Bedford
First World War Timeline
January to March 1919
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.
3 January 1919
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P7 (Cols 5-6)
Advertisement for International Stores 'no Coupons for Corned Beef: You can now add the Best Beef to your menu without using your Meat Coupons. There is no waste,
no gristle; no fuel is needed to cook it; the quantity you buy is the quantity that comes to table. We are offering the finest Beef at 1/10d per lb. which is under
Control Price...'
10 January 1919
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P5 (Cols 1-2)
Fundraising advertisement 'the King's Fund for Disabled Officers and Men: Gratitude Week January 12th to 18th : "Give as They Gave For You" '
P5 (Col 6)
' "Bedford Highlander" Gains the VC: Lieut. William Davidson Bissett, 1/6th Bn., Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (T.F.) who has been awarded the V.C. [Victoria
Cross] was quartered in Bedford from August 1914 to May 1915... he was a trombone player in the Argyll's band... [awarded for] most conspicuous bravery and
leadership East of Maing on October 25, 1918...'
17 January 1919
P5 (Cols 3-6)
Photo and report: 'The Homecoming of Bedfordshire Prisoners: An Historic Occasion: The banquet to the returned Prisoners of War last week in Bedford Corn Exchange
by the Bedfordshire Regiments Prisoner of War Care Committee marked the close of a long period of devoted work which may well be termed a labour of love... [from]
as long ago as May, 1915'
24 January 1919
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P7 (Cols 5-6)
A notice by the Employment Exchange, showing a line drawing of a 'Silver Badge': 'You All Know This Badge: The man who wears it can hold down a good job. He is a
discharged Serviceman. He has worked and fought for you – to bring the Victory and the Peace – and the Plenty. He has benefitted by the training and discipline;
the regular living; the machine-like time-keeping; the proper respect for superiors. He will prove a better man for you. More efficient. More thorough... If you
want a good man – if you want a good job – go to your nearest Employment Exchange and get one!'
31 January 1919
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Meeting... Wednesday, 5th February at 7.30am, to discuss the form the celebration shall take in the Borough, and to appoint a Committee. Frederick Rich Hockliffe.
Mayor.'
7 February 1919
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P5 (Cols 2-5)
Photo: 'Bedford War Hospital Depot, 1916-1919: On Friday last... the workers ... met for the last time at the Working Men's Institute. For three years the work has
been carried on with enthusiasm and true patriotism, and no fewer than 19,000 garments have been made by this noble band of workers.'
P6 (Cols 3-4)
More on the disbandment and the Mayor's farewell party for them on the Saturday.
14 February 1919
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P5 (Col 5)
'Buckinghamshires To Guard Buckingham Palace: A great honour has been conferred upon our county regiment, the 3rd Battalion of which has been selected from
practically the whole of England to take over the Palace guard. The battalion moved from Felixstowe to Wellington barracks this week, and will form part of the
Guards' Brigade.'
21 February 1919
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P5 (Cols 4-6)
Photo of people walking on the frozen River Great Ouse 'High Jinks On The Ouse: A week ago there was a merry party of sliders on the river between the Suspension
Bridge and Newnham.'
P6 (Col 3)
'Women Police & Patrols: Address At The Town hall: A Meeting of the Bedford branch of the National Council of Women of Great Britain and Ireland... an address
by Miss Peto, Director of the Bristol Training School form Police Women and Patrols... to throw new light on a new movement which had come to the front during the
war and had come to stay... the training took from three to six months... the best age was between 30 and 40... the pay was 45/- to 50/- per week for police-women
but as yet there were no pensions... The employment of women added a small charge to the rates but half this pay came from the Home Office.'
28 February 1919
P5 (Cols 1-2)
Advertisement by Dudeney & Johnston, grocers: 'Margarine. No More Coupons. Full Freedom of Sale restored on and after March 3rd. Immediate reduction in price...'
P6 (Cols 5-7)
Advertisement by John Bull, jewellers: 'Important Notice: John Bull & Co (Bedford) Ltd., The County Jewellers, Respectfully beg to announce that having
completed their War Contracts they have now partly re-equipped their premises and can undertake the Manufacture or repair of jewellery and silver article...'
7 March 1919
P5 (Col 4)
Letter to the Editor 'Borough Recreation Committee War Work Party: ... the activities of this work party may now be brought to a close... the final despatch of
woollen comforts made before 16th... over 106,000 articles have been made for the Troops by this Work Party, which has been in existence since May, 1915.'
14 March 1919
P4 (Col 2)
Auctioneer's sale advertisement by W. & H. Peacock 'Horse Repositories, Bedford. 180 Surplus Army Horses. By order of HM's Secretary of State for War, Saturday
March 15th.'
21 March 1919
P7 (Cols 2-3)
Advertisement by Hepworths, The Clothiers: 'Demobilised Men and others will secure the Best Value to-day – as always – in a Hepworth Suit.'
P7 (Cols 6-7)
Advertisement by Phosferine, including portrait photos of individual, named soldiers and Medical Corps soldiers at the Front: 'What Royal Army Medical Men Say
(typical Extracts From Letter)... These men ... declare their stern experiences fully prove Phosferine is an unfailing preventive of nervous collapse, exhaustion,
or breakdown, which results from prolonged war strain...'
28 March 1919
P5 (Col 5)
'War Memorial Committee Meeting: ...Various suggestions had been made to the Mayor in writing including ideas for appropriate statue, a memorial in the Cemetery, a
park at the west end of the town, and a hall for concerts... Mr Dymock explained his proposal for a statue of Justice, with panels round containing pictures of the
men and women who fought and worked during the war, to be placed at the corner of Silver Street and the High Street... Mr Palmer explained his idea of a simple
memorial building in the centre of the field at the corner of Kimbolton Road and Goldington Road, containing complete records of Bedford's share in the war...
Page last updated: 1st May 2014