The Bedfordshire Regiment in the Great War |
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The Hertfordshire Regiment
The unit that would become the Hertfordshire regiment can be traced back to the 'Trained Bands' of the Tudor era, who were provided to the King in times of need but only served on home soil. This system was a variation of the feudal system going back into the Dark Ages, although no firm connection can be made back that far! Levies from the county bands were frequently called on for service in the European conflicts during the time of Queen Elizabeth I and the county band were amongst those who formed up to repel the Spanish Armada in 1588. There is also a connection to them providing the King's Guard even before the time of Queen Elizabeth I. During the English Civil War, the Trained Bands title was replaced with Militia and the 'Harts Militia' (as it was known) served on the Parliamentarian side, serving primarily under the Earl of Essex. During the Great Fire of London in 1666, they were called out to help fight the fire and throughout the early part of the Eighteenth century, they were called for service during threat of invasion in 1704 and the Jacobite rebellions in 1715 and 1745. The regiment was embodied for service numerous times during the troubled Eighteenth and Nineteenth centuries and the structure of the Militia changed almost as often, rounded off with the eventual formation of the Rifle Volunteers in 1860. During the Army's reorganisation of 1782, which saw all line regiments associated to a county to help with recruitment, the 49th regiment of foot adopted the county title, becoming the 49th (Princess Charlotte of Wales' Own Hertfordshire) regiment. In a further reform of 1881 (the Childers reforms) the regiment was linked to the 16th (Bedfordshire) regiment of foot and the new title become the Bedfordshire regiment. The two Rifle Volunteer Corps that formed the Hertfordshire regiment became the 4th battalion of the Bedfordshire regiment. Further changed in 1888 saw them re-titled as the 1st and 2nd (Hertfordshire) Volunteer battalions of the Bedfordshire regiment. During the South African Wars (the Boer Wars) of 1899 to 1902 the regiment served initially in Dublin but was one of the eight Militia units to be mobilised and served in South Africa between February 1900 and June 1902. 32 men were killed during their service and 1 C.B., 3 D.S.O.'s, 5 D.C.M.'s and 8 M.I.D.s were earned by men from the regiment. Haldene's reforms of 1907 saw the formation of the Territorial Force and the 1st and 2nd (Hertfordshire) Volunteer battalions of the Bedfordshire Regiment merge to become the Hertfordshire battalion. The battalion left the Bedfordshire regiment completely in 1909, being renamed as the 1st battalion, the Hertfordshire regiment (TF). Territorial Force soldiers met monthly at their local drill halls and once a year for Divisional level Army manoeuvres, which camps can be seen here, as they were in the same Brigade as the 5th battalion of the Bedfordshire regiment. The Hertfordshire Regiment was still a single battalion, Territorial Army unit when war was declared in August 1914 and fielded no Regular Army units whatsoever. Because of the association between the counties of Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, many Hertfordshire men had served in the Regular Army ranks of the Bedfordshire Regiment throughout the Nineteenth century and this tradition continued throughout the Great War. Indeed, the Bedfordshire Regiment's badge proudly sported the Hart crossing a ford from the introduction of the county affiliations in the 1880's, in recognition of the connection.
A Hertfordshire Regiment cap badge The Hertfordshire regiment's service during the Great War The annual Territorial Army summer camp of 1914 finished with emergency orders for all units to return to their bases and await further instructions. On the 5th August 1914 the entire Battalion was 'embodied' for war service with the East Midland Brigade, within the East Anglian Division. Once they had assembled at Romford in Essex, along with the other battalions of their brigade, the expected move orders to France did not materialise. Instead, they moved north, to Bury St. Edmunds and trained in the area for around two months.
