TONIGHT'S BLOG MOVES A FEW MILES AWAY FROM WISBECH. It concerns a Fenland Great War hero, Harry Betts, who lived between March and Wisbech. His tale is worth the telling, however. I have put together this account from a variety of sources - The Cambs Regiment official history, the researches of Roger Vanhinsbergh and Cliff Brown, and photographs by Dave Edwards and Chris Harley

Harry Betts was born in Warboys, Huntingdonshire, son of a rail worker with GER. He came to live at Twenty Foot Siding near March before the war and worked on the land. He had apparently attempted to enlist prior to the outbreak of the War but according to his late brother, George, was turned down due to a problem with his toes!! In 1914 he joined the 1st Cambridgeshire Regiment Territorial Force and as a member of "D" Company (March) embarked for France on Valentine's Day 1915.The photo below is of the crossing-keeper's house at Twenty-Foot Sidings.

Harry Betts won his first medal in the late summer of 1917. The British soldiers had a habit of naming trenches and strongpoints after familiar landmarks back home. Therefore, a particular German position near Gheluvelt, in the Ypres Salient was called 'Tower Hamlets' after the district in the East End of London. His bravery here earned him a Distinguished Conduct Medal (D.C.M.) 

On March 21st 1918, the Germans launched a massive offensive against British, French and Commonwealth forces in northern France. The Americans had finally joined the war, and the German high command feared that the influx of huge numbers of fresh American troops would tip the stalemate on the Western Front in the direction of the Allies. In the event, the Americans did not go into action until May 1918, and their commander, General Pershing, was adamant that his men would not be used as replacements for British and French casualties, but would only fight as an independent force under their own officers.

The German offensive shook the British and French, and threw them back from the positions astride the Somme which had been won at such high cost in 1916. Thus it was that the Cambridgeshire Regiment were fighting in the region of Cayeux-en-Santerre, well to the south of the River Somme, and a few miles south-east of Villers Brettoneux. They were part of the 39th Division, and were fighting alongside the Hertfordshire Regiment, and the Black Watch. Colonel M.C. Clayton takes up the tale (extract from The Cambridgeshires 1914 to 1919.)

"We were in the open lying flat, sweating profusely and vainly trying to shovel up soil in front of us. I quite expected we should be annihilated, when suddenly a miracle took place. C.S.M. Betts rose to his feet with a blood-curdling yell and ran straight towards the machine-guns, which ceased as if by magic. We all followed, but Betts arrived first and chased about thirty of the enemy towards a dugout. He laid out six with his bayonet before we arrived, and would have gone for the rest of them if Mr Driver had not arrived and ordered them to surrender. Betts had to comply with this order, and about twenty were made prisoners, Betts relieving the officers and N.C.Os of their field-glasses, which he festooned over his equipment."

The German offensive was eventually halted in the summer of 1918, and after August 8th, which became known as 'The Black Day Of The German Army', the Allied forces began to push the Germans back eastwards. It was slow, and resulted in the highest casualty rates of the whole war, but it was relentless. On August 8th, the Cambridgeshires were in the vicinity of Morlancourt. The trench map below is a German one. It shows the British trenches in detail (red), but only the German front line (blue), in case the map should be captured. 

Colonel Clayton writes, "And so it turned out that both companies soon found that further advance would bring them into direct enfilade fire from the nest of machine-guns firing from the southern end. Without hesitation Betts, who was C.S.M. of 'D' Company on the right, dashed off alone. Taking advantage of a hedge running across the front, he worked his way resolutely forward until 'D' Company had lost sight of him. When he reappeared he was in the rear of the enemy position which was causing all the trouble. There were about thirty of the enemy all engaged in firing at 'C' and 'D' Companies. Superior numbers had no terrors for Betts; practically single-handed he had recaptured a position in March 1918. With a blood-curdling yell he dashed in with his bayonet at the nearest machine-gun crew. This unexpected attack from the rear was the last straw; those who had survived Betts' frenzied onslaught  meekly surrendered and were handed over by him to some men of The Buffs who happened to arrive before the astonished enemy had regained their wits. The success of this whole operation was mainly due to the gallantry and initiative displayed by Betts. A typical Fenman, hailing from near Wisbech, he had served in the Battalion from the commencement of the war. At the age of 21 he was C.S.M. (Company Sergeant Major) and held the D.C.M. (Distinguished Conduct Medal) and Bar, and for his services in this action he was recommended for the V.C."

