Frank in 1916
A Troubled Beginning
RND Recruitment Poster
http://www.ww1propaganda.com/
Conscription was finally introduced in Britain in 1916 for men aged between 18 and 41. The upper age limit was later increased to 50. In Britain and the Dominions the issue of conscription (forced military service) caused much controversy.
Frank's notice period prior to call-up expired at the beginning of June 1916.
On this basis, we think Frank would have signed up at the Kempston Barracks at the beginning of July 1916. Kempston Barracks was built as the headquarters of the Bedfordshire Regiment in 1881..
There is no evidence of Frank's training or where it was done but it is possible he was briefly at the Ampthill training Park or proceeded directly to Felixstowe.
Frank joined the Bedfordshire Regiment (4th battalion), 190th Brigade, 63rd Royal Navy Division (RND) from July 1916.
Source Unknown
You can find a group dedicated to the RND on Facebook The Fighting 63rd
"Pictures of Potton - early photographs" - P. Yates, Vera & Norman Parry. Frank - front row, third from left
Aug 1914
The Beds Regiment, 4th battalion was a training unit based at Bedford when war broke out on the 4th August 1914, and were moved to Felixstowe to provide home defence around Harwich (with the Harwich Garrison) as well as drafts for the front line battalions
Frank joins 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment Royal Naval Division. Also known as the Extra Special Reserve
July 1916
The Somme offensive was undertaken at the request of the French, to relieve some of the pressure (and catastrophic losses) at Verdum. The British undertook this offensive in the Somme area with some reluctance as they felt the particular terrain was unsuitable (something which proved to be sadly true.)
After the disasterous losses during the outbreak of the Somme in July 1916 (30% dead or injured on day one), the 4th Battalion, along with the equivalent units from other regiments, was mobilised and sent to the Western Front. The consequence of the initial battle was that a significant section of the experienced soldiers were dead or injured at the outset of the battle.
The 4th Battalion landed at Le Havre, France on the 25th July 1916 and joined the 190th Brigade of the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division, where they would remain until the end of hostilities. Shortly after arriving, the 4th Battalion was based Coupigny (just north of Arras.)
WAR DIARY FOR JULY 1916 [Beds 4th]
10/7/16: Landguard, Felixstowe, 12 noon. Battalion received orders to mobilise for service overseas. This was carried out 10th-24th July 1916.
24/7/16, Landguard, Felixstowe, 3 a.m. Battalion entrained at Felixstowe Town Station & proceeded to Southampton.
24/7/16. Southampton, 6.30 p.m. Embarked on S.S. Inventor and arrived a HAVRE 6.a.m. 25/7/16.
26/7/16. HAVRE. Left Base Camp and arrived HAVRE Station 5.15 p.m. Left HAVRE 7.30 p.m.
27/7/16. HOUDAIN 1 p.m. Arrived HOUDAIN and marched about 9 miles to COUPIGNY. [just north of Arras.]
27/7/16 5.30 p.m. Arrived COUPIGNY at this time and formed part of the 190th Infantry Bride, 63rd (R.N.) Division, IV Corps, 1st Army, under Brigadier General C.N. Trotman, C.B. [Sir Charles Newsham TROTMAN, K.C.B.]
Martin Wright ,Stephen Wrights brother,Doing Gas mask training before going to the front and getting wounded 3 times,Previous to that he was in Malta were his relatives were informed he was critical with dysentery,he was sent home on the hospital ship Landovery Castle...
Drafted to the front
alamy.com
French and British soldiers on the Somme, 7 July 1916.
Pinterest.com
63rd Royal Naval Division reorganisation in France, July 1916
At the end of July 1916, on the Western Front, a reorganisation renamed the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division and transferred it to Army command.
1st Royal Marines
2nd Royal Marines
6th (Howe) Battalion
8th (Anson) Battalion
188th Trench Mortar Battery
1st (Drake) Battalion
2nd (Hawke) Battalion
5th (Nelson) Battalion
7th (Hood) Battalion
189th Trench Mortar Battery
190th Brigade
7th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers
4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment
1/1st Battalion, HAC
10th Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers
190th Machine Gun Company, MGC
190th Trench Mortar Battery
WAR DIARY FOR AUGUST 1916 [Beds 4th]
7/8/16 COUPIGNY, noon. A working party consisting of 2 officers & 200 NCO's and men proceeded to AIX NOULETTE and thence to COLONELS HOUSE in SOUCHEZ section to bury cable. This party was relieved from time to time by the Battalion and finished Aug. 22nd.
9/8/16 COUPIGNY, 2 p.m. Deep dugout platoons consisting of 1 NCO and 19 men from each company under the command of 1 officer proceeded to Divisional Engineers, 63rd R.N. Division for work on the line and are still detached. 31/7/16 9 a.m. Brigadier General C.N. Trotman, C.B. [Sir Charles Newsham TROTMAN, K.C.B.] Commanding the 190th Inf. Brigade inspected the Battalion.