'E Company leaving Royston train station circa 5th August 1914 (Source; Royston Crowe, 7th August 1914) On 1st September 1914 the raising of a 2nd (Reserve) battalion was authorised and formed part of the 207th (2nd East Midland) Brigade in the 69th (2nd East Anglian) Division. Third and Fourth battalions were also raised in 1914 and served entirely on home soil. The 1st November 1914 saw surprise orders arrive that the 1st/1st battalion would mobilise and move to the Western Front. Early on the 5th November, they left Bury St. Edmunds and sailed via Southampton to Havre, moving onto St. Omer once fully disembarked. They arrived on the front lines 11th November 1914, losing their first casualties on the way through Ypres to take up positions near Hooge and being moved into the 4th (Guards) Brigade of the 2nd Division. Four years to the day later, they would be in the same region, having served entirely in France and Flanders. During the Great War, the Hertfordshire Regiment raised four battalions, who's service is summarised below. The 1st/1st Battalion In August 1914 the 1st battalion were a part time, Territorial Army unit based in Hertford as a part of the East Midland Brigade of the East Anglian Division. The formation of a second line battalion in September saw the 1st battalion renamed as the 1st/1st battalion and in November 1914 they were mobilised for Foreign Service and sent to France to serve in the 4th (Guards) Brigade of the veteran 2nd Division. Because of this attachment, they were sometimes referred to as the "Hertfordshire Guards" and adopted many of the Guards peculiarities as a result, including naming their Companies by number rather than letter. Whilst serving in the 4th Brigade, the battalion fought alongside the following other Guards battalions:
When the "New Armies" arrived on the Western Front in the summer of 1915, the battalion were moved as the army was reorganised so that veteran units were distributed amongst the "green" New Army battalions. The Guards battalions were organised into specialised Guards Brigades and, as a result, the 19th August 1915 saw them transferred to the 6th Brigade of the veteran 2nd Division where they remained until the next shake up. During their service in the 6th Brigade they served alongside:
The 29th June 1916 saw the battalion moved again, this time into one of the New Army units raised for the duration of the war. This was the 118th Brigade of the 39th Division, which comprised:
On the 8th February 1918, in line with a major shake up of the British Army as it reorganised itself into a smaller force as a result of the growing manpower shortage, the battalion were moved to the 116th Brigade, still within the 39th Division:
The Division suffered huge losses during the German Spring Offensives of 1918 and was so badly depleted that it was reduced to a cadre. In what would be their final move of the war, the 11th May 1918 saw the battalion transferred again, this time moving into the 112th Brigade of the 37th Division. Essentially they replaced the disbanded 6th battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment who's rank and file made up the 1st/1st Hertfordshire's for the first weeks of it's existence after the entire battalion were affected by Gas Shelling at Fonquevillers on the 11th May 1918. For the final phase of the war and until the battalion's demobilisation in March 1919, the Brigade comprised the following battalions:
Almost 900 officers and men from the battalion fell in action between 1914 and 1918, with over seven thousand more being wounded or taken prisoner. Men from this battalion earned a reputation as a solid, reliable unit and, amongst the almost 200 gallantry medals won during the war were two Victoria Crosses. Major Battles. The 1st/1st battalion served entirely on the Western Front throughout the war and was engaged in the following battles: In 1914 they were lightly involved in The Battles of Ypres 1914 (also called The First Battle of Ypres). In 1915 the battalion were engaged during the Winter actions at Cuinchy in February, the Battle of Festubert in May and at the Battle of Loos in September. In 1916 the battalion were engaged in the Battles of the Somme 1916, including being lightly involved in the Battle of the Ancre Heights in October, as well as in the Battle of the Ancre in November. In 1917 the battalion were heavily engaged during the opening day of the Battles of Ypres 1917 (also called the Third Battle of Ypres and Passchendaele), when the battalion lost over 450 men during their assault on St. Julien, part of the Battle of Pilkem. They were also involved less heavily in the Battle of Langemarck in August, the Battle of the Menin Road and the Battle of Polygon Wood in September, as well as the Second Battle of Passchendaele in October. During 1918, the battalion was again heavily engaged. During the First Battles of the Somme 1918 (also called the German Spring Offensives, Operation Michael and Kaiserschlacht), they were heavily involved in the Battle of St Quentin, the actions on the Somme crossings and the Battle of Rosieres in March. In April they were also engaged in the Battle of the Lys, namely the First and Second Battles of Kemmel as well as the Battle of Scherpenberg, during which time their already exhausted Division fought as Composite Battalions. After being rebuilt, they were engaged in the Second Battles of the Somme 1918 (also referred to as the opening phase of "The 100 Days"), namely during the Battle of Albert in August and the Second Battle of Bapaume in September. In September they were involved in the Battles of the Hindenburg Line, specifically at the Battle of Havrincourt and the Battle of the Canal du Nord, as well as the Battle of Cambrai and the subsequent pursuit to the Selle in October. In the Final Advance in Picardy, they were engaged in their last series of actions, specifically in the Battle of the Selle in October and the Battle of the Sambre in November. Their final day in action came four years to the day from their arrival in France on 9th November 1914. The armistice two days later also marked the fourth anniversary of the first time they came under fire. The battalion was gradually wound down and finally disembodied in March 1919, although it was reformed as a Territorial Army unit again in February 1920, under the command of Sir H.P. Croft who had commanded them during 1915. Commanding Officers of the 1st/1st battalion, the Hertfordshire regiment The following Lieutenant Colonels led the battalion during the war:
