Price is buried in the Bauchi Military Grave in Nigeria
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Pte. Horace Hull 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment (d.23rd Aug 1918) I never knew my great uncle, Horace Hull. I was told he lied about his age to go and fight for his country. He was 20 when he was killed in action. I have been to Coombles Cemetery to see his grave. We took his 94 year sister who also never met her brother.
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Pte. Thomas Edward Perry 2nd Btn. Royal Berkshire Regiment (d.25th Sep1915) My mother was five years old when her father, Thomas Perry, died at Loos in 1915. I know little about him except what birth, marriage and census records tell me. My mother left me this photograph, on the reverse of which it says "the church where my dad's name is" but with no clue as to its location. I assume the church contains a memorial to some of those who were lost in WW1 including my grandfather. For several years, I have tried to trace the church in Berkshire, Wiltshire (county of birth and marriage) and elsewhere but to no avail. It would be a great success if someone could update this record with some certainty of the church's name and location.
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Pte. Daniel Currant 2nd Btn. Bedfordshire Regiment Daniel Currant volunteered in 1914 and was sent to the Western Front in early 1915. He served throughout the First World War on the Western Front and was demobilised in November 1919.
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Pte. Albert Fortune 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment (d.6th Nove 1918) Albert Fortune served with the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment
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Pte Robert Edward Sturgess 2nd Btn. Bedfordshire Regiment (d.10th Nov 1914) Robert Sturgess was born in 1883 in Northampton and was the husband of Alice Sturgess, of 19, Byfield Road, St. James' End, Northampton. He was the father of Elsie. He was described in the 1911 census as a Fitter Up Rough Stuff and his wife as a Shoe Machinist.
He was 33 at the time of his death. His Battalion war diary States "10th November 1914; the 2nd Battalion spend a day digging trenches in the woods around their position, losing two men to shelling." He was presumably one of the two. He is buried in Bois-Guillaume Communal Cemetery,Rouen.
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Pte. Albert William Osgood 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment (d.30th July 1916) Bertie Osgood received a commendation "For conspicuous gallantry" 4 months before he was killed.
Ref. 1138 Gunner A.W. Osgood, No. 14 Battery, Motor Mach. Gun Serv. (LG 11 Mar. 1916).
For conspicuous gallantry.
During a heavy hostile bombardment a shell burst, knocking over all the gun team except No. 2. He was picked up, and, though wounded and in a semi-conscious state, with great bravery continued to work his gun, and subsequently carried a message back to report.
The family still have the letter that was sent to Bertie's parents dated 29/4/1920 stating that his body had been exhumed and re-buried at the Guillemont Road Cemetery, Guillemont, Somme.
The family are very proud of Bertie and we plan to visit his grave in Northern France on the 100th anniversary of his death.
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Cpl. Frank Cecil Gardiner 2nd Bn Bedfordshire Regiment (d.28th Mar 1918)  Frank Gardiner was my wife's grandfather who never got to see his son.
He was the son of James and Laura Gardiner of Wickham Hall, Bishops Stortford, Herts; husband of Mabel Gardiner, of 20, Holmwood Grove, Harrowgate Hill, Darlington.
He served with the 2nd Bn., Bedfordshire Regiment and was killed age 22 on 28 March 1918, remembered with honour on the Pozieres Memorial, Commemorated in perpetuity by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
My records show that Frank was born in Harleston, Norfolk but lived in Middleton St George in Durham when he enlisted, which he did from Bedford. His service number is one that was changed in March 1917 from a 4 digit one to a 6 digit one. Originally, it would have been around 3200, which makes it issued in April 1914, suggesting he was a Territorial Army soldier before the war broke out. Normally, I expect to see chaps like him in the 5th Battalion, landing on Gallipoli in August 1915, etc. In his case, though he seems to have been trained in that battalion, but been held back. Why I cannot say for sure as it could have been down to several factors. Does not appear to have been his age so have to assume it was something else? He still had his Territorial Army number when he fell, which tells me he was not in the 2nd Btn for long, otherwise his number would have been changed. That seems to fit in with his marriage too; so Mabel was only married 6 months before becoming a widow? How horrible!
I think the 3rd/5th Btn were up Durham way training & guarding the coastline but there is so little recorded about them I have no definite dates etc. Just articles from newspapers telling of letters home from that part of the country.
When he went abroad into the 2nd Btn he spent a week from 21/3/1918 until his death in a horrific battle. On the opening day of battle they were in the 2nd lines behind a Btn of Manchesters who were wiped out during an incredible stand to the last during which their CO won a VC. The 2nd Btn got hit hard & repeatedly but only retired when it transpired the Germans were behind them and on both open flanks as the Btns all around them had been forced back. They spent a week fighting hard, constantly retiring at the last moment when capture was imminent, then turning round again and stopping the attacking Germans in their tracks before repeating the retirement. Their battle started near St Quentin and after 4 days of constant fighting and marching, they found themselves many miles further back lining the Canal du Nord, with their lines straddling the Biverchy Bridge, as the remnants of the British Fifth Army passed through them.
By the morning of the 25th March the Germans massed for another attack on the opposite side of the Canal du Nord, where the 90th Brigade held the line. Heavy shelling from both British and German artillery preceded the attack, causing many casualties. Despite their best attempts and sustaining serious levels of casualties, the Germans could not break the will of the British defenders, many of whom had been in continuous fighting since the 21st. However, at 5pm, the French to the south fell back, forcing a domino effect on the British lines and at 6pm, the Battalion were ordered to withdraw once again.
By route marches and bus rides, the Bedfords were transported some 25km due west to Arvillers, where they billeted for the night – the first night they had spent under cover since the 20th. Following Gough’s famous order that the “Fifth Army must hold at all costsâ€, they did just that and stemmed the German advance again. The Bedford’s spent the 26th and 27th holding the enemy back around Le Quesnoy (6km north west of Roye) with great success, as the remnants of the Fifth Army stood fast. The Third Army to the north and French Army to the south fell back some six miles, yet the Fifth held. The 26th was a quiet day and that night patrols were sent towards the German lines. They ran into nothing until just outside the village of Le Quesnoy itself and the front line listened to German artillery rolling into and through the village all night. The following morning saw the artillery open up along their frontage and several infantry assaults were brought to a bloody halt before they came close to the British lines. Noon on the 27th saw the Germans get through to the south of the battalion on the right of the Bedfords, forcing them to withdraw to a new line along the Arviller-Folies road, 4km west, and once they had dug into their new positions they laid low. Other than heavy shelling which further reduced the size of the battalion, no more infantry attacks developed that day.
That night the planned French relief did not happen and no food or rations were brought up, but they were used to that by now, having survived on very little for the last week. So, they settled down for what turned out to be a quiet night out under the stars once more. The following morning (the 28th) saw them repel yet another determined attack that took the Germans to within 100 yards of their positions but no nearer. However, the enemy had got into the villages on both flanks (Arvillers and Folie) and by 2.30pm, they were ordered to withdraw under heavy Machine Gun and shell fire, 9km along the Amiens road to Mezieres, where they were finally fed. From this point, the 2nd Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment were moved into reserve
(battalion Shot Cup winner)
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