Royal Engineers (R.E.)

The Royal Engineers often marched to Clophill Church, led by their band.

About 150 officers and men of the Western Division Signal Co. R.E., whose headquarters are at Haynes Park, have been billeted in Clophill for the past fortnight. Another detachment is staying at Shefford. On Sunday mornings a special soldier's service is held at 10 a.m., and the ordinary service is at 11.15 instead of 11. The men from Haynes and Shefford march to Clophill, headed by their excellent band, and make a very imposing show. The church is filled to overflowing with soldiers, and the hearty manner in which the men join in the musical portions of the service is very impressive. The Rev. C.L. Matthews, Rector of Clophill, has preached at these services - short, practical sermons which hold the attention of his hearers. The parish room has been placed at their disposal as a canteen and recreation room and is highly appreciated.

Another large contingent of the Royal Engineers arrived in the village on Sunday. Football and other facilities for exercise are afforded the recruits. Their advanced physical perfection is highly creditable to the officers and non-coms.

Corporal George Tunstall, of the Headquarters Signal Department, who is very popular with the Engineers, has been promoted Sergeant, and has removed to Haynes.

Numerous spectators witnessed an interesting friendly game on Saturday afternoon in the field lent by Mr. John Maddams. The Royal Engineers were well represented, and a fairly local team encountered them, captained by Mr. Frank Burgoine, of Ivy House. At half-time the scores were two goals each. However, the R. E.'s soon showed they were the superior team, and some splendid play was witnessed from Sappers Gill, Hagan, Rowlands, Hunt, Bostock, and Mason. Sapper Jackson, in goal, was seen to great advantage. For the home team Frank Burgoine, Bertie Webb, Ted Cole, T. Izzard, and S. Izzard played remarkably well. The final scores were: Royal Engineers 7, Clophill 2. Mr. Alfred Roberts kindly refereed.

On Friday evening a concert was given in the Schools. An excellent program had been arranged by Corpl. Goate, of the Western Signal Service Training centre, R.E., who had at his disposal the talent of the Engineers, the services of the misses D. and P. Newton, of Bedford, and of Lance-Corpl. Cunnington and Drummer Cruikshank, of the Gordon Highlanders, who are stationed at Bedford. The most amusing item was the playing of the Foo-Foo Band under the leadership of Sapper powers. The various items were well received, and encores were numerous. Mrs. Walker sang "Good-bye," and "Angus MacDonald," the later being vigorously encored. Miss P. Newton's two recitations were well received, as were those of Miss D. Newton. The Rev. C.L. Matthews sung "Up from Somerset," and "Gilbert the Filbert," in very pleasing style. Lance-Corpl. Cunnington entertained with a "Song of Bonnie Scotland" and an American ??? missing!

Under the command of Major Newall, the Royal Engineers paraded to St. Mary's Church on Sunday morning, when an appropriate sermon was preached by the Rev. C. L. Matthews. The sincerity in the singing of the hymn "Eternal Father, strong to save" by the soldiers, was very noticeable. The service was choral, and Mr. H. Cunnington presided at the organ.

Upwards of sixty-three Royal Engineers, the Army Medical Corps, and Army Service Corps left Clophill on Wednesday morning for the front, amidst warm congratulations and heartfelt farewells. Their behaviour has been admirable, and the villagers and soldiers are sorry to part from them.

The majority of the soldiers billeted in the parish have this week been through a course of inoculation. The officers and men of the Western Signal Service have been busy practising throughout the village and and neighbourhood. On Sunday the battalion, under the command of Colonel Leigh, with Colonel Fossett, Major Newall, Major Evans, and other officers, paraded to St. Mary's Church. The band, conducted by Bandmaster Robinson, played appropriate music.

Accompanied by the band under Bandmaster Robinson, the Royal Engineers, commanded by Colonel Leigh, paraded to St Mary's Church on Sunday morning. An appropriate address was delivered by the Rev. C. L. Matthews. Mr. Walter Webb has joined the Corps, and went to Liverpool on Friday. The number of billets has been greatly augmented during the last few days.

Under the command of Colonel Leigh, the members of the R.E. Corps paraded to St Mary's Church on Sunday morning with their excellent band, conducted by Bandmaster Robinson. The service, which was conducted by the Rev. C. L. Matthews.

On Saturday a first rate concert was given by the Royal Engineers of the Western Signal Service. An excellent program had been arranged by Mrs. Godfrey Fanssett, wife of Lieut.-Colonel Godfrey Fanssett, D.S.O. The various items were highly appreciated by the audience. The program concluded with a most amusing dialogue entitled "A Brown Paper Parcel".