24 & 25/8/16 9 p.m. Two Companies, A & D, under Major J.S. Collings-Wells [John Stanhope COLLINGS-WELLS, VC, DSO] and Captain C.E.G. Shearman [Charles Edward GOWRAN (CBE, DSO, MC, Legion of Honour (France))] respectively were attached to Battalion as under, in SOUCHEZ section for training; B Company on night of 24/25 to HAWKE Battalion, SOUCHEZ II, relieved 28.8.16; D Company on night of 25/26 to HOOD Battalion, SOUCHEZ I, relieved 29.8.16. Specialists were attached to similar units.
23/8/16, COUPIGNY, 3 p.m. G.O.C. 1st Army, General Sir R.C.B. Haikin, K.C.B. [sic; Sir Richard Cyril Byrne HAKING, G.B.E., K.C.B., K.C.M.G.], inspected the Brigade.
28 & 29/8/16, COUPIGNY, 9 p.m. B Company proceeded to SOUCHEZ II on the night of the 28th - 1/9/16 for instruction, attached to HAWKE Battn. C Company proceeded to SOUCHEZ I on the night of the 29th - 1/9/16 for instruction, attached to HOOD Battn.
WAR DIARY FOR SEPTEMBER 1916
4/9/16: Coupigny 10 am - Lieut.Colonel R.P.Croft [Richard Page CROFT] proceeded to 17th Infantry Base pending further deployment
5/9/16: Coupigny Command of the battalion taken up by Major A.E.Greenwell [Aynsley E. GREENWELL]: 2nd in command Major J.S.Collings-Wells [John Stanhope COLLINGS-WELLS, VC, DSO]. Lieut.B.L.S.Frere [Bartle Laurie Stuart FRERE] took over command of A Coy.
7/9/16: Coupigny-Calonne II 4.30 am - The battalion proceeded to CALONNE in relief of 1st H.A.C. [1st Honourable Artillery Company] in Support line. In the firing line in CALONNE I there were the 1st HAC and in CALONNE II the 10th R.F. [10th Royal Fusiliers]
11/9/16: Calonne II 8 am - The battalion took up a position in the firing line in relief of 10th RF in CALONNE II The trenches occupied were:- RIGHT COY M.15.c.20.20 - M.15.c.65.80 CENTRE COY M.15.c.65.80 - M.15.b.22.40. LEFT COY M.15.b.22.40 - M.9.d.25.10 SUPPORT COY - M.9.c.95.20 - M.15.a.45.20 The troops on the Right of the battalion were 7th RF; on the left the 14th H.L.I. [14th Highland Light Infantry] who were relieved on the 13th inst by the 13th E. Surreys; in support was the 13th R.B. [13th Rifle Brigade]
15/9/16: Calonne II 9 am - The battalion was relieved by the 13th RB in CALONNE II and proceed to BULLY-GRENAY in reserve. trenches occupied in case of alarm were (36 BSE 2) R.12.c.63.20 - M.8.a.45.06
17/09/16: Bully-Grenay 3.30 pm - The battalion proceeded to COUPIGNY en route for DIEVAL
18/09/16: Coupigny 7.30 am - The battalion left COUPIGNY and arrived DIEVAL 12.30 pm
20/09/16: Dieval 9.15 am - The battalion left DIEVAL and arrived ORLENCOURT 12 Noon (A.E.Greenwell, Major, [Aynsley E. GREENWELL] commanding).
WAR DIARY FOR OCTOBER 1916
Oct 3rd . Orlencourt. 10.15 p.m. The battalion left Orlencourt and proceeded via Marquay to entrain at Ligny-St. Flochel station. Arrived Acheux Railhead at 1 p.m. (4/10/16) and proceeded to billets at Lealvillers.
Oct 6th. Hedauville. 11 a.m. Proceeded to Headauville, where the battalion remained one night, afterwards proceeding to front line trenches at Mailly-Maillet (White City). Oct 8th. White City. 10 a.m. Occupied the line from 8.10.16 to 11.10.16. The battalion on the left being the 7th R.F. and that on the right the Royal Sussex Regt. Map reference Q.4.6.5.5. (Map 57D S.E. 1/20,000). Took over from 1st H.L.I.
Oct 11th. Mailly-Maillet. 12 noon. In huts and tents in Mailly Wood until 16.10.16.
