France 12^th September

Tuesday

My Dear Harry & Ethel,

            Thanks very much for your letter dated the 3^rd instant which I received a couple of days ago but which I have been unable to reply to as we have been busy during the last few days – we expect to be busier during the next few.

            I was very glad to find you had got into a house of your own and hope by this time you feel at home.  Your address sounds charming and gives the impression of quite a nice place.  I shall be glad to get the books from you however quaint the colouring of the backs might be.  Send them by book post as then the postage is only four-pence & please send only one at a time.

            I had a long letter from Alan yesterday – with his usual good luck he has managed to fall on his feet a habit I hope he will cultivate.  Eight hours train journey does not as you appear to imagine mean a long distance out here.  It is always possible to get off the train, have a shave, and catch it up again.  A notice is posted up that it is dangerous and forbidden to lean out of the window but no objection appears to be taken to anyone walking the length of the train when in full motion by means of the footboard.  From his letter I don’t think the big town he is at is anywhere near this district.  He says it is rumoured that they are coming this way but he does not think there is any truth in the rumour.  I hope he does not as all the villages we come to are blown to atoms & it can hardly be called a healthy neighbourhood.

            I had a letter from Mother and was glad to know that she was having a few days at Clevedon.  I hope it will do her good there and that she will soon be paying you a visit.

I have not yet had my rest – I think it has again been washed out, but just at present it looks as though we have some busy days in front of us.

            As usual my letters are short but you must excuse me.  I can’t find news.

            With best wishes to you both

            Yours,

                        Bernard.

Ben King F.B.

In On Active Service envelope addressed to Harry R King, Esq., Glen Hilda, Park Avenue, Worcester, England.

Ans^d 24/9/16

Postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE R.5.  16 SP 16.  Hexagonal PASSED FIELD CENSOR 3624.  Signed G. Cork.

CERTIFIED that the application of 2/Lieut. B.T. COMMINS for transfer to the MACHINE GUN CORPS (H.B.) does not originate in any cause affecting the honour, character, or professional efficiency of this Officer.

S.H. Beattie

Major,

Commdg. 10^th R.W. KENT REGT.

CERTIFIED that in the event of my being transferred to the MACHINE GUN CORPS (H.B.) it is my bona fide intention to join immediately and do duty for at least 12 months.

B.T. Comins 2/Lieut.

10^th R.W. KENT REGT.

CERTIFIED that 2/LIEUT. B.T. COMINS is in a fit state of health to serve at the station where the unit he desires to join is stationed.

G. A. Johns,

Capt. R.A.M.C.

France

September 11^th 1916

Monday

My dear Harry,

Thank you for your letter of the third and the previous one.  I am glad to hear you are settled in your new abode.  The furniture was rather unfortunate and reminded me of a man in the office who sent in a huge claim for damaged furniture & was allowed more than the removal fee.  French trains are fearfully slow and not at all consistent.  I think they go at the rate of fifteen miles an hour.  We left the “place near the big town” on the sixth & arrived here the following day – or rather a couple of miles away.  We had a rather stiff march, a few hours train journey & then another march.  I have enquired of all Bernard’s corps if his Battery is here and they say no so evidently he has moved.  You must let me know where he is now.  One evening at a café in the big town I was very amused at the French way of playing draughts.  We saw a game of cards which it was impossible to follow but which seemed to provoke plenty of amusement.  The picture cards have names of history people on them and there is no ace.  It is called “one”.  Draughts is very peculiar.  There are a hundred squares instead of sixty-four.  A piece can take forward or backward and a King can hop over a square, a man and then another square.  This part of the front is just what one would imagine it to be.  It is very busy indeed and seems like a bee-hive for miles.  It is very difficult from the old place.  I am reading “The First Hundred Thousand” by Ian Hay and if you have a chance do so as well as it almost relates our experiences.  There are one or two Canteens & a Y.M.C.A. hut not far off but they take some getting at.  To get inside the latter is a fearful job.  There is always a very long queue outside & we do not consider it worthwhile waiting.  If the army were suddenly taken away the country would be very barren for miles and miles.  There is a fine place to go swimming about a mile away.  It is just like a very long swimming bath, is about ten feet deep & has places to dive off on three sides.  We went yesterday and hope to go again today.  Our dwelling place now for these few days is built of ammunition boxes and a huge canvas sheet.  The boxes constitute the walls and the sheet is the roof.  It has been fine while we’ve been here thank goodness except for one fierce shower.  That shower however has taught us to appreciate fine weather in such abodes.  A big pole is in the middle to poke up the sheet so as to make the exterior appear more like a roof.  The transport has been playing all sorts of tricks lately and we are all receiving parcels & letters late & having several at a time.  Dickson had a parcel containing a cold (of course) chicken & as the parcel had taken ten days to come we decided to sneak off & open it far from the madding crowd in case it should hum.  We opened it & found it touched only in a couple of spots.  We eat a little leg, wing & breast & threw the rest in the incinerator.  The cakes &c were a little stale but quite all right otherwise.  One chap had a parcel once, the chicken went off very decidedly & the whole parcel was no good.  Three of our fellows went to hospital with sundry ailments & they seem to have had a flood of letters and parcels sent here.  I suppose it is always the way.  The guns are very active here & there is every indication of our having an opportunity of doing big things.  I am very well & feel very optimistic about the war soon being over.

