Medals of The Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Regiment

Frederick William Hedges

T./Lt. Frederick William Hedges, Bedf. R., attd. 6th Bn., North'n R.
For most conspicuous bravery and initiative during the operations north-east of Bousies on the 24th October, 1918. He led his company with great skill towards the final objective, maintaining direction under the most difficult conditions. When the advance was held up by machine gun posts, accompanied by one Serjeant and followed at some considerable distance by a Lewis-gun section, he again advanced and displayed the greatest determination, capturing six machine guns and 14 prisoners. His gallantry and initiative enabled the whole line to advance, and tended largely to the success of subsequent operations. LG 28/1/1918

Frank Edward Young

2nd Lt. Frank Edward Young, late 1st Bn., Herts. R. (T.F.).
For most conspicuous bravery, determination and exceptional devotion to duty on 18th September, 1918, south-east of Havrincourt, when during an enemy counter-attack and throughout an extremely intense enemy barrage he visited all posts, warned the garrisons and encouraged the men. In the early stages of the attack he rescued two of his men who had been captured, and bombed and silenced an enemy machine-gun. Although surrounded by the enemy, 2nd Lt. Young fought his way back to the main barricade and drove out a party of the enemy who were assembling there. By his further exertions the battalion -was able to maintain a line of great tactical value, the loss of which would have meant serious delay to future operations. Throughout four hours of intense hand-to-hand fighting 2nd Lt. Young displayed the utmost valour and devotion to duty, and set an example to which the company gallantly responded. He was last seen fighting hand to hand against a considerable number of the enemy. LG 14/12/1918

Christopher Cox

No. 13909 Pte. Christopher Cox, Bedf. R.
For most conspicuous bravery and continuous devotion to duty when acting as a stretcher-bearer. During the attack of his battalion the front wave was checked by the severity of the enemy artillery and machine gun fire, and the whole line had to take cover in shell holes to avoid annihilation. Pte. Cox, utterly regardless of personal safety, went out over fire-swept ground, and single-handed rescued four men. Having collected the wounded of his own battalion, he then assisted to bring in the wounded of an adjoining battalion. On the two subsequent days he carried out similar rescue work with the same disregard of his own safety. He has on all occasions displayed the same high example of unselfishness and valour. 7th Battalion 13 March 1917 at Achiet-le-Grand, France. LG 11/5/1917

Samuel Needham

No. 203329 Pte. Samuel Needham, Bedf. R. (Hull).
For most conspicuous bravery and initiative when with a strong patrol which was heavily attacked by the enemy and forced back in confusion. At this critical moment Pte. Needham ran back and fired rapidly at a body of the enemy at point-blank range. His action checked the enemy and enabled the patrol commander to reorganise his men. The patrol had many casualties, but successfully got back all their wounded, and it was due to the action of individuals, of which this is the most outstanding, that the entire patrol was not cut off. Pte. Needham's example was of the greatest value at a critical moment, and the bold and determined stand made by him did more than anything to inspire confidence, and undoubtedly saved a critical situation. 1/5th Battalion 10/11 September 1918 at Kefr Kasim, Palestine. LG 29/10/1918

John Stanhope Collings-Wells

Capt. (A./Lt.-Col.) John Stanhope Collings-Wells, D.S.O., late Bedf. R.
For most conspicuous bravery, skilful leading and handling of his battalion in very critical situations during a withdrawal. When the rearguard was almost surrounded and in great danger of being captured, Lieutenant - Colonel Collings-Wells, realising the situation, called for volunteers to remain behind and hold up the enemy whilst the remainder of the rearguard withdrew, and with his small body of volunteers held them up for one and a-half hours until they had expended every round of ammunition. During this time he moved freely amongst his men guiding and encouraging them, and by his great courage undoubtedly saved the situation. On a subsequent occasion, when his battalion was ordered to carry out a counterattack, he showed the greatest bravery. Knowing that his men were extremely tired after six days' fighting, he placed himself in front and led the attack, and even when twice wounded refused to leave them but continued to lead and encourage his men until he was killed at the moment of gaining their objective. The successful results of the operation were, without doubt, due to the undaunted courage exhibited by this officer. 4th Battalion. 22/27 March 1918 during the fighting from Marcoing to Albert, France. LG 23/4/1918