16 Oct. Arqueves. 3.30 p.m. Left Mailly-Mailet and arrived Arqueves at 6.30 p.m. Billets.
17 Oct. Lealvillers. 10 a.m. Left Arqueves and arrived Lialvillers at 2 p.m. Bivouacs.
18 Oct. Puchvillers. 10 a.m. Left Lealvillers and arrived at Puchevilelrs via Arqueves and Raincheval at 3 p.m. Huts.
21 Oct. Varennes. 9 a.m. Left Puchevillers and arrived Varennes at 1 p.m. via Harponville. Huts.
30 Oct. 8.20 a.m. The Battalion proceeded via Englebelmer to Gabion Avenue and Knightsbridge, arriving there at 11 0.m. and took over front line trenches (left sub sector) from 1st RMLI. 1 Company being left in Englebelmer in billets. Map Reference Q.16.c.9.9. (Map 57D S.E. 1/20,000)
Oct 1916 Major General Shute
Just prior to the fighting on the Ancre river, the division received a new commanding officer after Major General Archibald Paris was wounded, Major General Cameron Shute, appointed on 17 October 1916. General Shute had an intense dislike for the unconventional "nautical" traditions of the division and made numerous unpopular attempts to stamp them out:
Frank was subsequently send home sick for a condition caused by unhygienic conditions in the trenches, so perhaps Major General Shute was unpopular, but correct in what he said.
Major General Shute
Wikipedia
White City Somme 1916
radcliffeontrentww1.co.uk
Map Beaucourt-Hamel, Beaucourt sur Ancre Nov 1916 (Frank was serving in the Fifth - reserve - under Gough)
Wikipedia.org
WAR DIARY FOR NOVEMBER 1916 [Beds 4th]
2/11/16: Knightsbridge Captain B.C.R.Loder [Basil C.R. LODER] (Adjutant) evacuated to C.C.S. [Casualty Clearing Station] - Lieut.W.A.Turnbull [William Arthur TURNBULL] takes over duties of A/Adjutant
3/11/16: Knightsbridge 11 am - Bn was relieved in front line trenches Q.17.d by 10/R.D.F. [10th Royal Dublin Fusiliers] and proceeded to ENGLEBELMER
7/11/16: Englebelmer 7.30 am - Bn left ENGLEBELMER and proceeded to HEDEAUVILLE by route march arriving at 12 noon and after dinner proceeded to Hutments at PUCHVILLERS arriving about 5 pm
9/11/16: Puchvillers Bn was inspected by Brigade Commander (Brig.Gen.W.C.G.Heneker DSO ADC)
10/11/16: Puchevillers Bn was inspected by Divisional Commander (Maj.Gen.C.D.Shute CB)
11/11/16: Puchvillers 1.30 pm - Bn left PUCHVILLERS and proceeded to VARENNES
12/11/16: Varennes 2.30 pm - Bn marched to assembly trenches off BEDFORD ST and VICTORIA ST to take up position as right centre Bn of the Division preparatory to attacking between BEAUMONT HAMEL and RIGHT bank of R.ANCRE. 7/R.Fusiliers on our right, 10/RDF on left
13/11/16: [Comment; The Battle of the Ancre] Beaucourt Sector 6.45 pm - Bn attacked at 6.45 am.
Appendix A: Operations on the North Bank of the ANCRE - Nov 13th 1916. The Battalion advanced with the remainder of the Brigade at 6.45 am and sustained heavy casualties among Officers and NCOs in and near the enemy front line from a strongpoint established between enemy front line and second line which had been passed over by the leading Brigades. Battalion advanced to enemy second line and from there parties pushed forward to Station Road and beyond. Casualties Officers Killed: Captain F.G.C.Ashmead-Bartlett [Francis George Coningsby ASHMEAD-BARTLETT], Lieut.B.L.S. Frere [Bartle Laurie Stuart FRERE], Lieut.R.H.Boys [Richard Harvey BOYS], Lieut.W.A.Turnbull [William Arthur TURNBULL], 2nd Lieut.J. Brodie [John BRODIE], 2nd Lieut.H.B.Hudson [Harold Baldwin HUDSON], 2nd Lieut.S.H. Agate [Sidney Herbert AGATE], 2nd Lieut.T.H. Hill [Thomas Hooten HILL]. Died of Wounds, 2nd Lieut.L.S. Wilkinson [Leslie Stuart WILKINSON]. Wounded 2nd Lieut.A.R.Fraser [Arthur Ronald FRASER], 2nd Lieut.L.BROOKS, 2nd Lieut.W.R.Bridges [William Robert BRIDGES], 2nd Lieut.R.J.Thomas [Reginald James THOMAS], Lieut.G.ARTHUR RAMC . Other Ranks Killed: 48, Died of Wounds - 9, Wounded - 108, Missing - 16 In the evening all available men were withdrawn and taken down to HAMEL, refitted and moved into position in Station Road, close to BEAUCOURT Road
14/11/16: Beaucourt Sector Bn acted as carrying parties for taking bombs, sand bags etc. up to BEAUCOURT 4 pm - Bn withdrew to our original second line (ROBERTS TRENCH) and reorganized there
15/11/16: Roberts Trench Bn remained in ROBERTS TRENCH
