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6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment
The 6th Battalion, The Bedfordshire Regiment was raised in Bedford in August 1914 as part of Kitchener's First New Army they joined 9th (Scottish) Division as Divisional Troops. In March 1915 they transferred to 112th Brigade, 37th Division and proceeded to France in August.
In 1917 they fought in The First Battle of the Scarpe, including the capture of Monchy-le-Preux, The Second Battle of the Scarpe and The Battle of Arleux. They were in action during the Third Battles of Ypres. In 1918 They were in action on The Somme and on the 20th of May they were reduced to cadre with 700 men transferring to 1/1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment. On the 20th the remaining cadre transferred to 39th Division. and took on a role supervising courses of instruction for newly arrived American troops, beginning with units of the 77th American Division at Wolphus. On the 4th of August 1918 the 6th Bedfords disbanded in France.
22nd July 1915 Advance Party
28th July 1915 On the Move
29th July 1915 On the Move
1st Aug 1915 On the Move
3rd Aug 1915 In Billets
4th Aug 1915 On the Move
5th Aug 1915 On the Move
5th Aug 1915 Orders
5th Aug 1915 Training Instruction
5th Aug 1915 Billets
8th Aug 1915 Training
10th Aug 1915 Training
16th Oct 1915 The Derby Scheme
28th October 1915 Marched to Bienvillers
1st Dec 1915 Derby Scheme Armlets
11th Sep 1915 Last day of Derby Scheme Recruitment
31st Dec 1915 Seeing the Old YEar Out
10th Jan 1916 Group System Reopens
9th February 1916 Call Ups
6th March 1916 Reliefs
12th March 1916 Reliefs
2nd May 1916 10th Loyals return to action The 10th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashires, took up position in reserve at Bienvillers, with two companies of men moving forward in support of the the 6th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment who were man strong-points on the Hannescamps-Mochy road and in the support line behind the Monchy salient.
4th May 1916 Enemy artillery concentrated on the Monchy salient On the morning, May 4th 1916, the enemy started a heavy artillery bombardment concentrated on the Monchy salient and then lifted as the infantry attacked.
4th May 1916 Intense Bombardment by the Enemy
11th May 1916 Machine Guns more active of late
1st July 1916 Smoke 
2nd July 1916 Reliefs
3rd July 1916 Shelling
4th July 1916 Reliefs
5th July 1916 Orders
6th July 1916 Moves
15th July 1916 Operational Orders received
3rd August 1916 Working Party to the C.R.E.
6th August 1916 112th Brigade relieved the 101st.
10th August 1916 Battalion relieved 6th Bedfordshire Regt.
25th August 1916 Brigade will relieve 49th Brigade
1st Sep 1916 Orders
2nd Sep 1916 On the March
5th Sep 1916 Inspections
13th Sep 1916 Orders
16th Sep 1916 Orders Received
18th Sep 1916 Moves
9th April 1917 Received Orders to move to Old German Front Line Trench South of Cambrai Road
10th Apr 1917 Attack Made
10th April 1917 Brigade received Orders to withdraw
11th Apr 1917 Village Taken
12th Apr 1917 Reliefs
23rd April 1917 In Position of Assembly in Laurel Trench
24th April 1917 In touch with a Battalion of the York & Lancaster Regt.
26th May 1917 Working & Covering Parties
28th May 1917 Reliefs
7th of August 1917 Relieved
5th October 1917 112th Brigade to relieve 63rd Brigade
16th October 1917 250 O.R. from 6th Bedford Regt. attached
18th October 1917 Work on Forward Roads
18th October 1917 2 Officer casualties
9th of November 1917 Relieved
1st Mar 1918 Enemy Artillery
1st March 1918 Extracts from the Diary of Brevet-Colonel G.S.col1ison, D.S.O. Pt.2.
1st March 1918 Extracts from the Diary of Brevet-Colonel G.S.col1ison, D.S.O. Pt.3.
1st March 1918 Extracts from the Diary of Brevet-Colonel G.S.collison, D.S.O. Pt.7.
1st March 1918 Extracts from the Diary of Brevet-Colonel G.S.collison, D.S.O. Pt.9.
1st March 1918 Extracts from the Diary of Brevet-Colonel G.S.collison, D.S.O. Pt.10.
1st March 1918 Extracts from the Diary of Brevet-Colonel G.S.collison, D.S.O. Pt.11.
2nd Mar 1918 Gas
3rd Mar 1918 Quiet
4th Mar 1918 Reliefs Complete
6th Mar 1918 Reinforcements
8th Mar 1918 Enemy Attack
11th Mar 1918 In Reserve
12th Mar 1918 At Rest
13th Mar 1918 Football
14th Mar 1918 In Camp
15th Mar 1918 In Camp
16th Mar 1918 Reliefs Complete
17th Mar 1918 Gas Shells
18th Mar 1918 In the Trenches
19th Mar 1918 Reinforcements
20th Mar 1918 Gas
21st Mar 1918 In the Trenches
22nd Mar 1918 Reliefs Complete
23rd Mar 1918 In Support
25th Mar 1918 Reliefs
26th Mar 1918 Reinforcements
27th Mar 1918 Move
28th Mar 1918 On the Move
29th Mar 1918 On the March
30th Mar 1918 On the March
31st Mar 1918 Into the Trenches
1st Apr 1918 Prisoners Taken
2nd Apr 1918 Holding the Line
3rd Apr 1918 Holding the Line
4th Apr 1918 Reliefs
5th Apr 1918 Shelling
6th Apr 1918 Reliefs
7th Apr 1918 Holding the Line
8th Apr 1918 Holding the Line
9th Apr 1918 Reliefs
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| Want to know more about 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment? There are:5328 items tagged 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.
