WILLETT, (Dick) Richard, Private, died 30/10/14 aged 20. Enlisted Hertford. Service number 10019, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment Killed in action, France & Flanders. Remembered at Menin Gate. Memorial. He qualified, posthumously, for the 1914 Star with Mons clasp, The British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He was one of the original Old Contemptibles who died during the BEF’s first battles in Flanders before the conflict became embroiled in prolonged trench warfare.
In 1911 Richard is living with his widowed father and sister Betty at their sister Sarah and husband John Turner’s house at 30 Rochfords Cottages, Stoneyfield Common, Stansted, Essex. Lived at Woodend Green on the 1901 census.
From the Battalion diary:
30 Oct 1914 – Gheluveldt-Zandvoorde Road The Battalion came under shell fire in the early morning. As trenches had not been dug during the night the Battalion took shelter in ditches and became a little dispersed. 7.30 A.M. the 7 Cavalry Brigade was driven from ZANDEVOORDE this left our right exposed. The Germans occupied ZANDEVOORDE at 10 A.M. a hostile battery came out into the open about 900 yards away from Brigade & farm where Battn.H.Q. had been established & opened fire. This enfiladed the Battalion & a line was formed under facing ZANDEVOORDE [sic]. The hostile battery in the open was quickly silenced. The occupation of ZANDEVOORDE [sic] placed the Germans on the right rear of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, whose trenches were taken. This exposed the right flank of the Royal Scots Fusiliers. At 12.45 p.m. orders were received for the Brigade to retire. The Battalion with the R.S.F. were ordered to cover the retirement. As the R.S.F. drew back in line with the Battalion the S.Lancashire Regt. advanced through the R.S.F. to endeavour to assist to bring back part of the R.S.F. This however they failed to do & returned. A line was taken up at dusk behind the GHELUVELDT-ZANDEVOORDE Road & digging commenced. The Companies were somewhat intermingled. The Battalion was in touch with 22nd Brigade on the Right R.S.F. on the left. Nos.13 & 14 Platoons D.Coy. went forward & eventually were in trenches on left of R.S.F., and between them & R.S.F., The two platoons retired with R.S.F., with part of Captain Whigham‘s Coy.
Additional notes from Private Polley’s eye witness diary says: To this point, the Bedfordshires had not been involved in what could be called a ‘serious scrap’ despite being heavily engaged from a distance and on the fringes of the massive battles. Today, they would help to smash the Prussian Guards’ attack and help to save the British army in Europe from potential annihilation.
As had been seen on the 29 October, German tactics involved a massive artillery blow focused on a specific area of the line followed by dense masses of infantry being rushed into the area. On their arrival the handfuls of dazed, concussed Tommies left alive would be overrun, allowing the Germans to peel the British lines back by working their way along the length of them whilst they were busy firing forwards.
Wave after wave of German infantry climbed from their trenches and attacked but the British capability to fire so many aimed rounds each minute told heavily. Soldiers clad in field grey littered the field in neat lines and very few made it to the British trenches. Those who did found themselves facing battle enraged Tommies wielding bayonets and clubs, who had endured a terrifying bombardment and were looking for a direction in which to vent their anger. Despite their incredible bravery, the huge men of the Prussian Guards could not dislodge the adamant British troops, who slaughtered entire companies as they advanced towards them.
The eye witness account follows on the 31st October, by this time Richard Willett had already lost his life, but this gives a good insight as to what the Bedfordshire Regiment and other Regiments encountered:
At 4.30 p.m. the Bedfordshires received orders to retire west towards Ypres but many of the British battalions could no nothing about their wounded as they were in imminent danger of being overwhelmed. Most of the battalion conducted a superb fighting withdrawal under heavy shrapnel fire from their open flank and having shown remarkable steadfastness all day. Private Polley was one of those left with the rearguard and described the field he surveyed as ‘littered with solid groups of dead Germans’ as he waited nervously for orders to follow the bulk of the battalion west.
A small rearguard was left to cover the retirement of Captain Lemon’s command. The advanced position in Fir Wood had held all day, despite only having two officers left – both wounded – for some hours, and most of them returned to the battalion safely. Captain Lemon himself was wounded twice and had to be left for the Germans, as did many of the men who fought under his command.
By the time the battalion roll was called that night, over 250 more casualties had been inflicted on the Bedfordshires, yet the battalion remained in the defensive line, along with other similarly battered units. 11 officers were included in the casualty list and scores of the survivors were also wounded but carried on until field dressings were available later that night.
Thanks to Glyn Warwick for providing details from the battalion war diaries. He is written a book about the fallen heroes of Stansted Mountfitchet, “They Sleep In Heroes Graves” ISBN 978-0-9558964-0-8
and Steve Fuller of the Bedfordshire Regiment Website.