Bedford Regiment - Which Battalion?

[Lainys]

Hello,

My husbands GGF James L Godfrey served in the Bedford Regiment 31074 during WW1, however,  his Service Record has no information regarding his battalion?

He was posted in France between July 1916 and November 1917 when he was discharged with Neurasthenia Traumative.

He played for the regiment football team and we have a photo with  'G (or C) Coy 1904-1905 written on the football, what does this refer to?

Any information relating to the above would be gratefully received.

Thanks,

Lainy

[MaxD]

Could you give his name?

MaxD

[Lainys]

Hi Max,

James L Godfrey 31074.

Lainy

[MaxD]

His overseas service was with 2nd Battalion (it is on the stamp on his statement of services) joined them in France on 20 October 1916 returned home on 28 Nov 1917.

He had jojned under the Derby Scheme in Nov 1915, was called forward in early 1916.

As to the football, it may have been a treasured memento of the relevant company when they won some inter company competition, he was certainly not serving with them then.

MaxD
.

[Lainys]

Hi Max,

Thank you for your prompt reply and for the information you gave given me, it is really helpful.

Lainy

[MaxD]

The period he was with them is covered by 3 war diaries (select the relevant dates from here)

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_ep=2%20battalion%20bedfordshire%20regiment&_cr=WO%2095&_dss=range&_ro=any&_st=adv

 each of which can be downloaded for £3.50.  They are highly unlikely to mention him by name but will give a flavour of his war.  They are on Ancestry if you have a sub I'll send a link.

MaxD

Presumably you have seen his medal record and Silver War Badge record??

[Lainys]

Hi Max,

Please send me the link to these on Ancestry.

No, we haven't seen his medal record and silver war badge record. Where can I see these?

We just found out that he served for 22 years in the army prior to WW1 whe he was recalled at 37 years old. This explains him being in the football photo I mentioned above. Would his records at TNA cover the 22 year period?

Really appreciate your help & thanks again.

Lainy

[MaxD]

Hi Lainy

A bit at a time.  His first enlistment was in the 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment (militia) in November 1897 and after the standard 49 days training he transferred to 1st Battalion on 14 Dec 1897.  That record is on Findmypast.  The 1st Battalion was then in India where it stayed until 1907, returning to England in 1908.  In 1913 it went to Ireland.  In his Great War attestation he says he served 16 years in the 1st Battalion (not 22) which would have taken him from 1897 - 1913. 
Unfortunately I haven't been able to turn up any record for that period of service or any entry in the various medal rolls.

He wasn't recalled, he volunteered in November 1915 before conscription started, in fact had he not volunteered, he may well have not been called up at all given that he was already 37 and had two children - good for him. 

The 2nd Battalion war diaries from Jan 1916 are at this link
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interactive/60779/43112_2333_0-00223?pid=491801&backurl=https://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc%3DMvA3248%26_phstart%3DsuccessSource%26usePUBJs%3Dtrue%26indiv%3D1%26db%3Dukwardiarieswwi%26cp%3D0%26_F0007CF4%3DBedfordshire%2520regiment%26_F00088EF%3D2nd%2520battalion%26new%3D1%26redir%3Dfalse%26uidh%3D6x5%26gss%3Dangs-d%26rank%3D1%26pcat%3D39%26fh%3D0%26h%3D491801%26recoff%3D%26ml_rpos%3D1&treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=MvA3248&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true#?imageId=43112_2333_0-00000



 

[MaxD]

His Silver War badge record and medal card are here:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/categories/mil_awards/?name=james+lenin_godfrey&_phtarg=MvA3255&successSource=Search

Ignore the hieroglyphics about Army Order etc, this was simply the regulation under which SWBs were issue at the time.

The medal roll on which his British War and Victory medals are recorded is here:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/iwoservicemedalawardrolls/?name=james+lenin_godfrey&pcat=mil_awards&qh=tHrXhHul0cL6pzWePkez2g%3D%3D

(3rd one down)

MaxD