Charles Calveley Foss

Captain Charles Calveley Foss, D.S.O., 2nd Battalion, The Bedfordshire Regiment.
For most conspicuous bravery at Neuve Chapelle on 12th March, 1915. After the enemy had captured a part of one of our trenches, and our counter-attack made with one Officer and 20 men having failed (all but two of the party being killed or wounded in the attempt), Captain Foss, on his own initiative, dashed forward with eight men, under heavy fire, attacked the enemy with bombs, and captured the position, including the 52 Germans occupying it. The capture of this position from the enemy was of the greatest importance, and the utmost bravery was displayed in essaying the task with so very few men. LG 23/8/1915

Edward Warner

No. 7602 Private Edward Warner, 1st Battalion, The Bedfordshire Regiment.
For most conspicuous bravery near " Hill 60 " on 1st May, 1915. After Trench 46 had been vacated by our troops, consequent on a gas attack, Private Warner entered it single-handed in order to prevent the enemy taking possession. Reinforcements were sent to Private Warner, but could not reach him owing to the gas. He then came back and brought up more men, by which time he was completely exhausted, but the trench was held until the enemy's attack ceased. This very gallant soldier died shortly afterwards from the effects of gas poisoning. LG 29/6/1915

Tom Edwin Adlam

Temporary Second Lieutenant Tom Edwin Adlam, Bedfordshire Regiment.
For most conspicuous bravery during operations. A portion of a village which had defied capture on the previous day had to be captured at all costs to permit subsequent operations to develop. This minor operation came under very heavy machine gun and rifle fire. Second Lieutenant Adlam realising that time was all important, rushed from shell hole to shell hole under heavy fire collecting men for a sudden rush, and. for this purpose also collected many enemy grenades. At this stage he was wounded in the leg, but nevertheless he was able to out throw the enemy and then seizing his opportunity, and in spite of his wound, he led a rush, captured the position and killed the occupants. Throughout the day he continued to lead his men in bombing attacks. On the following day he again displayedcourage of the highest order, and though again wounded and unable to throw bombs, he continued to lead his men. His magnificent example and valour, coupled with the skilful handling of the situation, produced far-reaching results. 1st Battalion 27 September 1916 at Thiepval, France LG 25/11/1915

© Images Copyright ©

The pre 1919 cap badge of the regiment, in the centre a Hert fording a stream.	The post 1919 version.
Kipling and King 610	Kipling and King 611

	The Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Regiment
	1688 - 1958


Titles
pre 1881		post 1881
1st Battalion, 16th (The Bedfordshire) Regiment of Foot		1st Battalion, The Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Battalion, 16th (The Bedfordshire) Regiment of Foot		2nd Battalion, The Bedfordshire Regiment

Earliest recognised formation:	1688, when raised as Archibald Douglas's Regiment of Foot. Second battalion raised in Ireland 1859.

Motto:	Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense

Regimental Journal:	The Wasp

WWI:	Battle Honours; 74	Victoria Crosses; 7 (+ 1 to the Herts R)	Died; 6500
WWII:	Battle Honours; 16	Victoria Crosses; 0	Died; ????

