Bronze Commemorative Plaque found in Paris antique store
105mm Field Gun Capture 23 Oct 1918
Copyright © Andy Lowery 2004

A 105 M.M. Field Gun captured by the Bedfordshire Regiment from the Germans in France at BOUSIES on the 23rd October 1918 between the villages of FOREST and BOUSES about 2 miles N.E. of LE CATEAU. The gun was taken by D. Company of the 2nd Battalion and was presented by the Officers, N.C.O’s and men of the Bedfordshire Regiment to Mary, Duchess of Bedford and to Herrbrand, 11th Duke of Bedford. K.G., A.D.C., K.B.E. a Colonel in the Army and a former Commander of the 3rd. Battalion of the Regiment, in which he obtained his first Commission in 1877, in token of their high appreciation of their services to the County Regimen, especially during the War of 1914 – 1918.

The presentation of this gun was made at Woburn Abbey on the 22nd November 1919 by the following Officers, Non-commissioned Officers and men of the Bedfordshire Regiment.

Major General T. Pilcher, C.B.
Col. The Lord Ampthill, G.C.S.L.G.C.I.E
Lt. Colonel A. Duberly
Lt. Colonel F. Stevens, C.B.E.
Major F. Bassett, O.B.E.
Captain C. Shearman, D.S.O. M.C.
Captain W. Pottle.
Captain W. Dixon
Captain J. Birch.
Lieutenant J. Coe.
Reg: Sergt: Major G. Webb.
Reg: Sergt: Major S. Armstrong, D.C.M.
Coy: Sergt: Major A. Abbott. D.C.M.
Sergeant S. Unthank.
Sergeant V. Dilly.
Sergeant A. Cobbold. D.C.M.
Private J. Harris.
Private T. Salmon.
Private J. Longman.

28 March 2004