Bedford
First World War Timeline
August to September 1914
Places > Bedford > First World War > First World War Timeline
Based on local newspaper research in the Bedfordshire Times and Independent.
[Notes in square brackets have been added by the compiler to clarify, where needed, and to set the local event in a national context.]
Compiled by local historian Stuart Antrobus.
Britain declares war on Germany: 4 August 1914.
7 August 1914
P4 (Cols 3-4)
The Palace cinema advertisement: 'Special War news will be shown on the Screen during the performance as Telegrams arrive'
[Similarly, each subsequent week].
P4 (Col.6)
'Advice for The Times from The Times:
First and foremost, Keep your heads. Be calm... Explain to
the young and the ignorant what war is, and why we have
been forced to wage it.'
P5 (Col.1)
'Events on Tuesday': The town was cheerful during the day and the riverside illuminations at night added a tone of gaiety, when
the band played the English, French and Russian national anthems... A large crowd wait for hours outside the office
of the Beds Times in an anxious expectation... At the approach of midnight the message that war was declared
at 7pm was announced and greeted with loud cheers... cheers for the King, the Government and the Navy,
" Rule
Britannia" and " God Save the King" sung... among the crowd
were three Union Jacks waving aloft.
14 August 1914
P2 (Col 1)
'The Week in Parliament:...Europe has entered
upon a great war'.
P5 (Col 1)
'Bedford War News: Mr
Greenshields, The Borough Engineer, has issued a warning
that the ground surrounding the town's water works
are closed, and only authorised persons are allowed.
"Persons trespassing will do so at the risk of being
shot".'
P5 (Col 1) 'Britannia Works And The War:
About a hundred men from the Britannia Works [the town'
s major engineering works] have been called out for
service in the Army and Navy and have already left
Bedford…wives will be paid one shilling a day until
further notice.'
P5 (Col 4)
Statement regarding St
Paul's Church Bedford: 'During the war there
will be a special service of Intercession and the Litany
each day, at 12 noon, in addition to the daily
celebration of the Holy Eucharist and the daily
offices.'
P5 (Col 4)
'The Purchase of Horses for the Army: No little
commotion has been caused in agricultural and commercial
circles by the so-called commandeering of horses and
vehicles by the military authorities.'
[Tens of
thousands of horses were requisitioned during just the
first few months of the war. By 1917, Britain had one
million horses and mules in service. Britain lost over
484,000 horses in the war, one horse for every two men.]
(Col 5)
'County War News': Appeal to men of
Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Huntingdonshire, aged 19
to 39 years to enlist in the Bedfordshire Regiment at
The Barracks, Kempston. "Owing to the great
boom in recruiting during the past ten days or so, it is
understood that a new 3rd Battalion may be added to the
Bedfordshire Regiment."
Between Sunday 16 August and
Tuesday 18 August, Scottish Highland Territorial Force
regiments arrive in Bedford by train, around 17,000
soldiers and 4,000 horses, for training before leaving
to fight in France (May 1915).
21 August 1914
P2 (Col 1)
'The Great War' [Weekly column from then
onwards, summarising developments and providing comment
on the conduct of the war.]
P4 (Cols 1-2)
The Palace
cinema advertisement: 'Special War Matinee in aid of the
Mayor's Fund at 3. Special programme.'
P5 (Col 5)
'The County War Committee': as a result of a public
meeting on 15 August, a committee was set up under the
Chairmanship of Mr S.H. Whitbread with " the object of
collecting information throughout the county respecting
distress, unemployment, supply and demand of labour,
scarcity of horses, distribution of local and national
funds, and other kindred matters." An office was opened
at 15a St Paul' s Square, Bedford, open each day from
2.30 to 4.30pm.
28 August 1914
P1 (Col 7)
The
Empire cinema advertisement: ' Just arrived, Latest
Films from The Battlefield of Europe.'
P2 (Col 2)
'Beds County Council: A War Committee: County
Distress Committee Constituted [21 August].'
P4 (Col 6)
'Local
Occurrences: ...The first Bedford contingent of
Kitchener's Second Army left the depot, Kempston, on
Sunday morning [Filed Marshall Lord Kitchener became
Secretary of State for War in 1914. His recruiting
poster image, pointing out at the viewer, has become
iconic]…Stories have been current in the town this week
respecting gentlemen who happen to be either of German
birth (and naturalised) or bearing a German name, but
they are without foundation, and we trust that perfectly
inoffensive and loyal citizens will not be annoyed in
this manner.'
P5 (Col 1)
'Church Parades: Russell
Park: A drumhead service for the four battalions of the
Argyllshire and Sutherland Highlanders was held in
Russell Park at 11 o'clock on Sunday morning... No more
impressive sight has ever been witnessed in the town of
Bedford. The singing was accompanied by the regimental
band and there was a choir...'
4 September 1914
P1 Cols 6-7)
The Palace cinema advertisement: 'The Battle
of Louvain (Great War Topical)'.
P5 (Col 3)
'Bedford
Casualties in British Expeditionary Force'.
P5 (Col 3)
'Scottish Soldiers and Sunday
Drinking: Letter to the Editor from "Disgusted Scottie":
... In our own dear land [Scotland] no drink can be had on
Sunday…It is high time soldiers were prevented from
entering drinking houses on Sunday. No more
drunkenness…'
P5 (Col 6)
'Why Are We Fighting?: The First
Recruiting Meeting in Bedford:…The German policy for the
last 20 years was World Domination – a dream of a world
empire, and the conquest of Western Europe...'
11 September 1914
P5 (Col 3)
'The Wounded at Wrest Park: The first
batch of convalescents from the seat of war arrived at
Wrest House on Monday afternoon…converted into hospital
wards at the expense of Lord Lucas under the personal
supervision of his sister...'
P5 (Col 4)
'Casualties in the War' [Weekly
list of local men or old boys of the Harpur Trust
Schools killed and wounded].
P5 (Cols 4-5)
'For King and Country: Scenes at the
Bedford Barracks – The Rush to Attest: The patriotic
spirit of Englishmen has been aroused. Since the issue
of an appeal by Lord Kitchener the authorities at the
Barracks have been working day and night to cope with
the crowds who, as shown above [photo], are anxious to
" shoulder the gun".'
18 September 1914
P5 (Col 5)
'Mr Kaye on the teaching of
German': a letter to the Editor responding to a previous
letter stating that "It is to be hoped that 'German' will not be included amongst the subject to be taught at
the Continuation Classes [adult education] and also that
it will be excluded from the curriculum of our schools".
On the contrary, argues Mr Kaye, it is more important
than ever for the English to learn German and understand
the enemy.
25 September 1914
P6 (Col 5)
'Hospital Train Through Bedford: On
Sunday afternoon a hospital train with 160 wounded
soldiers from the battle of Mons arrived at the Midland
Station, Bedford, en route for Leicester Military
Hospital... the first stop since leaving Southampton…
Several members of the Red Cross Society had prepared
tea on the platform for about 20 minutes, during which
time the station was closed to the general public. The
carriages were specially constructed and the beds were
similar to the berths on board ship.'
Page last updated: 1st May 2014