16/11/16: Bn moved to bivouacs & huts on ENGLEBELMER-MARTINSART road
17/11/16: Bn assisted to clear the battlefield and bury the killed. Lieut.L.T.Despicht [Leonard Terry DESPICHT, MC] takes over duties of A/Adjutant Lieut.A.J.Clarke [Alan Jardine CLARKE] assumes command of A Company Lieut.G.F.Wray [George Frederic WRAY] assumes command ob B Company Lieut.E.C.Wilson [Eric Chilver WILSON] assumes command of D Company
18/11/16: Martinsart 8 am - Bn proceeded in motor omnibuses to LONGUEVILLETTE
19/11/16: Longuevillette 9.30 am - Bn proceeded to HEUZECOURT by route march
20/11/16: Heuzecourt Bn inspected by Divisional Commander (Maj.Gen.C.D.Shute CB)
21/11/16: Heuzecourt 9 am - Bn proceeded to DOMLEGER by route march
22/11/16: Domleger 11 am - Bn proceeded to NOYELLES-en-CHAUSSEE by route march
23/11/16: Noyelles-en-Chaussee 9 am - Bn proceeded to Lamotte-Buleux by route march
24/11/16: Lamotte-Buleux Bn proceeded to NOUVION-EN-PONTHIEU (J.S.Collings-Wells, Major [John Stanhope COLLINGS-WELLS, VC, DSO], Commanding).
Beaucourt sur Ancre Nov 1916
mckenzie.uk.com
November 1916 The Operations on the Ancre and a phase of the Battles of the Somme 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.
13-14 Nov 1916 Beaucourt-Hamel
The division was part of the British Fifth Army under general Hubert Gough, and through this deployment would be able to show its mettle.
"At 6.30am on the 13th November 1916, the battalion saw their first offensive action when the surprise attack that would become known as the Battle of the Ancre was launched.
British Divisions assaulted German positions around the Ancre River on the northern edge of the Somme battlefields and made headway that would be capitalised on early in 1917. Casualties were so heavy in the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division that the 2,000 German prisoners taken easily outnumbered the survivors, yet gave the British troops no trouble as they were sent back to the Prisoner cages, often without guards. The Bedfords' own Brigade were to be the third line of the assaulting waves of the 63rd Division, yet the Bedfordshires still lost 9 Officers and 57 men killed with a further 5 Officers and 130 men wounded or missing, most falling to a German strongpoint that had been overlooked by the assaulting waves."
http://www.bedfordregiment.org.uk/4thbn/4thbtnofficersdied.html
"Thursday 23rd November 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field
In the last few days your correspondent has been engaged in a melancholy task. This is to assess the numbers of Bedfordshire Regiment men who have been killed in action or died of wounds during the Battle of the Somme. Six battalions have been engaged in the battle at various times. Of course some actions were more costly than others and success or failure of an attack seems to matter very little so far as numbers of casualties are concerned. The figures, insofar as they can be assessed, are as follows:
1st Battalion: 261;
2nd Battalion: 249;
4th Battalion: 90;
6th Battalion: 212;
7th Battalion: 261;
8th Battalion: 208."
WAR DIARY FOR DECEMBER 1916 [Beds 4th]
1st & 2nd NOUVION-EN-PONTHIEU. Platoon and Section training.
3rd. Inspection of Bn. by Brig. Gen. W.G.C. HENEKER, DSO, ADC.
4th. Brigade Field Day. 2nd Lt. G. McKIRDY [Gilles McKIRDY] joined for duty.
5th to 9th. Section and Platoon training.
10th. T/Major J.S. COLLINGS-WELLS [John Stanhope COLLINGS-WELLS, VC, DSO] to be A/Lieut-Colonel from Oct. 20 '16 while commanding a battalion.
11th. Brigade route march.
12th to 16th. Company training .
12th. Lieut. W.H. BARNETT, DSO [William Harold Louis BARNETT, DSO, MID] 4/Bedf. Rgt, joined for duty and assumed command of B Coy.
18th. Brigade route march.
19th to 23rd. Company and some Battalion training. 19th. T/Lieut. A.J. CLARKE [Alan Jardine CLARKE] to Field Ambulance and relinquished command of A Coy. Lieut. W.H. BARNETT D.S.O. [William Harold Louis BARNETT, DSO, MID] assumed command of A Coy. and relinquished command of B Coy. T/Lieut. G.F. WRAY [George Frederick WRAY] assumed command of B Coy.
26th to 30th. Battalion training.
30th. Captain P DRAYSON [Phillip DRAYSON] 1st Herts. Regt. (T.F.) and 2/Lt F.G.A. THOMPSON [Fredrick Charles Alex THOMPSON] 4th/Bedf. Regt joined for duty.
