Great Barford Man Wins DCM

Great Barford c.1920

Thursday 11th May 1916: Private Albert Symonds [or Simons] of the 8th Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment has been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. Although born in London, in recent years Private Symonds has made his home at Great Barford. Major General C. Ross, commander of the 6th Division, writes:

“Your Commanding Officers and Brigade Commander have informed me that you distinguished yourself on 19th April, 1916, near Ypres, by cool conduct and fine example under a heavy bombardment, and though the only man left unwounded, continuing to work your Lewis gun and inflicting heavy loss on the enemy when they attacked. I have read this with much pleasure.”[1]

Source: Bolnhurst, Colmworth, Roxton with Great Barford, Ravensden and Wilden Parish Magazine, July 1916 [P28/30/23]

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[1] The battalion war diary tells us that on the night of 19th/20th April after two hours of heavy bombardment the Germans attacked and gained a footing in some of the trenches held by the battalion. The Bedfords suffered heavy casualties.

Our war correspondent has described the night’s events in more detail … [LINK]

Soldiers Grateful for their Socks

The Cross, Great Barford, 1913 [Z1130/5/13]

Friday 2nd July 1915: Mrs. Moor’s Knitting Class at Great Barford has stopped for the time being, but class members continue to receive grateful letters from soldiers for pairs of socks sent out to the Front. Private H. Russell of the 4th Middlesex Regiment wrote to Florrie Hart: “Just a line to thank you for those socks. Have just come out of a long spell in the trenches, 27 days to be accurate, and was marched down for a bath and a change, not before it was needed. I was the lucky fellow to get yours out of the bag, hence these few lines. I have had a few pairs since I have been out here, but these are the first with any note inside, and I wish you the best of luck, the same as you wish me.” Bessie Webb has heard from two more soldiers of the same Regiment who both received her carefully made socks. One of them, Sergeant Holyoak, wrote: “I was the lucky man to receive the pair of socks you sent to our brave Tommies at the front. They came very acceptable after being in the trenches for a period of 26 days. I am glad to think that some of our good ladies at home still think of us, especially as some of us have been right through, and been out here for 8 or 9 months. The weather out here is a bit warm and makes our feet sore after a lot of marching.”

Source: Bedfordshire Times 2nd July 1915