On Monday a dance was held at the School, when about 50 were present, including a good number of Royal Engineers.

Teams chosen from the Royal Engineers played football on Good Friday in a field lent by Mr. John Maddams, of Brickwall Farm.

Accompanied by the band, under Bandmaster Robinson, and commanded by Lieut. Saunderson, the Royal Engineers paraded to St Mary's Church on Sunday morning. The choral service was conducted by the Rev. C.L. Matthews.

The majority of the Royal Engineers billeted in the village and at Haynes attended service at St. Mary's Church on Sunday morning, accompanied by the regimental band under Bandmaster Robinson. Lieut. Col. Leigh was in command and the service was conducted by the Rev. C.L. Matthews.

Numerous spectators, including several officers and non-commissioned officers of the Royal Engineers, witnessed an exciting football match, in a field kindly lent by Mr. John Maddams, on Saturday afternoon, between the Headquarters Section and the W.H. Airline Section of the Royal Engineers. The teams were:- Headquarters: March,Ball, Ballantyre, Goodfellow, Adams, Webb, Barker, Glover, Davies, Phipps, and Lawrenson. W.H. Airline: Jackson, Hunt, Dixon, Hughes, Bostock, Hart, Ashton,Foley, Hagan, hall, and Rowlands. Glover opened the score for Headquarters with a Lovely shot. Shortly afterwards Hall, with some tricky play, equalised. The defence of the Airline was good. Hunt, Hart, and Bostock being in fine form. The Airline forwards were soon again in the Headquarters goal mouth, and Rowlands sent in a shot which completely beat the goalie. The second half was very even. The Headquarters equalised by a fine shot from Lawrenson. Then the Airline forwards became dangerous, and Ashton taking a centre from Hall found the net. About ten minutes before the whistle sounded, Davis again equalised, and at the call of time the scores were:- W.H. Airline 3, Headquarters 3.

Haynes Park was used to train Royal Engineers. Soldiers camped there or were billeted, many in Clophill.

A football match was played on Saturday afternoon in Mr. J. Maddams' field between teams representing No. 1 and No. 2 Reliefs of the Headquarters staff, R.E. The teams were: No. 1 - Little, goal; Adams, Smith, Courser, Webb, Firth, Geary, Pease, Arkwright, Lawrenson and Lient. Newboult. No. 2 - Tindale, goal, Barker, Marsh, Glover, Munday, Rowan, Goodfellow, Davies, Reason and Harbin. Barker got possession, and after a fine run scored for No. 2. Play was very even, but ten minutes before the interval Barker received a pass from Glover and scored again. In the second half' Marsh scored with a beauty, and then Lawrenson receiving from Pearse scored for No. 1. Glover, who was playing with great judgement, went through and scored a fourth. Barker added the fifth and final goal from pretty work by Marsh, No 2 running out easy victors by 5 to 1.

Last week the greater number of Royal Engineers, many of whom have been billeted in the village since the New Year, were removed to Haynes Park, where they are now under canvas. Only about 50 men are left here, and in all probability their stay will be brief. During the past four months the men stationed at Haynes have been marched down to Clophill to attend service in the Parish Church, but on Sunday the order was reversed. The men from Clophill attended the open air service in Haynes Park, conducted by the Rev. W.C. Browne, Vicar of Haynes.

The Rector of Clophill, who has held a special soldier's service at 10 a.m. on Sundays up to now, has deservedly become a favourite with both officers and men. At their first coming to the village he made every possible arrangement for their comfort and recreation. The Parish Room was placed at their disposal as a reading and recreation room, and concerts, dances, etc., were arranged from time to time. The villagers, too, have done their best to make the men comfortable in their billets, and the soldiers expressed regret at leaving to go under canvas. The conduct of the men has left nothing to be desired and taken altogether soldiers and villagers will be able to look back on a very pleasant time spent together.

On Sunday morning about 200 of the Royal Engineers who have been billeted here left for active service after being inspected by Lieut.-Col. Leigh, accompanied by other officers. The main street was lined with parishioners and visitors, the good behaviour of the soldiers having won for them universal respect. The band, under Bandmaster Robinson, rendered appropriate selections. Major Newwell was in command. Upwards of sixty have been connected with the Headquarters Department, and have been in Clophill some considerable time. As Lieuts. Saunderson, Newbold, and Harris, rode past the deep feeling shown was very striking.

Early on Sunday morning a sapper of the Royal Engineers went off with a bicycle, and up to the present has not been traced.

