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Antique Military prints of the Bedfordshire Regiment, 16th of Foot. by
Victorian Military Artist. Richard Simkin. The Bedfordshire Regiment shown
during the 1890's. |
| The Bedfordshire Regiment
Though the “Old Sixteenth” has a few battles on its colour-bearing
only the names of “Blenheim,” “Ramillies,” “Oudenarde,” and
“Malplaquet”-it was created as far back as 1688 by James 2nd.
Raised in Middlesex, it was quartered by William 3rd.
In Bucks, being given the title of the “Buckinghamshire
Regiment” in 1782, which was altered in 1809 to that of the
“Bedfordshire.” From
1689 to 1712 it saw much active service on the Continent, being present at
Walcourt, Steenkirk, Landen, and Namur; at the sieges of Kaiserswerth,
Venloo, Ruremonde, Stevenswaert, Liege, Huy, and Limburg; and at
Schellenberg, Helixem, and Neer-Hepsen, Ramillies, and Oudenarde; at the
sieges of Lisle (where sergeant Littler “swam across the river with a
hatchet, and cut the fastenings which held up a drawbridge, to enable a
party to pass the stream, for which act of gallantry he was rewarded with
a commission in the Buffs”), Touray, Mons, Pont-a-Vendin, Douay,
Bethune, Aire, St. Venant, Arleux, Bouchain, and Quesney, as well as at
the battle of Malplaquet. In
1740 it served as marines, but saw no active service; and a year after a
detachment was present at Carthagena, and was decimated by disease; while
another was compelled to surrender at Barton Bridge in 1779, when attacked
with overwhelming odds by a force under the Spanish governor of Louisiana
‘but other detachments successfully defended Savannah and Pensacola in
the same campaign, and saw much severe fighting until 1782, when they
returned home. The regiment
next done duty in the Maroon War of 1795, and in 1804 at Surinam, where
and at Barbadoes it lost during its stay 27 officers and 500 men.
A 2nd battalion, formed while the regiment was in the
West Indies, served in Paris during the occupation in 1815, and was
disbanded or amalgamated soon after; the present 2nd battalion
was raised in 1858. The
facings, originally white, were yellow in 1751, and so remained until the
present territorial designations were adopted, when, as an English
regiment, it reverted to white. The
badge is the united red and white rose; but formerly it appears to have
worn “the Grand Cross of the Bath.”
A hart crossing a ford (the device of the Hertford Militia) is worn
(on a Maltese Cross over an eight-pointed star)on the button,
helmet-plate, and waist-plate; the hart alone on the tunic collarand
forage-cap. The Militia
battalions are the 1st Bedford (1763), which had for its motto
“Proaris et focis,” and at one time wore the “bugle” as a Light
Infantry force; and 4th Hertford (1759).
The volunteer battalions are the 1st Hertfordshire,
Hertford (grey and scarlet), the 2nd Hertfordshire, Little
Gaddesden (grey and grey), and the 1st Bedfordshire, Bedford
(scarlet and white). The
earliest nickname was “The Old Bucks”; since allusion to its ill luck
in having to do its duty of late years in part of the world where
campaigns were not raging, it has been called the “Peace-makers” (no
names having been on the colours until the territorial system was
introduced) and the “Feather-beds,” from having “seen no service
since Malplaquet.” Not to
see active service is the misfortune, not the crime, of the regiment.
The depot was at Bedford. |
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Temporary Second Lieutenant T. E. Adlam, Though Wounded Leads His Men In A Dashing Attack, Capturing A German Position And Killing The Defenders.
A portion of a village had to be captured, and under heavy fire Temporary Second Lieutenant Tom Edwin Adlam, of the Bedfordshire Regiment, rushed from shell hole collecting men and also enemy grenades for a sudden rush. At this stage he was wounded in the leg, but in spite of his wounds led a dashing attack, captured the position, and killed the occupants. Throughout the day he continued to lead his men in bombing attacks. On the following day, when 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. He was deservedly awarded the V.C.
First World War antique black and white book plate published c.1916-18 of glorious acts of heroism during the Great War. This plate may also have text on the reverse side which does not affect the framed side. Title and text describing the event beneath image as shown. Paper size 10.5 inches x 8.5 inches (27cm x 22cm). Price £13.00
ITEM CODE DTE0787
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Captain C. C. Foss, D.S.O, And A Bombing Party of Eight Recapturing A British Position And Fifty-Two Germans.
At Neuve Chapelle on March 12th 1915, the enemy captured a part of one of the British trenches. A counter attack, made with one officer and twenty men, failed, and all but two of the party were killed or wounded in the attempt. Thereupon Captain Charles Cavbeley Foss, D.S.O, of the 2nd Battalion. The Bedfordshire Regiment, on his own initiative, dashed forward with eight men under heavy fire, attacked the enemy with bombs, and recaptured the position, including the fifty-two Germans occupying it. The recapture of this position was of the greatest importance, and the utmost bravery was displayed in undertaking the task with so few men. For his most conspicuous bravery Captain Foss was awarded the V.C.
First World War antique black and white book plate published c.1916-18 of glorious acts of heroism during the Great War. This plate may also have text on the reverse side which does not affect the framed side. Title and text describing the event beneath image as shown. Paper size 10.5 inches x 8.5 inches (27cm x 22cm). Price £13.00
ITEM CODE DTE0718
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Bedfordshire Regiment (16th foot) by Richard Simkin.
Printed on high quality 300gsm German etching stock. Only 25 copies of this superb quality reprint are available.
Special edition of 25 reprints. Paper and Image size 12 inches x 9 inches (31cm x 23cm). Price £18.00
Original chromolithograph. Image size 10 inches x 13 inches (25cm x 33cm). Price £130.00
ITEM CODE AU0055
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Temporary Second Lieutenant T. E.
Adlam, Though
Wounded Leads His Men In A Dashing Attack, Capturing A German Position And Killing The Defenders.
A portion of a village had to be captured, and under heavy fire
Temporary Second Lieutenant Tom Edwin Adlam, of the Bedfordshire
Regiment, rushed from shell hole collecting men and also enemy grenades
for a sudden rush. At this
stage he was wounded in the leg, but in spite of his wounds led a
dashing attack, captured the position, and killed the occupants.
Throughout the day he continued to lead his men in bombing
attacks. On the following
day, when 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. He
was deservedly awarded the V.C.
Captain C. C. Foss, D.S.O, And A Bombing Party of
Eight Recapturing A British Position And Fifty-Two Germans.
At Neuve Chapelle on March 12th 1915, the enemy
captured a part of one of the British trenches.
A counter attack, made with one officer and twenty men, failed,
and all but two of the party were killed or wounded in the attempt.
Thereupon Captain Charles Cavbeley Foss, D.S.O, of the 2nd
Battalion. The Bedfordshire
Regiment, on his own initiative, dashed forward with eight men under
heavy fire, attacked the enemy with bombs, and recaptured the position,
including the fifty-two Germans occupying it.
The recapture of this position was of the greatest importance,
and the utmost bravery was displayed in undertaking the task with so few
men. For his most conspicuous bravery Captain Foss was awarded the
V.C.
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