Bedfordshire Regiment Comforts Fund

Lt-Col. Reginald Le Huquet © IWM (HU 124051)

Thursday 29th November 1917: Colonel Tilly, the Honorable Secretary of Lady Ampthill’s Comforts Fund for the Bedfordshire Regiment received the following letter from Lieutenant-Colonel Reginald Le Huquet, written on 25th September:

“Dear Colonel Tilly, You were asking me whether I had any suggestions to make about Christmas presents for the men this year. Last year I was with our –th Battalion, and the arrangements you made then were excellent in every way. If you are able to do the same this year I think you will find it very difficult to improve on these arrangements. The gifts were distributed on Christmas Day, and the men were told that they were presents from the people of Bedfordshire, and I can assure you these gifts were very much appreciated. Very many thanks for your offer of footballs and cigarettes. We could do with six footballs if you can spare this number, with a few extra bladders, and cigarettes are of course welcome at all times.”

The Fund was able to fulfil his wishes and Lt-Colonel Le Huquet has sent a further letter in which he thanks Colonel Tilly and requests a large number of socks:

“The footballs arrived the day we came out of the line, and today I have given, as a first issue, 50 cigarettes to every man in the Battalion, saying that they are from the Comforts Fund, Bedford, and I can assure you they are very much appreciated, and on behalf of all ranks I thank you very much indeed for your very kind gift. Football at present is in full swing, and your gift of footballs was more than acceptable. We all appreciate more than I can say your kindness to us all, and if funds are available, and if I am not asking too much, do you think you could manage to let me have 600 pairs of socks? The winter is more or less on us now, and we have the mud and water to contend with. My aim in the trenches is always to be able to give every man of an evening a dry and clean pair of socks, and if I have an extra pair a man this would make things very much easier.”

Source: Bedfordshire Standard, 30th November 1917

Edgar Mobbs

Edgar Mobbs [Image source: Wikimedia]

Monday 15th October 1917: Donations of £1,800 have so far been received from subscribers to the memorial fund set up following the death of former England Rugby international player Lieutenant-Colonel Edgar Mobbs on 31st July. An in memoriam souvenir booklet published for the benefit of the fund includes the following interesting letter written by a fellow old boy of Bedford Modern School, 2nd Lieutenant N. Spencer, with the heading “How he charged to certain death”:

“I was F.O.O. in the stunt, and went over the top and saw Mobbs. Perhaps I was one of the last officers he spoke to. Anyway, my last sight of him is something that will be worth remembering of him in the old Bedford Modern School. We had waited three hours for the time to come, and the rain, mud, etc., well, the papers tell you all this. Then the minute came – forward through seas of mud and terrific shelling … I was right behind Mobbs, introduced myself to him just before the hour as an old B.M.S. boy, and talked about Rugger and R. C. Stafford. In the tornado of hostile shelling he got ahead, and, seeing a number of his men cut down by an undiscovered machine gun strong point, he charged it to bomb it – certain death under such a terrific hail of shell – and he went down. I have seen men, and good men, but for a man of his standing and his rank it was magnificent. I sat down afterwards in a captured dugout, and instead of that picture, I saw the old three-quarter in his own “25” get the ball from a crumpled up scrum and go clean through scrum and on. The same man, the same determination, a born leader.”

Source: Bedfordshire Standard 12th October 1917

Assault-at-Arms at Bedford Grammar

AD 3814, Programme for Annual Assault-at-Arms, 1893 (Bedfordshire Archives & Records Service)

Tuesday 3^rd April 1917: An annual assault-at-arms at Bedford Grammar School attracted a large audience of ladies and gentleman, as well as scholars. The boys displayed their gymnastic skills, performing on the parallel bars, horizontal bars, rope-climbing and sword fighting. The boys also demonstrated their physical prowess in displays of boxing, wrestling, a bayonet fight and free marching. The audience was particularly appreciative of the vault horse display, whereby the boys leaped over two lads standing and sitting on a horse.

During an interval in the programme the Headmaster (R Carter) praised the gymnastic standards and thanked Sergeant Fowler who had worked strenuously in the absence of Sergeant Brookes, serving at the Front. Gymnastic medals were awarded to two seniors (Earles and Hockliffe) and two juniors (Ashton and Seegar), and a fencing medal was awarded to Halsey. At the close the Head Boy thanked the Headmaster and the national anthem was played.