Give my love to Ethel.  I am looking forward to long letters from you both next Wednesday – which is tomorrow of course.  Well I must now close, remaining,

            Yours as ever

                        Alan.

On Active Service envelope addressed to Harry R King, Esq., Glen Hilda, Park Avenue, Worcester.  Ans^d 17/9/16

Postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE 124 13 SP 16.  Hexagonal Passed Field Censor 3274 cachet.  Signed GM Bevan

with operations at FALFONT FARM.

From Command-in-Chief

6/9/1916.  The fresh successes gained by the Fourth Army during the operations of the last three days are very satisfactory and reflect great credit on the plans and preparations made and on the troops who have carried out the attack.  The rapid advance on LEUZE WOOD following on the capture of GUILLEMONT and FALFEMONT FARM shewed sound judgement and determination and has been of considerable assistance to the French Army on our right.  I warmly congratulate you and the Commanders, Staffs and Troops under you on the results already achieved and on the energy and determination with which they are being followed up.

From Fourth Army Commander.

6/9/1916.  Please convey to the 5^th Division my congratulations and thanks on their success today against FALFEMONT FARM and LEUZE WOOD.  They deserve very great credit the energy and vigour they have shewn especially after the failure of their first attacks at FALFEMONT.

From Corps Commander.

7/9/1916.  On their withdrawal into Reserve I heartily congratulate G.O.C. and all ranks 5^th Division on their gallant and devoted conduct during recent operations.  The success obtained was considerable and reflects the greatest credit on Commanders of Units and all ranks who have added fresh laurels to the many gained by this Division in the last two years.

From B.G.C. 15^th Brigade to Units.

8/9/1916.  The Brigadier-General Commanding feels he cannot too warmly express his admiration of the fine soldierly qualities again displayed by all ranks during the recent operations.

The taking of FALFEMONT FARM, a most important and strongly defended post was a magnificent performance and is one of the greatest successes accomplished during the war.

This was made possible entirely by the good handling of their Battalions by Commanding Officers and the devoted conduct of all ranks.

Heavy working parties were required when the Brigade was not in the line and these did excellent work.

The Brigadier-General thanks all ranks for their support and co-operation and trusts the Brigade will shortly enjoy a well earned rest.

SECRET

REPORT ON OPERATIONS ON 3^rd to 6^th SEPTEMBER BY 1^st BATTALION

BEDFORDSHIRE REGIMENT.

Appendix I     Orders were received to move to SLIT TRENCHES from SILESIAN

                        TRENCH at 1-55 p.m. on 3^rd September.

The leading platoon marched off within 10 minutes and reached MALTZ HORN TRENCHES 2-25 p.m.  At 3 p.m. the Battalion was ordered to move to NEW TRENCHES South of ANGLE WOOD.

