Officers
of the Bedfordshire Motor Volunteer Corps
Sunday
7th April 1918: This weekend has seen the Bedfordshire Motor
Volunteer Corps taking part in a highly successful camp. The Corps was formed
about three months ago, and this is the first time they have paraded as a
whole. The Corps is divided into four local sections under the overall command
of Captain Frederick Ray: Bedford; Luton; Biggleswade and Sandy; Dunstable and
Leighton Buzzard.
The camp has been held in
the west end of Kempston at Rushey Ford Farm, which was purchased by Captain
Ray last September. The units reached the camp on Friday evening and enjoyed a
fine, but cold, night sheltering in either covered vans or a large barn. In the
morning hot cocoa and a biscuit were served at 6 a.m. before the Corps paraded
for a short march and physical exercise. After a day of parades an excellent
evening concert was held in a barn. A toast was given to “The Officer
Commanding” who congratulated the Corps on their excellent attendance, despite
the camp causing many of them to give up their most profitable day’s work of
the week. He particularly commended the Biggleswade section, from which 43 out of
45 members were present.
After settling down for the
night a successful emergency mobilisation was staged. Within three minutes of
the alarm sounding the men were on parade, and in a few more minutes the
transport vehicles were on the move through the darkness. This morning the
Corps attended a church parade in front of the house. Training carried on over
the weekend has included mechanical training and lectures in map reading for
dispatch readers.
Source:
Bedfordshire Times, 12th April 1918
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