I'd get onto the Great War Forum and as the question. The territorial battalion in the Northamptonshires was the 4th btw, as they had no Special Reserve. There's a chap on the forum who specialises in the Northamptons so I think he could help? Run a Search for 'Huntingdon barracks' on the forum as I remember discussions about it over the years.

@bedfordshireregiment thank you that's much appreciated I will do.

Is this the 18 year old John Poole from Luton, died 24/3/1918?

The entrenching battalions ultimately dug defensive and other such positions and in February 1918, 25 new ones were created. A lot of infantry battalions were disbanded in February 1918 when the British Army was significantly reduced in size, with the men being spread among other infantry battalions, or Entrenching Battalions. When it comes to the 18th Entrenching battalion which the 18 year old was killed in, that was formed from surplus of four Service Battalions: 6th Royal Berkshire Regiment; 8th Norfolk Regiment; 8th Suffolk Regiment and 12th Middlesex Regiment. As his CWGC record refers to the 12th Middlesex, that must be the connection. In March 1918, they were worked hard to try and get a new sector ready for defence, which the British had taken over from the French. If you reply that he is the 18 year old from Luton, I have copies of the Luton newspapers from the time so will have a look through.

@@bedfordshireregiment ... The only other passed down family history I know was apparently he died at the 2nd battle of the somm. Yet his brother/cousin came through the war to die in Luton by slipping on a cobble street road while in uniform... But the information you have explained is fantastic. Thank you..

As it stands Dave, I'd say he was drafted overseas very early in 1918 based on his age, and posted to the 12th Middlesex, who were disbanded in February 1918. As he was killed in the Entrenching bn on 24th March during the German Spring Offensives he must have been among the draft sent there from the 12th Middlesex when they were broken up. The 24th March saw the British holding on by their fingertips and I have seen multiple war diaries referring to men from entrenching battalions and other non combat units being pulled into the lines to bolster the tiny British battalions who were fighting hard to try and stop the German advance.

Nothing in newspapers that I have visibility of but the Soldiers Died in the Great War records show he was formerly in the 3rd Bedfords, who were the reserves based in Felixstowe, which would have been where he trained. Service record does not seem to have survived (most were lost in the Blitz).

Google gives the redoubt as 50.02267546732735, 2.8455478557799743 so I would have been standing close to 50.01519368446467, 2.8425110960304623 - does that help?

@@bedfordshireregiment thanks. 🙏

My Great Grandfather was involved in that battle and admitted to the CCS. He survived. I’m planning to visit this August with my family. Thanks

@@stevenhenman I created a map plotting which company advanced along which route if useful. If so, drop me a line with a contact email and I'll send it across.

@@bedfordshireregimenthello Steve. Did you see my email?

Glad it was OK - just a summary but more to follow in the coming years! Who was he / where was he from and I'll see if I have anything on him?

When time allows Chris but I never seem to have enough hours in the day! Am intending to convert the website into videos over time but that's a pretty large project

I always think 1918 is underrepresented, for a number of reasons.

@@chrisjones6736 Agreed!

That's politics for you :/

The Hertfordshire Regiment fielded just one battalion on the front line and never served in the same brigade as any Bedfordshire battalions, but they initially formed part of the territorial forces' Bedfordshire regiment contingent for a long time before branching out on their own. Thousands of Hertfordshire men served in the Bedfordshires during WW1 though. In 1919 they were merged into the Bedfords to form the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment. There's a summary here if interested - www.bedfordregiment.org.uk/Hertsrgt/hertsrgt.html

Personally, I agree Chris; my own interest in the war started with this battle as my Gt. Grandfather was killed during the fighting in the 7th Bedfordshires. Then more I learned, the more I was amazed and the more I carried on learning. Twenty odd years later, here I still am learning something new every month. A remarkable generation.

Thanks John. Given how niche the subject is, I didn't expect as many views this quickly! Your Uncle's death sounds familiar. Have we had contact about it before, through the website or elsewhere?

Hi Mate. If I have spoken to you before then it must have been a long time ago or maybe even my sister or someone else in the family. My sister seems to think she has seen a photo of the location/barn the men where sheltering before the bombing raid but I haven't seen anything. Seen pictures of his headstone in Noyon new British Cemetery but not made it our there myself yet. Would love to learn more about his time in the 7th, where he enlisted and trained prior to deployment but not sure where to start. Thanks for you videos and website. @@bedfordshireregiment

Which casualty was he John, I'll take a look in case I have anything on him?

Hi @@bedfordshireregiment he was Dennis Greenhill No 17292 Bedfordshire Regiment "C" Coy. 7th Bn. Died 11th February 1918

Dennis’ service record does not seem to have survived, so the little I can suggest is: Based on his service number, he enlisted around 15-20 September 1914. He first set foot in France on 3 September 1915, 5 weeks after the rest of the 7th Battalion had arrived. It’s possible he was a ‘specialist’ so was completing training hence arrived later? He would have been involved in the battalion’s assault during the opening day of the Battle of the Somme 1916. There is a long list of other battles his battalion were involved in but whether he was present or not, I am unable to say. He appears on a wounded list in November 1916. Although not specified, he may have been wounded during the 7th Bedfordshires’ storing of the Schwaben Redoubt late September 1916. Story here - www.bedfordregiment.org.uk/7thbn/tomadlamvc.html . I visited his grave some years ago, photo here if you do not have a copy - www.bedfordregiment.org.uk/gravesandmemorials/Europe/GREENHILL%20D%2017292.jpg . Not much, but I hope it adds something to his story.