2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment

August 1914 : in Pretoria in South Africa.
Returned to England and landed at Southampton 19 September 1914.
19 September 1914 : came under orders of 21st Brigade, 7th Division.
19 December 1915 : moved with the Brigade to 30th Division and then transferred to 89th Brigade.
11 February 1918 : transferred to 90th Brigade, in same Division.
22 May 1918 : transferred to 54th Brigade, 18th (Eastern) Division.

Company Quartermaster Sergeant Joseph Horne

Submitted by Deejaya on

 

Company Quartermaster Sgt Joseph Horne, 6006, 2nd Battalion Beds Regt, was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle on March 12th, 1915. He had served in the Army for 18 years and he and his family had returned with the battalion from South Africa at the outbreak of war. He was reportedly in line for a commission at the time of his death.

The above photograph was returned to his family from the battlefield with the message "Anyone finding this, please return to my wife, Mrs J. Horne, 52 Grange Road, Luton, Beds" written on the back.

Private Thomas Richards

Submitted by Deejaya on

Pte Thomas Richards, 6684, 2nd Battalion, Beds Regt, was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle on March 12th, 1915. He was aged 33.

It was a double tragedy for his widow Emma (nee Worsley, born 1881), of 178 Park Street, Luton. Just days before she received the news about her husband, her only child (Stanley Charles Thomas), died on March 26th, aged just six months. The couple were married on October 4th, 1913.

Private Henry George Pateman

Submitted by Deejaya on

 

Pte Henry George Pateman, 13260, 2nd Battalion Beds Regt, was killed in action near Ypres on February 24th, 1915. He was aged 19.

The son of William and Elizabeth Pateman, of 42 Ivy Road, Luton, he was a native of Dunstable but lived nearly all his life at Houghton Regis, being educated at the British School. Before enlistment he had been a butcher's assistant in the district.

Private Walter OBrien

Submitted by Deejaya on

Pte Walter O'Brien, 10119, A Company, 2nd Battalion, Beds Regt, was killed in action at Ypres on October 26th, 1914. He was aged 20.

The eldest of (Edwin) James and Elizabeth O'Brien's six children, he belonged to a much-travelled family that lived at 65 Warwick Road, Luton, in 1914. His father was born in Newton Abbot, Devon, his mother came from Pembrokeshire and he was born at Stantonbury, Bucks, in 1894. His two brothers and three sisters were born variously in Worcester, Birmingham, Rugby, Leicester and Yiewsley, Middlesex.

Private Ernest William Thomas Groom

Submitted by David on

Ernest W.T. Groom was a member of the 2nd Battallion The Bedfordshire Regiment, and was killed on the 11th July 1916 during the attack on Trones Wood.

The advance started at 3:10 AM, and the advance was not spotted until the men were 400 yards from the enemy. At this moment, machine guns opened fire on the men and the battle began. The woodlands were so dense and the night so dark, that it became impossible to see more than 5 yards ahead.

Private Groom died alongside 5 Officers and 239 Other ranks.

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