A military wedding was celebrated at Ampthill by special license on Saturday, the parties being Driver W.J. Goad, R.E., and Miss Maud Greenfield. Both bride and bridegroom hail from the metropolis. The bride had to witness her husband's departure on active service the following morning.

The special service for the Wesleyan Royal Engineers encamped at Haynes Park was conducted on Sunday by Mr. Thompson of Eversholt, at the Wesleyan Chapel. Mr. Linden Wootton ably presided at the organ.

Clophill is full of soldiers again, fresh drafts have recently arrived of Royal Engineers connected with the Signalling Department and other sections.

In delightful weather the Headquarters Section, R.E., here, and a strong R.E. Team from Haynes Park, played a football match on Saturday afternoon in a field kindly lent by Mr. John Maddams, of Brickwall Farm. Sergt. Harris has seen to great advantage, and Sappers McGregor and Ferguson (Scotch-men) played well. The visitor's goalkeeper, Sergt. Shaw, was well tested, and saved finely on several occasions. Teams:- Clophill: Sappers Prince, McGregor, Atkins, Hollis, Reguson, Meader, Tickle, Metcalfe, Evans, Elders and Sergt. Harris. Haynes: Sappers Barkes, Harper, Betts, Mann, Hatch, Jordan, Parrish, Hall, Vere, Corpl. McDonald and Sergt. Shaw. The linesmen were both popular parsons. Result: Clophill 5: Haynes, 3.

The R.E. Headquarters staff, who have been billeted in the village for the past six weeks, left on Saturday morning for Baldock. Before leaving they were inspected by Lieut.-Col. Cortez Leigh, Commandant, at Haynes Park. In a short address to the men after inspection, the gallant colonel expressed this satisfaction with the progress made by the men since formation of the Corps Headquarters, and also with their general conduct during their stay at Clophill. A great many of the villagers were present at the inspection. A little lad named Thomas Allen, was standing with his arms hanging over some iron palings, when his foot slipped, and the sharp iron point lacerated his arm rather badly. First aid was rendered by some of the N.C.O,'s of the R.E. S, one of the men giving his field dressing for the occasion. One of the officers then drove the lad in his car to Shefford to Dr. Winckworth, under whose care the little chap is making satisfactory progress.

A friendly game between the 5th Section R.E. Headquarters, and the Monmouthshires under Lieut. Jones, was played on Saturday afternoon in Mr. John Maddams' field. Mr. Sidney Matthews was referee. The Monmouthshire players mainly hailed from Newport, and played splendidly, especially T. Powell, F. Thomas, Sergt. Barker, Corpl. Squires, and Tom Osmond. Neither side scored, the goalies being both professionals. The teams hope to meet again on Saturday when rugby will be played.

Two sections of the R.E.'s left on Tuesday morning. After being inspected by Capt. Lee Wright they were accorded a hearty send-off.

The 5th Section of the R.E. Headquarters Department, left for Stevenage last week after inspection by Lieut. Col . F.A. Cortis Leigh and Major Robertson, of Haynes Park. They were accompanied by Capt. Lee Wright, Capt. Hardiman, Lieut. Card, Sergt. Major Stewart, Q.M.S. Bedford, and other non-commissioned officers. Another contingent from Haynes Park arrived in the village on Saturday and another on Sunday.

The men of the Monmouthshire Regiment who have been billeted in the village and neighbourhood, mostly hail from Newport and have quite won the affections of the billet-mothers, who hope they may have a prolonged stay. In some cases Tommy returns the kind offices of "mother" by holding the baby, or rocking the cradle, while she does the cooking, mending, or washing. The village is awake earlier than usual these dark mornings. The Parish Room, well provided with refreshments by Messrs. John Smith and Sidney Daniels, is much used by the soldiers, and they have given some excellent football displays. The non-commissioned officers are Sergt. Major Morgan, Seargent Barber, Corpl. Pr??? and Corpl. Squires. Private Tom Osmand???, said to be the strongest man in the regiment, was once imprisoned by the Germans, but escaped. At the recruiting rally at Silsoe on Tuesday evening, some of the artistes from the Monmouthshires were highly complimented.

The Royal Engineers are now erecting telegraph poles to form a permanent connection of the Reading Room with Haynes Park.

The R.E.'s billeted in the village, were agreeably surprised by the receipt of turkeys, ducks, and other delicacies from Haynes Park.