The 2nd/1st Battalion Once it was understood that the 1st battalion would be sent overseas at some stage and that recruits would need to be found from home, the formation of a second battalion was authorised. It was formed from a nucleus of men from the 1st battalion in Hertford in September 1914, under Lieutenant Colonel Sir Charles E. Longmore, K.C.B. The battalion was initially named the Reserve battalion, with the purpose of finding recruits as replacements for the expected losses in the 1st line battalion, training them and providing home defence duties to counter the threat of invasion. At the end of October 1914, when the 1st/1st battalion were posted to the Western Front, around 200 of their number were not assigned for overseas duties, so moved into the Reserve battalion. By early November 1914 they already had their full complement and recruiting ceased. In December 1914 a further battalion was raised, causing the Reserve battalion to be renamed as the 2nd/1st battalion, at which time they were moved into the newly formed 207th Brigade of the 69th Division. Their purpose became one of predominantly providing home defence and they found themselves moved several times during their service. The 2nd/1st battalion was stationed at Newmarket from January 1915, Harrogate from June 1916, Darlington from October 1916 and Carburton between April and 20th September 1917, when they were disbanded. The 69th (2nd East Anglian) Division was formed from the 206th (2nd Essex), 207th (2nd East Midland) and 208th (2nd Norfolk and Suffolk) Infantry Brigades, with the 207th Brigade comprising:
The 3rd/1st Battalion As the structure of the rapidly expanding army developed during the autumn of 1914, it became evident that a battalion would be needed to provide the regiment's home defence element of the Division and another would be required to train new recruits in readiness for replacements for the front line unit serving abroad. To that end a third battalion was raised and formed in Hertford in December 1914. They grew in size rapidly and sent their first draft to the 2nd/1st battalion in February 1915, who had themselves sent a sizeable draft to the 1st/1st battalion on the Western Front late in January 1915. On the 8th of April 1916 they became the Regiment's "Reserve Battalion" and on the 1st of September 1916 became a part of the East Anglian Reserve Brigade. Around the same time their post was moved to Halton Park. The 11th July 1917 saw them merged with the 5th (Reserve) Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment, at which time the battalion ceased to exists in it's own right. The 3rd/1st battalion remained in UK throughout the war and found and trained drafts for the front line battalion as well as providing a degree of Home Defence duties if required. The 4th/1st Battalion The 4th and final battalion of the regiment was formed in Thetford in November 1915, by a cadre from the 2nd/1st Battalion, as a part of the 206th Brigade of the 69th Division. The battalion remained in UK, serving at Harrogate from July 1916 and Welbeck between April and August 1917, at which time they were disbanded. The 69th (2nd East Anglian) Division was formed from the 206th (2nd Essex), 207th (2nd East Midland) and 208th (2nd Norfolk and Suffolk) Infantry Brigades, with the 206th Brigade comprising:
'Marjorie's War. Four Families in the Great War 1914-1918'
'Marjorie's War tells the story of Marjorie Secretan and her two wartime romances which were divided by tragedy. Through letters and diaries we obtain an intimate view of both relationships. Letters which were sent from home and survived the trenches are rare, and those presented here give a female and Home Front perspective on the war and its impact on Edwardian England. However, it is not just her story. Marjorie was the central character who connected the lives of four families. Drawing on an archive of unpublished letters and photographs, the book also gives insight into life and death in the British Army as seen through the eyes of nine young men from the four families. They all volunteered in 1914 and served as infantry and artillery officers. Unusually, the correspondence spans almost the entire duration of the First World War, since at least one of the letter-writers took part in each of the major battles on the Western Front from early 1915 onwards. The letter-extracts are supported by original research and extensive footnotes which describe their context, such as certain key actions affecting the letter-writers. The book will therefore appeal both to specialist historians - particularly those of the battalions and divisions featured - and to those with little knowledge of the conflict who may prefer to follow the broad narrative and human side of the story without dwelling on the detail.' The paperback version RRPs at £22.95, with the hardback at £32.95, and £1 from each book goes to the Western Front Association. It can be ordered directly from the author by emailing him, or through Amazon and other retails channels. |
A
new book relevant to the Hertfordshire Regiment is available, which
includes letters from two of the regiment's officers, Phillip Dodgson
and Reggie Secretan, from February 1917 until the armistice. Written
by Charles Fair, the book is based on a family archive of some 800
letters and 400 photos written by his grandmother and six young
men from the four interconnected families. It consists of 450 pages
with nine maps, and index and over 90 photos, the back cover reading:
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Hertfordshire regiment links Below are links to the other pages with information on the Hertfordshire regiment during the Great War:
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