Source: Bedfordshire Standard 5/4/1917

A Wartime Romance

Soldiers at Biscot Camp [Z1306/75/16/14]

Wednesday 12th July 1916: A wartime romance has reached a happy conclusion in Luton with the marriage today of Sergeant R. Hayward, an artillery sergeant at Biscot Camp, to Miss Rose Charlotte Marsh of 112, Leagrave Road. The wedding took place at Christ Church, Luton. The bride wore white with a silk veil and orange blossom and carried a bouquet, with bridesmaids Lily and Violet Marsh wearing white voile, and a third bridesmaid, Miss Eva Kirby, wearing shantung. The bridge and groom met quite recently at a military concert in Luton.

A rather less happy event took place at Biscot this evening when Driver Green of D Battery of the London Royal Field Artillery was playing football. He slipped and fell heavily, sustaining severe bruises and dislocating three fingers. He is now recovering in the Bute Hospital.

Source: Luton News, 20th July 1916

Sports Day at Dunstable

Saturday 17th June 1916: The Dunstable Signal Depot of the Royal Engineers enjoyed splendid summer weather for today’s sports day. The sports were held at Messrs. Waterlow’s athletic ground, at the entrance to the chalk cutting, an excellent venue for such an event. The organisation was very thorough and things went “swimmingly from beginning to end” to the enjoyment of the large crowd of visitors who included the Mayor and Mayoress of Dunstable. To add variety to the sports comic entertainment was included. A very overgrown boy and girl, made up “in the most ludicrous manner” featured in the children’s races, and “Charlie Chaplin” made an appearance. The highlights were a comic policeman riding a bicycle and a “one man power” motor car which was accompanied by a few “apre sparks” in the form of big cannon fireworks.

There were a large number of athletic events, including competitions for the children of the soldiers and of Waterlow’s employees. The depot band also enlivened proceedings with a musical programme; the programme also included a race of an “original” kind for bandsmen only. Sergeant Wells, the brother of a well known boxing champion won the hundred yards flat race, the one mile flat race, and several other events. Much amusement was provided by tilting the bucket, a boot race, an inter-company football match in sacks, a pillow fight on a greasy pole, a bun and treacle race, and an obstacle race. Prizes were presented by Lady Every, the wife of Captain Sir E. O. Every of the Norfolk Yeomanry, and the sports were followed by dancing on the green.

Source: Luton News, 22nd June 1916

Sports Day for Royal Engineers

Royal Engineers' Camp, Haynes Park 1915 [Z1306/56]

Saturday 20th May 1916: The Royal Engineers at the Haynes Park Camp have enjoyed splendid spring sunshine for their sports day. Prizes included a silver tankard given as a special prize for the N.C.O’s mounted jumping competition, and another for the winner of the greatest number of prizes. Most of the other prizes were of money, although there were also three silver cups. The large crowd of spectators included many of the wounded from Wrest Park Hospital. Varied entertainment was provided through an excellent riding display by the Depot “High Rip” gang under the tuition of Lieutenant J. C. Bray and by clowns who made their entry on an ancient hansom cab inside which was seated a “rather masculine” maiden. The military musicians conducted by Sergeant R. C. Rule gave a well performed programme. Events included a relay race, races for children, a mule race without saddles, and  a Victoria Cross race (in which many gallant rescues were accomplished), tent pegging, and “tilting the bucket”. The trumpeters’ and boys’ refreshment race required competitors to run 20 yards, eat a bun, run 50 yards, drink a bottle of ginger beer, and return to the winning post.

Source: Bedfordshire Times, 26th May 1916

Biggleswade Man Defeats Scots in Fishing Match

Pike caught at Sutton Park, 1906 [X768/67]

Sunday 9th April 1916: Sapper F. Lenton of the Royal Engineers is in a Convalescent Home in France recovering from illness. He writes that he hopes soon to be back in the line but that meanwhile he has been enjoying “a bit of sport to pass away the dreary time. We have a stream running through the grounds and we arranged a fishing match, and by gum, fishing too it was. I and six others contested against a room of ‘Jocks’. We had about three yards of bottom each and a worm at the end of a line. Well, of tiddlers we were pulling them out two and three at a time haning to the worm, and after three hours in the hot sun we counted up our captives, which we had in jam tins of water. The result was as follows: - My team, 152 tiddlers; the Jocks, 151 tiddlers. A win for England by 1 tiddler!”