Appendix II    The 16^th Bn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment had been ordered to move

by communication trenches.  We started after them and going across the open got in at the East End as they got in at the West.

The two Battalions had to pass one another in a narrow trench during heavy shelling.  Since there was not room for two Battalions in the trench a second line had to be dug behind the first.  By good fortune there only ten casualties

Appendix III. 6 p.m. orders came from Brigade that Artillery would bombard

FALFEMONT FARM till 6.30 p.m.  That Bedfords would assault from FALFEMONT FARM exclusive to WEDGE WOOD inclusive at this hour in conjunction with the Cheshires on our right passing through the troops holding the first line.  Orders were issued to Companies by 6-10 p.m. and the leading platoon of “D” Company moved off by 6-15 p.m.

As they had 1000 yards of open ground to their objective the BARRAGE had lifted long before they could get anywhere near.

Moving steadily forward under Artillery and Machine Gun Fire they were a little too much to the left and passing through the leading Companies of the Warwicks and the 95^th Brigade they occupied the line from WEDGE WOOD to sunken road at T.26.C.1/9 thus obtaining a portion of the third objective of the 95^th Bde.

Appendix IV. Some 30 Warwicks were found in WEDGE WOOD.  They had orders

to retire at dusk.  They were relieved and the line was extended to join the 1^st Cheshires due West of FALFEMONT FARM about B.2.A.0/5.  We now held a front of 12 hundred yards with the Battalion Headquarters in a trench just South of WEDGE WOOD.  To enable the Battalion to continue its attack on trenches East of WEDGE WOOD and to get my Companies out of the 95^th Brigade area I requested O.C. “A” Company to move South of WEDGE WOOD, but so as to avoid any accident I instructed him to report this intention first to the nearest Battalion Commander.  He was informed that the D.C.L.I. and Gloucesters were unable to take over our front and that the D.C.L.I. were expecting a counter attack on their left.

Appendix V.  In consequence the 2½ Companies were allowed to remain in the 95^th

Brigade area holding the first line.  A company of the West Kents was called for to hold a portion of our line while a

Appendix VI  bombing attack was made, but this was cancelled on receipt of 15^th

Brigade Operation Order No. 58 of 4^th September directing a general attack on the 4^th at 3 p.m.

Strong patrols were pushed forward from Captain Barnett’s Company.  They entrenched that night within 30 yards of the German first line in a very creditable manner.  The other Companies also pushed out patrols.  Captain Norrish’s Company captured 3 and Lieut. Howard’s Company 1 prisoner without any loss – due to good patrol leading.  In accordance with 15^th Brigade Operation Order of 4^th September orders were issued for an attack on Northern portion of CIRCULAR TRENCH East of WEDGE WOOD.

Appendix VII. “D” Company was to advance from the points they had dug in on the

night 3/4^th instant.  “A”, “C” and “B” Companies from the front of the 95^th Brigade were to “sideslip” and in succession to occupy the pushing off place of “D” Company, to reinforce rapidly.

During the morning our guns persistently shelled the line we were holding, and in spite of several reports, matters remained the same.  Finally two of the forward trenches had to be evacuated as the men were all being buried.  In doing so the enemy opened with machine guns on them and there were several casualties.  Quite apart from its moral effect some 30 men were killed or wounded by our own guns.

The attack started at 3.10 p.m.

A bombing party, consisting of the Battalion and “D” Company’s Bombers, and provided with both “P” and the “Mills” Bombs, followed the first platoon; in addition every man in the ranks carried two bombs.  As the whole ground was a series of craters these bombs proved invaluable.  The rifle men shot down the enemy as he ran back.  Lewis guns also did great execution.

Reinforcements came up on both sides and matters began to look serious.  All the Battalion reserves were used up, Headquarters were asked for reinforcements from another Battalion, but the last push just succeeded, and our supply of bombs outlasted theirs.

The “P” bomb proved the greatest value in bringing them out of dug-outs.

In one instance a bomb set fire to a German bomb store.  A whole Company was sheltering in a dug-out with 3 entrances, according to the statements of two survivors: not many escaped.  The position was held by a German Battalion with M.G. detachment.