Amalgamated:	1958 with the Essex Regiment, to form the 3rd East Anglian Regiment (16th/44th Foot)

From 1782-1809 known as the 16th (The Buckinghamshire) Regiment of Foot, "Buckinghamshire" exchanged for "Bedfordshire" in 1809

Fenian Raids Canada 1866-1870 1st Battalion

Canada General Service Medal 1866-70

clasp:

Fenian Raid 1866

Red River 1870

number:

121

1881: The 16th (The Bedfordshire) Regiment of Foot becomes "The Bedfordshire Regiment" ( "and Hertfordshire" not added until 1919)

Relief of Chitral 1895 1st Battalion

India Medal 1895

clasp:

Relief of Chitral 1895

number:

Battle Honour: Chitral

South African War 1899 - 1902 or "Boer War" 2nd Battalion (January 1900 - end of the war) with two Mounted Infantry (MI) companies. The 4th Militia Battalion, and volunteer drafts from the Volunteer Battalions also served.

Queen's South Africa Medal 1899-1902, with or without the King's South Africa Medal 1901 - 1902

Common clasps: Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902; also:

clasp:

Relief of Kimberley

Paardeberg

Driefontein

Johannesburg

Diamond Hill

number:

clasp:

Wittebergen

number:

Casualties:

Officers

NCOs and Men

KIA & DOW/ DOD

Wounded

Missing / POW

KIA & DOW

Death from disease

Wounded

Missing / POW

5/-

Battle Honour: South Africa 1900-1902

The Great War 1914 - 1918 ( "Bedfordshire Regiment", 21 battalions; 10 served overseas; plus the territorial "Hertfordshire Regiment", 4 battalions, 1 served overseas. )

Generally awarded the British War Medal & Victory Medal, men overseas prior to 1/1/1916 also a 1914 or 1914-15 Star.

Battalion →

1
Hertfordshire Regiment

1/5

Extra Reserve

Garrison

date of first overseas service.
(first theatre red x )

16/8
1914

7/10
1914

25/7
1916

6/11
1914

11/8
1915

30/7
1915

?/7
1915

?/8
1915

?/3
1916

?/3
1917

?/2
1917

France & Flanders

Gallipoli

x
(Suvla)

Egypt & Palestine

Italy

India

Star
possible ?

1914 or 1914-15

or 1914-15 only

VCs at a glance:

died
Extracted from : "Soldiers / Officers Died in the Great War" (consider approximate - in addition the regiment as a whole lost an additional 91 officers who are recorded with 'battalion not shown' or with battalions not shown here, or who we have not yet allocated a battalion.)

1456

1375

840

852

333

640

804

643

* In South Africa at the start of the war, moved to the UK.

Regular

Territorial Force

New Armies

Garrison.

Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19
5 officers and 23 men of the Bedfordshire Regiment, and 2 officers of the Hertfordshire Regiment also qualified for this medal.

VCs: 8 (inc. Herts Regt); Adlam, Warner, Foss, Collings-Wells, Needham, Cox, Young, (1st Herts R) Hedges. (Hedges attached to the 6th Northamptonshire R.)

Battle Honours: Mons; Marne 1914; Ypres 1914, 1915, 1917; Loos; Somme 1916, 1918; Arras 1917, 1918; Cambrai 1917, 1918; Sambre; Suvla; Gaza. Le Cateau; Retreat from Mons; Aisne 1914; La Bassee 1914; Langemarck 1914, 1917; Gheluvelt; Nonne Bosschen; Neuve Chapelle; Hill 60; St Julien; Frezenberg; Bellewaarde; Aubers; Festubert 1915; Albert 1916, 1918; Bazentin; Delville Wood; Pozieres; Guillemont; Flers-Courcelette; Morval; Thiepval; Le Transloy; Ancre Heights; Ancre 1916, 1918; Vimy 1917; Scarpe 1917; Arleux; Oppy; Messines 1917; Pilckem; Polygon Wood; Broodseinde; Poelcapelle; Passchendaele; St Quentin; Bapaume 1918; Rosieres; Avre; Villers Bretonneux; Lys; Hazebrouck; Scherpenberg; Amiens; Drocourt-Queant; Hindenburg Line; Epehy; Canal du Nord; St Quentin Canal; Selle; France and Flanders 191418; Italy 1917-18; Landing at Suvla; Scimitar Hill; Gallipoli 1915; Egypt 1915-17; El Mughar; Nebi Samwil; Jerusalem; Jaffa; Tell'Asur; Megiddo; Sharon; Palestine 1917-18.