The Allies slowly battled their way eastwards across the ground which had been won at such a high cost in the summer of 1916. Harry Betts must have thought he was invincible. His heroism was now a byword in the regiment. He had two gallantry awards to his credit. In late August, the Allies were engaged in what became known as The Battle of Bapaume. Just before a vital offensive, Clayton wrote,

"The C.S.Ms of 'A', 'B' and 'C' Companies reported their arrival. All four C.S.Ms were to remain at H.Q. until the situation was clarified to be used if needed to pull together Companies depleted of officers. Betts of 'D' Company had not arrived. Where was he?"
Later, Clayton wrote," I found out why C.S.M. Betts had not reported to H.Q. with the other C.S.Ms. Just as the attack was starting, an enemy machine gun opened up only a short distance in front. Impulsive as ever, he could not resist the challenge, and sprang over the parapet, doubtless intending to work round and take the machine-gun from a flank. He had only gone a few yards when he fell, and with him Cambridgeshire lost one of its bravest sons and the Battalion a devoted and fearless warrant-officer."
Harry Betts is buried in Beacon Cemetery, Sailly Laurette. The official records state:
No 325753. Son of James & Alice Betts, Twenty Foot Sidings, March. Recommended for Victoria Cross for 9/8/18, but awarded MC. Also DCM (26-9-17, Tower Hamlets) and Bar (Acting-RSM, Hill 90, 28/3/18). CSM, Killed in action 22-8-18, age 22.

If anyone needs reminding of how war dehumanises and redefines, compare the two photos of Harry Betts on his enlistment in 1914. This is a young man, strong and enthusiastic, but shy and untried. In the second photograph, there is a  young man who has killed men and seen the death and destruction unleashed by war..

Harry Betts is remembered on several Fenland memorials. On the March Memorial..

 And the memorial at Guyhirn...

And at Coldham and the demolished chapel at Chainbridge..

A VIDEO ABOUT GROWING OLD, and memories of youth. Just to cheer everyone up. The voice is John Betjeman, reading his own poem.

ON A MORE TOPICAL NOTE, Brian Parkinson has been busy looking at Police crime maps for Wisbech and King's Lynn. He has produced a spreadsheet which I am posting as a graphic (below)

You can link to the actual spreadsheet HERE

WISBECH - A FRIDAY PORTRAIT. No words, just pictures

JUST HOW RUN-DOWN IS WISBECH TOWN CENTRE? Pickwick sent out one of his emissaries for a cycle ride today to record for posterity some of the town's worst eyesores. One of his old colleagues had remarked upon the irony that the Constantine House wreckage formerly bore the name 'BELFAST', and that it did resemble something reduced to rubble by extremists during 'The Troubles'.

Given that some of the ruins are the result of arson, and the absentee owners could clearly not give three-fifths of five-eighths of …..well, very little, Pickwick does not seek to lay blame on our worthy Town, or even District elected representatives. The situation is way beyond their competence, influence, and budget. If the Town Team manages to win its £100K from Mary Portass, that would just about pay for a couple of hours time with a not very high-profile lawyer.

 
Are there such things as Compulsory Purchase Orders these days? Mr P believes that they must still exist, otherwise how could the controversial new London to Birmingham rail link ever go ahead? Leaving aside the strange notion that anyone should want to get to Birmingham any quicker than absolutely necessary, it must surely be possible for these Wisbech ruins to be bought with public money, and then sold off at a profit?