On Friday Evening about 100 guests assembled for the Royal Engineers' dance. The Committee responsible for the excellent arrangements were Lance-corpls. G. Rowe and F. Williams. And Sapper A. Hogg, stationed at Haynes Park, and Mr. S.W. Daniels the caterer at the Soldiers' canteen in the village. The R.E. Band from Haynes, under their bandmaster (by kind permission of Lieut-Colonel Leigh) played splendidly. Dancing began at 7 p.m. and continued until 11. The function was most enjoyable throughout. This is the second dance which has been held, and it is hoped that others may follow.

Clophill is again the temporary home of a Corps headquarters of Royal Engineers, who arrived last Saturday. They attended service at the parish church on Sunday morning.

A pleasant entertainment, organised by Sappers Cooper and Myatt, was given in the club room of the New Inn on Monday evening. Among those contributing to the program were Pioneer Nichols, Private Fountain, Pioneer Wharton (a great favourite), Corpl. Dean (violinist), Corpl. Butler (violinist), Sapper Francis, and Pioneer Kenwon. Sapper Cooper proved an excellent Chairman, and the piano accompaniments were ably rendered by Sapper Bedwell.

On Friday evening the third of the fortnightly R.E. Dances took place in the schools. Corpl. T. White made an efficient M.C., and the pianist was Miss Treacher, of Silsoe. Theses functions are very popular, both with the R.E.'s stationed in the village, the men from Haynes Park, and the ladies of the village and neighbourhood. There was again a large gathering, and all had a most enjoyable evening.

An entertainment, organised by Sapper Cooper and Corpl. Butler was given in the Flying Horse Clubroom, on Saturday evening. Lieut. Wells made an excellent chairman, and the accompanists were Sapper Bedwell, Pioneer Wharton, Sapper Nichols, Corpl. Butler, Pioneer Coutts, Sapper Myatt, Sapper M.C. Connell, Lance-corpl. Robertson and Pioneer Roberts. Sapper Myatt was recalled for the "Farmer's Boy."

The Signalling Company arrived on Thursday. The manoeuvres have been most interesting.

The Royal Engineers decided not to postpone the dance fixed for Friday evening, and their optimism was justified as there was a good attendance. Many of the men came from Haynes Park, and a good number of Ladies also defied the elements, and like its predecessors the dance was a great success.

The Corps Headquarters, known as J.P.S., which has been stationed in the village for the past five weeks left on Saturday for Stevenage, to take the place vacated by E.P.S., who also spent some weeks here before going on to Stevenage. E.P.S. Proceeded for "Somewhere in France" on Friday last. Their Clophill friends will all wish them "God speed and safe return."

The Headquarters Section of the Royal Engineers left on Friday, being previously inspected by Lieut.-Col. Cortez Leigh and Adjutant Glue. A short time before their departure a motor cyclist unintentionally ran into a sapper, and the lad had to be conveyed to the County hospital. Four of his ribs were fractured.

A small camp of Royal Engineers (Signal Service) has been formed in Mr. Maddams' field on the Haynes-road. The men attended the morning service at St Mary's Church on Sunday.

The Section of Royal Engineers encamped near Brickwall Farm attended divine service on Sunday morning, with their popular officers.

The Divisional Signal Company, which was in camp in Mr. Maddams' field, have left, and their place has been taken by the signal Company of the Welsh Division.

A concert and dance in the schoolroom on Friday evening arranged by Lance-corpl. Butterworth, R.E. Dancing commenced at 7:30 to the music of the Haynes Park Orchestra under Lance-corpl. Joachin, R.E. In the concert Bandsman Coleman was heard to excellent effect, and was on each occasion recalled.The accompaniments of Sergt. Lowe, R.E., from Hitchin, were most artistic. Assistance in the catering was afforded by Mrs. Matthews and Mr. Frank Mathews.

A most successful concert was given in the Schools on Wednesday evening, Nov. 22nd, by Reg. Graham and his high class Concert Party, "the Summits". The Party consisted of six Royal Engineers from Haynes park Signal Depot, and the quality of the entertainment was first-class. The object was to provide Christmas parcels for Clophill men on active service, so it goes without saying that the room was crowded.

The schoolroom was admirably arranged on Friday evening for a popular entertainment and dance, and the organisers, Corpl. Butterworth, R.E., and Trumpeter Bunny, are to be congratulated. The Haynes Park Orchestra, under Lance-corpl. Joachim, R.E., was greatly appreciated. Lance-corpl. Appleby was M.C., and Sammy Coleman was enthusiastically recalled for his rendering of "Night and Shadows". He was artistically accompanied by Miss Irene White, of Silsoe. Mrs. Thomas Matthews and Mr. Frank Matthews, assisted by Corpl. Butterworth, most satisfactorily conducted the catering.