1919: now re-titled "The Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment"

Jewish / Arab unrest, Palestine 1936 - 39 2nd Battalion

General Service Medal 1918 -62

clasp:

Palestine

numbers:

WW2 1939 - 1945
	Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment.				Hertfordshire Regiment
Battalion →	1st	2nd	5th	30th	1st	2nd
campaign ↓
France and Belgium 1940. (Dunkirk )		x
North Africa & Middle East	x	x		x
Burma	x
Sicily / Italy		x		x	x
Malaya			x
N.W. Europe						x

Notes.
	14th Infantry Brigade 14/6/41-28/10/44 Egypt, Syria, Libya. To Burma 10/5/43 (Long Range Penetration). Moved to 16th Infantry Division from 29/10/44 remained Burma/India.	10th Infantry Brigade for the Duration N. Africa 25/3/43-15/12/43. Egypt 23/3/43-13/2/44. Italy 21/2/44-11/12/44. Greece 16/12/44-31/8/45	55th Infantry Brigade Malaya. Captured by the Japanese Singapore Island 15/2/1942	42nd Infantry Brigade North Africa 25/8/43-27/7/44 then under Allied Force HQ for Italy. Battalion designated "172nd Infantry Brigade" for deception purposes, 26/12/43-27/7/44	Served Gibraltar from 24/4/43 then 66th Infantry Brigade, serving Italy, Palestine and Syria, 4/8/44-31/8/45	under 21 Army Group for NW Europe. D-Day Landers with 9 Beach Group. Landed "King" sector "Gold" Beach. (Specially trained support Infantry for their Beach Group unit)



WW2 Stars common to the Battalion. (excluding 39-45 star ) Key: A = Africa, P = Pacific, B = Burma, I = Italy, F&G = France and Germany
	A, B	A, I.	P	I	I	F&G



Most also entitled to the 1939-45 War Medal and many the Defence Medal

Battle Honours: Dunkirk 1940; North-West Europe 1940; Tobruk Sortie 1941; Belhamed; Tunis; North Africa 1941, 1943; Cassino II; Trasimene Line; Italy 1944-5; Chindits 1944. Tobruk 1941; Athens; Greece 1944-5; Singapore Island; Malaya 1942; Burma 1944.

1948: Regulars reduced to a single battalion (the 1st)

Selected Links
The Regimental Museum. (Located in )



Selected Bibliography;

Author	Title	Publisher
Compiled by Richard Cannon, Esq., Adjutant-General's Office, Horse Guards.	Historical Record of The Sixteenth, or, The Bedfordshire Regiment of Foot: containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1688, and of its subsequent Services to 1848. 45 pp.	London: Parker, Furnivall, & Parker, 1848.
Major-Gen. Sir F. Maurice. With a Foreword by Gen. The Earl of Cavan, Colonel of the Regiment.	The 16th Foot. A History of The Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment. 240 pp.	London: Constable & Company Ltd., 1931.
Capt. F. A. M. Webster. Foreword by Field Marshal The Viscount Allenby.	The History of the Fifth Battalion The Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment (T.A.). 306 pp.	London: Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd., 1930
E. Pebody	Experiences in the Dardanelles of the 1st/5th Beds. Regt. T.F. 19 pp.	Olney, 1916.
Edmund Rimmer.	The Story of the First-Fifth Bedfords. 79 pp.	Manchester: Co-operative Wholesale Society's Printing Works, 1917


Additional Bibliography for this Page.

Author/Compiler	Title	Publisher
Officers of the Regiment.	Unpublished rolls in the care of the National Archives; WO 100/ etc.	-
	Additional bibliography same as Northumberland Fusiliers page