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Key dates over September 1914

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Lives lost on this day: 2

12th September 1914 - Yeomanry horses stampede at Newbury racecourse

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Pte.Charles Jones 8398 3rd Batt. and Pte. Herbert Spencer Lewis 8885 2nd Batt. killed

2nd Batt: Took up position NE of Braine. Short skirmish with the enemy - 107 prisoners taken. Outpost duty E of Yiel Arcy, blowing hard and pouring with rain;

3rd Batt: At Cerseiul. On outpost duty, pouring wet night;

The City of Worcester Relief Fund is increasing slowly by small amounts, in the City Accountant's letter-box this morning was found a small, soiled envelope. Inside was an half-sovereign, together with a slip of paper on which was written "For the War Fund from a poor woman." 2 anonymous postal orders for 2s 6d were also received;

Mass meeting by the Parliamentary Recruitment Committee of East Worcestershire held in Bromsgrove Market Place. Among speakers was Mr Leverton Harris MP, Mr Wilfred Hill, the Headmaster of Bromsgrove School, Col. Dixon and others;

A serious stampede occurred on Saturday night among the horses of the 1st South Midland Brigade, which is encamped on Newbury Racecourse. The Brigade includes the Worcestershire, Warwickshire, and Gloucestershire Yeomanry, with just upon 2,000 horses. The majority of these stampeded shortly after 8 o’clock, galloped through the lines of the camp, and up and down the racecourse. Several were killed and many badly injured.

Many of the horses got out of camp and created quite a panic in Newbury, charging through the streets in a body. Some of the horses went through shop windows, and carts were overturned. The streets were crowded at the time, and how the people escaped personal injury is almost incredible. It was like an avalanche of horses, and before them the crowd melted as if by magic. Some of the animals went ten miles before they were stopped.

It is fortunate that more were not injured on the racecourse, because if they had got amongst the barbed wire entanglements erected round the German prisoners’ detention camp they would have torn themselves to pieces.

Sir, - The following extract from a letter just received from a nephew of mine, an officer in a torpedo-boat in the North Sea, may be of interest to your readers. “If you are doing things for sailor men, do not forget our ship. When the winter comes on it will be very trying, so will you send some warm garments, such as mittens, or woollen gloves, Balaclava Helmets, whose woolly things for the head and ears. Socks are not needful, and do not let anyone make pyjamas for the sailors, because they do not understand them.” If any Worcester woman will make or give articles for sailors such as are mentioned in this letter, and will send them to Mrs Moore Ede at the Deanery, she will arrange for their being sent to the sailors in the North Sea.

Deanery, W. MOORE EDE, Sept. 12, 1914.