Three officers (1 wounded) 128 other ranks and 4 machine guns in good condition were captured and sent back by the Bedfords; others were taken back without passing through Battalion Headquarters.  In all I estimate the number of prisoners taken by the Battalion during the three days as 160.

Some were also taken by a party of about 30 Cheshires, under Lt Graves now in Scots Guards (3/3/23), who came up on our left right.  Another party of about 50 who came later on our right left also relieved the situation.  Apart from this nothing could be seen of any progress on our right, on the left the 95^th Bde was not to advance till 6.30 p.m.

We consolidated on a line from the Northern corner of FALFEMONT FARM for 300 yards in a N.W. direction across the Plateau.  All opposition had ceased by 5.50 p.m., two Companies of West Kents had joined, in response to my request for reinforcements at 4 p.m. and were pushed forward towards LEUZE WOOD, but were recalled to comply with 15^th Brigade wire not to draw on them unless absolutely necessary.

A strong patrol was sent out on the right through the Farm to try and gain touch with the Norfolks.  (They gained touch with the 16^th Warwicks East of FALFEMONT FARM).  The Cheshires dug in about 300 yards S.W. of the W. corner of LEUZE WOOD where they gained touch later on with the 95^th Brigade.  Eight other German stragglers were taken by the Bedfords on the 5^th, and seven wounded Germans were left in a dug-out.

Appendix X.  Throughout the 5^th things remained quiet except for some shelling by

our guns and a very heavy bombardment by German heavy guns.  We buried all our dead and were relieved on the morning of the 6^th September.

The Battalion went into action with 20 Officers and 610 other ranks, and came out having lost 17 Officers and 289 other ranks.  They fully succeeded in gaining their objective and facilitated the advance on either flank.

The Battalion started with full water bottles on the afternoon of the 3^rd and were only able to obtain water again on the morning of the 5^th, during this time they made an attack across the open, and the following afternoon made another successful attack.

This lack of water was to a certain extent eked out by soda water, of which the German dug-outs were found to be well supplied when captured.

Sgt. Bush, the Battalion Signalling Sergeant, kept up communication between Brigade and Battalion Headquarters by telephone throughout the operations, except for short intervals.  There were two intermediate stations for repair of line.  Orderlies were able to follow the line to carry important messages.  This was not done by a Brigade Orderly carrying 15^th Brigade O.O. No. 59 of 5^th September, ordering an attack at once by night on FALFEMONT FARM.  It was sent out at 12.30 a.m., and received

Appendix VIII.           only received at 8.0 a.m., too late to be acted upon.  By night a telephone

line or even string will enable orderlies to find their way however intricate the country may be.

I would also like to draw attention to the necessity of giving Battalion Commanders more time to communicate their orders to subordinates.  Not many Battalions could have moved off from a long line of trenches to assault a strong position 1000 yards distant within a quarter of an hour of receipt.

Temp. Captain Barnett led the leading Company and directed those following in a masterly manner, after passing through the trenches of our front line, some 500 yards from where we started, they finished up, each Company, a formed unit on their objective.

A previous attack that morning had failed and the temptation must have been great for men to drop into the front line trench and start firing.

Temp. Capt. Barnett’s Company also led the attack on the 4^th against German position N.W. of FALFEMONT FARM.  Under peculiarly difficult circumstanced.  His Company had been under our own baggage fire from daylight till    3.10 p.m., the last portion of which was intense.  Many men had been killed and many buried.  It was only by constant digging in that any survived, yet the assault was carried out with the utmost vigour.  The capture gained the whole ridge and by drawing off German troops from the quarry near T.26.a.6/2 enabled the 95^th Brigade to reach LEUZE WOOD practically unopposed that evening.  It also indirectly facilitated the advance of the French troops.

Under the circumstances I should like to recommend Temp. Capt. Barnett for immediate reward, and also Temp. Capt. West, who did equally good work.

All Appendices are with the original War Diary.

W. Allason Lt. Colonel

7^th Sept.,1916.                                           Commanding 1^st Bn. Bedfordshire Regiment.