Before the war Sapper Lenton worked at a coachman at Ferguson’s livery stables, Biggleswade.

Source: Biggleswade Chronicle, 14th April 1916

Bedford Aviator in Lapland

Albert Hartwell

Monday 27th March 1916: Interesting news has been received of Petty Officer Albert G. Hartwell of 14, Maitland Street, Bedford, a former pupil at Ampthill Road School. He comes from a notable local aquatic family. His father was coach of Bedford Rowing Club for more than twenty years, his brothers won many prizes, and his sisters are also expert swimmers and rowers. Albert himself was cox of the Bedford Rowing Club and winner of three cups at a single Town Regatta. After leaving school he also gained flying experience, first with Mr. James Radley of Huntingdon (formerly of Bedford), and then under the tuition of Mr. Moorhouse and Mr. England, both men well known in the flying world.

Petty Officer Hartwell volunteered in September 1914 and saw action in several of the large battles of 1915. In September last year he moved to a different theatre of war, sailing for Russia with the Armoured Car Squadron under Commander Locker-Lampson, and is now with a British Naval Air Service Squadron in Lapland. In a letter to his mother he says:

“It is very cold here, but very healthy. We have some very rare appetites in this climate; we can’t half eat. I think this will suit me down to the ground … You ought to see us pulling sleighs loaded with provisions. We are on our heads nearly as much as our feet. I am quite well, and have a lot of my old pals still with jme, so am all right. We get a fair amount of hard work, and get some fun also. We are getting a football match up again today; we play in show sometimes nearly up to our knees. You never saw such a mess-up. You need not worry about the war, as far as I am concerned. I hear the Russians are doing well. These people seem a funny lot, but we are getting on with them somehow or other. The language is a proper twister. I don’t think I shall try to learn this manner of speech. French was easy compared with it. I suppose everywhere is mud in France; well, we have not any of that here, it is too cold. A ship came in with provisions yesterday; you ought to have seen the rush on the little shops after chocolate.”

The King himself has written a message of appreciation to the Armoured Car Squadrons, and Her Highness Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein has given a specially designed waistcoat to every officer and man. The Squadrons’ Commander, Oliver Locker-Lampson has written a gracious reply. Despite his absence on active service Commander Locker-Lampson continues as Member of Parliament for the Ramsey Division in Huntingdonshire, where he was elected in 1910.

Source: Bedfordshire Standard, 31st March 1916

Old Bedfordian Rugby International Killed

Captain Basil Maclear [Z1387/33]

Friday 4th June 1915: News has reached Bedford that Captain Basil Maclear, who attended Bedford School from 1893 to 1899, has been killed in action at Ypres. One of the finest backs ever produced by the school Basil Maclear played centre three-quarter for the Irish Rugby team from 1905 to 1907, becoming one of the most famous players of the day. An all-round athlete, he also played for the school cricket XI and ran the hundred yards at the Bedfordshire County Sports in 10 seconds. From Bedford he moved on to Sandhurst where he represented the Royal Military College at cricket, Rugby and athletics. After serving with the Royal Dublin Fusiliers in the Boer War and in Ireland he became a gymnastics instructor at Sandhurst. With extraordinary speed for a man of his size, Maclear was near impossible to tackle once in his stride. The try he scored against South Africa in November 1906 after an 80 yards’ run was unforgettable to anyone who witnessed it. As a player he has been described as “forceful rather than subtle … he was dangerous in attack and formidable in defence, running straight and hard, and handing-off with a force which was only equalled by the tremendous vigour of his tackling”.

At the beginning of the war Basil Maclear’s desire to rejoin his regiment and go to the Front was thwarted as he could not be spared from Sandhurst. In a confidential report General Capper wrote “This officer is too valueable to be spared for active service”. This comment was later crossed out at Maclear’s request and he left the Royal Military College at the end of February. He took a large draft of men to the Front around March 24th and remained at the Front with his own regiment. When the 2nd Battle of Ypres began the Dublins were rushed to the front line where Basil Maclear took part in all the heavy fighting. For much of the time he was Second in Command of the regiment, and for four days he was in full command. On May 24th the Dublins were defending a line of trenches which offered little protection against enemy fire. At 3 a.m. the Germans launched a heavy gas attack which caused the defenders to fall back. The Colonel of the regiment was killed early in the attack. Maclear appeared impervious to the effects of the gas and helped the men around them to put on their respirators. In the middle of the morning he led a bombing party against the advancing Germans, shouting “Come on! Do you want any more?” when he fell, shot through the throat. He died almost immediately. When the order came to withdraw that night only thirty men remained from an entire battalion.

