Beds and Herts

Do you have any other pics of the beds and Herts pre war ?

 

Found this, you can see the drum hoop matches for the 1st battalion.

 

Andrew,
The Beds & Herts archive searched under X550, 3041 results over 61 pages.
The Beds & Herts Squad photographs can be searched on line.
Reference : X550/1/99 which gives 85 results.

Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue | Advanced search

Guy

 

Alex,
I have some ordered from the Archives, let me know if you have a particular Squad name or reference number in mind?
I might have it?
Guy

 

My grandad was in liege squad ( June 34 pass out parade) i have a copy of that pic but I guess I'm hoping to spot him in random pics !
Alex

 

my dad no 5947683 joined the beds n herts in 1931 when he was 17. [gave his age as 18 on form]
he was in 2nd batt until feb 33 then posted to 1st batt.

he was a bit of a rogue at jhansi and spent a lot of time banged up.

dads the 5th from right, middle row.

 

memories eh?.......

 

Did he stay in long enough for the war ?

 

nope. he was discharged with ignomy in 1937. i think he done 18 months in colchester, cant find any records of that though.
he was called up in 1940 lol, with the hampshires until 1942 then posted to the queens 1st battallion where he went back to india/burma until medically discharged in 1944.

 

Hi
Just srumbled across this site after showing my grandson he's great great grandads medals etc.
My grandad Peter Carter enlisted on 28th Jan 1933 again by lying about his age as he was only 17. Army no 5948319. I don't have is army records but am going to send off for them now. He was another who was pretty closed about what he did during his time in the army.

Just wanted to say thanks as I have a similar photo of the regiment but didn't realise it was taken in Kempston. Could you let me know exactly where in Bedford this is as I live in Milton Keynes and would love to go see this where my Grandad was and also have a look at the regiment books mentioned. My grandad is top row 3rd from left.
Can anyone give me some tips please?
Really appreciate any advice anyone can give me as this is all pretty new to me
Thanks
Jo

 

Welcome to the forum, Jo.

Kempston is on the MK side of Bedford, so it should be easy for you to find.

From J13 of the M1 take the A421 towards Bedford. Just before Bedford leave at the junction signposted Wootton + Kempston. Take the second turn and drive past the Beds Police HQ on the left. Follow the road to its end (it meanders but is not far) and then turn right towards Bedford. Go past all the shops and a cross roads (with traffic lights) and the building you are looking for is just on the right hand side.

The building is much reduced in size these days, but the bit in the photo of your grandad still exists. Part of the building is still used by the MOD - Army Reservists, I believe. There is an excellent war memorial just across the road. It may have the names of some of your grandad’s mates on it...

Best,

Steve.

 

Hi.
Do you have any other pictures from his time in the Beds and Herts. My grandad joined exactly a year after your chap, so depending on what battalion he went into (1st or 2nd) they could’ve been at the same place. I’ve researched the Beds and Herts quite extensively so feel free to ask any questions. Get the service records and go from there.

Alex

 

For the 5th Battalion ( Territorial) see this site, which has a photo of Kempston Barracks on the title page, but the keeper of the site may help in finding other photos and suggest other lines of enquiry: 5th Beds & Herts in the Far East

 

Thanks Steve
My husband actually works in Kempston and has a fair idea where the war memorial is so we will take a drive over there next week. Just shocked at how close we are to where he trained.
Jo