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Those known to have served with6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment during the Great War 1914-1918. - Cox Christopher. Pte. (d.26th July 1916)
- Cox Frank . Cpl. (d.6th August 1916)
- Cracknell William. Pte. (d.9th Aug 1916)
- Everard John Robert. Pte.
- Harlock Fredrick. Pte.
- Hedges VC. Frederick William. 2nd Lt.
- Horne Arthur. Pte.
- Money Thomas John . Pte. (d.9th August 1916)
- Rackley Alfred. Pte (d.7th Oct 1917)
- Richardson Thomas George. Pte. (d.17th Jul 1916 )
- Simmons Francis George. Pte. (d.28th April 1917)
All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please Add a Name to this List
Records of 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment from other sources.
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Pte. John Robert Everard 6th Btn Bedfordshire Regiment John Everard, also known as Jack was born on 28th June 1895 in the village of Writtle, Essex. He had two older brothers Ernest and Walter, and three sisters, one older called Alice, and two younger sisters, Violet and Rose.
Aged 15, he worked as an engineer’s painter.
Aged 18, he captained Writtle United Football Club. See the photo postcard, he is in the center holding the football.
And just 2 years later, on 19th of November 1915, he joined the Essex Reserves and went on to serve in World War one with the 6th Bedofordshire Regiment and 1st Hertfordshire Regiment.
He died in January 1972
His full biography between 1914 -1918 can be found here
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Pte. William Cracknell 6th Btn. Bedfordshire Regiment (d.9th Aug 1916) Henry Cracknell was the son of Emily and Frederick Cracknell of Little Hallingbury.
He lost his life on the 9th of August 1916, the same date his brother William was killed in action at the Somme.
Henry is buried in Dernancourt Communal Cemetery,
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Pte. Thomas John Money 6th Btn. Bedfordshire Regiment (d.9th August 1916) Private Thomas John Money, son of William Money, Baker Street, Ampthill, Bedfordshire, husband of Ada Money, 2 Westbeach Road, Wood Green, London; born in Maulden, living and enlisted in Ampthill, Bedfordshire. Served with the 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment (service no.26703). He was killed in action on 9th August 1916 in France and Flanders age 24 years and is commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. He is remembered on both The War Memorial and The Alamada, St. Andrews Church, Ampthill. Information courtesy of www.roll-of-honour.com
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Cpl. Frank Cox 6th Btn. Bedfordshire Regiment (d.6th August 1916) Corporal Frank Cox, born and living in Ampthill, enlisted Bedford. Served with the 6th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment (service no. 12099), He was killed in action on 6th August 1916 in France and Flanders and is commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. He is remembered on both The War Memorial and The Alamada, St. Andrews Church, Ampthill. Information courtesy of www.roll-of-honour.com
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Pte. Christopher Cox 6th Btn. Bedfordshire Regiment (d.26th July 1916) Private Christopher Cox, born and living in Ampthill, enlisted Bedford. Served with the 6th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment (service no. 12098), He died of his wounds on 26th July 1916 in England and is buried in St Andrews churchyard, Ampthill. He is remembered on both The War Memorial and The Alamada, St. Andrews Church, Ampthill. Information courtesy of www.roll-of-honour.com
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Pte. Fredrick Harlock 6th Btn. Bedfordshire Regiment I have Fredrick Harlock's service medal which I believe was given to my grandmother who kept house for his brother or cousin. He was wounded and had to leave the army.
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Pte Alfred Rackley 6th btn Bedfordshire Regiment (d.7th Oct 1917) Alfred Rackley was my great uncle, born Croxley Green, Hertfordshire.
Editor's Note:- At the time of his death, the 6th Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment were part of the 37th Division which was involved in the 3rd Battle of Ypres. The war diary for the Battalion records that, on that day, they lost 10 O.R. (other ranks) killed and 15 O.R. wounded through artillery shelling.
Alfred is interred at Hooge Crater Cemetery.
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Pte. Arthur Horne 6th Btn. Bedfordshire Regiment  The following information about my grandfather, Arthur Horne, has been passed down to me:
Arthur Horne was born in Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire on 25th February 1885.
He volunteered in October 1915, leaving behind his wife Ruth, pregnant with my mother Mary Irene (Rene), and four other children; Hilda, Gladys, Fred (Jim) and Florence (Floss).
The following January he was drafted to France where he served until the termination of hostilities. During this time he fought at Ypres, the Somme, Arras and Cambrai where he was reported missing. He was found in a French hospital having been badly gassed. He was the only survivor of a platoon on two occasions and once became stranded behind German lines where he was sheltered by a Belgian family until he was able to return to his regiment.
After the Armistice was signed, he advanced into Germany with the Army of Occupation. He was demobilised in February 1919 and holds the General Service and Victory medals.
He lived until the age of 96 leaving six daughters, five sons, thirteen grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren. He died in Luton in December 1981.
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Pte. Thomas George Richardson 6th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment (d.17th Jul 1916 ) Thomas ricradson was born in Ravenstone and enlisted in Bedford, he was resident at Weston Underwood. Thomas died of wounds and lies in
Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-L'Abbe, Somme, France.
His date of death on the War Memorial in Ravenstone Church is given as 24th of July 1916.
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