The high praise bestowed on Lieut-Col Edgar Brighten (pictured) and his 1/5th Bedfords Yellow Devils in the successful raid on Umbrella Hill in Palestine was reflected in an article in the Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph on August 18th, 1917. The article read:

The County Territorial Battalion have recently once more distinguished themselves - and at the same time inflicted a heavy blow on the enemy.

After taking part in every engagement in this particular sphere of operations, they were honoured by being selected to raid one of the enemy's strongest positions - a position of such natural strength, and protected by every defence imaginable in modern warfare, as to make it an almost impregnable stronghold.

This was the task given - to raid and to destroy - and how well it was accomplished is shown by the fact that the General Officer Commanding sent a congratulatory message to the unit, and no fewer than three Generals in high command have congratulated this unit on its work.

The G.O.C., in his message, stated that this was the biggest raid ever attempted in the East, and far bigger than most raids in France. How well the trust of the higher command in our gallant commander was justified is shown by the complete success of the operations and the almost immediate recognition of the gallantry of the personnel by the award of no fewer than 19 Military Medals a few days afterwards, and more honours to follow.

This establishes practically a record in this record-breaking war, and it is certain that the County Territorials are keeping up the splendid name and traditions of our regiment in this part of the globe, and are more than upholding the name they so hardly earned in Gallipoli.

The whole of the operations were under the direct supervision of Lieut-Col E. W. Brighten, C.M.G., who always, in the words of the G.O.C., "comes out on top, no matter what the job," ably assisted by Capt Armstrong who performed prodigies of valour under heavy fire and whose splendid example and soldierly qualities helped greatly to carry out the plans of the C.O., and so to complete success.

In the words of the G.O.C., "every man who took part in the raid deserves a medal," and there can be no doubt that they earned them. The 'Yellow Devils' spirit still holds good.