Wisbech's finest living journalist, the legendary Lord Elworthy of Probing-Deeply loves a good conspiracy theory. No grasping councillor is safe from his gimlet eye, no undeclared back-hander escapes his forensic mind. If things get a little quiet, then he might be advised to investigate this intriguing advertisement. Bon Nuit, mes enfants

TONIGHT'S UPDATE IS VERY SIMPLE. Just a video based on  Eric Gardiner and James Cole, two of the Wisbech men who died in the Great War, and whose stories were told in earlier blogs. The music is a lovely old hymn called 'Only Remembered'. The words were written by Horatius Bonar , an Edinburgh man, and the tune was composed in 1891 by the great American hymn writer, Ira D. Sankey. The hymn has been used in an episode of 'Sharpe' - the one where he goes back to Yorkshire, and meets his long lost brother - and also in the stage version of 'Warhorse'.

AFTER THE NEGATIVE RANT LAST NIGHT ABOUT WHAT SOME SCHOOLS HAVE TO PUT UP WITH, Pickwick is delighted to be able to report on something really positive happening in Wisbech. No committees, no working parties, no high profile press calls or soundbites - just someone actually getting on with a worthwhile activity.

DRAMARAMA is a children's group set up just over a year ago for youngsters aged from 5 to 14 years of age.

The club meets at the Rosmini Centre every Tuesday from 5pm til 6.30pm. It runs throughout the year with a list of social events during August and is ***TOTALLY FREE***.

The group are currently writing their next play - it's all about Pirates invading Wisbech from the River Nene!

They are  recruiting older members from the age of 9 years. Both boys and girls are welcome. For more information contact Annie Appleby at the Rosmini Centre on: 01945 474422 leaving a landline number.

In reply to a very good man, John Melton, who is a proper parent.

Kind words, John, but let’s be clear about something. You and Joy were devoted and supportive parents who wanted the very best for their kids, and actually believed in the good old-fashioned concept that people could ‘better themselves’. In other words, their children would learn useful stuff from teachers who knew useful stuff, which would mean that said children would not have to struggle like mum and dad did.

Sadly, there are ‘parents’ out there – sorry, I’ll rephrase that – there are adults who are legally responsible for children  - who hate learning, despise teachers, and would be only too pleased if their offspring graduate into the same kind of chain-smoking, work-shy, benefits-dependent apology for a citizen that they are.

Because these people are ‘unwaged’, ‘currently seeking work’ or whatever fancy euphemism you want to apply, they are instantly available during the school day to roar up to school in their nice cars so that they can eff and blind at school staff. How do they know when to come? Well, little ******* has an expensive mobile ‘phone which probably cost more than his form-tutor’s car, so he can let mum and, usually, mum’s current boyfriend know that that nasty Mr ******* has infringed his human rights, and assaulted his personal dignity by asking that he doesn’t eat his roast dinner with his fingers.

In addition, young ******* has to face the personal indignity of sitting a public exam. Your child and mine  probably had to do their homework, learn some stuff, and turn up to some revision classes which may have put you to some personal inconvenience, like picking them up from school. Yourself. No, not in a taxi paid for by local rate-payers, or driven home by the teacher whose car is worth less than your latest game console. Because ******* has been diagnosed as having some obscure ‘learning difficulty’, when he does his exam, he will have someone to read the question, someone else to write the answer, and probably a third worthy to whisper in his shell-like what the answer actually is.

But still, you are a voter. And there are more of you than there are of Mr Hamilton, the kind Geography teacher who gave up his half term to take your son on a school trip to the French Battlefields. And so, those awfully nice politicians who spend every waking hour pushing re-election leaflets through your letterbox respect your opinion. It is gold-dust; it is manna from heaven; they will discard the opposition from teachers, because they are a bunch of left-wing no-hopers who would have voted Labour anyway. No, we will have a continuing drive to castigate and belittle teachers, and we will employ a cadre of failed teachers, call them OFSTED, and give them the power to make or break schools, and to reduce teachers (who are human beings, and, usually care about the children in front of them) to dispirited, depressive wrecks.

As you may gather, I no longer work in education, but I wish my former colleagues all the love in the world – may their adversaries rot in the depths of hell.