Basil Maclear was the youngest of five brothers. One elder brother, Brevet-Lieutenant Colonel Percy Maclear, was killed on 30th August 1914 in the Cameroons while commanding the 2nd Nigeria Regiment of the West African F F.[1] The other three Maclear brothers are also serving army officers.[2] A man “made of a rare clay, with the courage of a lion and the heart and lovable nature of a child”, he will be greatly mourned. A great friend of Captain Maclear has paid the following tribute: “No School ever produced a greater or more versatile athlete. His quite unusual physical powers enabled him to excel in all forms of manly exercise; but no success or praise ever spoilt the simple modesty of his disposition. A born leader of men, he was himself the embodiment of unassuming manliness, to which was added the most generous, open and kindly nature, which saw the best in all men, and drew the affection of all.”

Sources: Old Bedfordians Year Book 1930 [Z1387/33]; Bedfordshire Standard 4th June 1915

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[1] Lt-Colonel Percy Maclear was buried in the same grave with two other Old Bedfordians, Major T. N. Puckle of the Leicester Regiment and Captain A. C. Aubin of the East Lancashire Regiment and 2nd Nigerian Regiment.

[2] A third brother, Lt-Colonel Harry Maclear DSO, East Lancashire Regiment was killed in action in March 1916 while commanding the 13th Royal Scots. The remaining two brothers survived the war. One, Arthur Maclear became known as a miniature painter; the other, Lt-Colonel Ronald Maclear had also been a noted Rugby player, playing 48 county matches and appearing for England vs. The Rest of England.

Highland Games at Bedford

Tossing the caber, from Souvenir of the Highland Division at Bedford [X414/162]

Easter Monday, 5th April 1915: Another great Highland tradition has made its way to Bedford today, where a full programme of Highland Games has been in progress in the grounds of Bedford Grammar School. Competitions have included piping, dancing of sword dances, Highland flings and reels, tossing the caber and the hammer, long and high jumping, bayonet fighting, tug-o-war and various running races.

The 8th Argylls proved the champions of the games, with their star performers including winning piper Pipe-Major W. Laurie, famous throughout Scotland as one of the best pipers in the world, dancer Sergeant Logan, who won the sword dance and the Highland fling, and an invincible heavyweight tug-o-war team. The programme was arranged by the Bedford Borough Recreation Committee for the Troops, who also provided stewards, time-keepers and other officials. Prizes were presented by His Grace the Duke of Bedford.

Source: Bedfordshire Standard, 9th April 1915; 

New Swimming Baths for Bedford

Friday 26th February 1915: A new swimming baths built for soldiers billeted in Bedford was opened yesterday afternoon. The baths have been built on land next to the Bedford Electric Light Station and will be filled using water taken from the river and warmed by passing through the condensers at the Electric Light Works. This will be pumped into the baths at a temperature of 85 degrees Fahrenheit (29ºC) where it will be allowed to cool to 75 degrees (24ºC). The building is made of corrugated iron and is lit by large electric lamps; the pool is 100 feet long, 35 feet wide, from 3 feet to 6 feet in depth, and holds about 98,270 gallons. It will take three hours for the electrically powered pump to fill the baths, at a cost of 1s 3d, and the water will flow continuously at a cost of 5d per hour. The water will be exactly as it comes from the river, except that it will be heated.

The baths were declared open by Major-General Bannatine-Allason, who expressed the hope that when the troops left the town the pool would remain in use as an amenity for the people of Bedford. The first to enter the pool was Miss Ada Stimson, the young daughter of the Town Clerk, who swam two length. This was followed by a series of races which were won by a team from the 6th Argylls who beat the 8th Argylls by a yard. A water polo match between the Highland Division and Bedford ended in a four-four draw after Bedford game back from two goals down. The brass band of the 6th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders entertained the spectators at intervals and prizes were presented to the winners by the Mayoress of Bedford.

Source: Bedfordshire Standard, 26th February 1915