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Key dates over October 1914

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Lives lost on this day: 1

19th October 1914 - First Battle of Ypres. French and British troops stand firm around the Belgian city of Ypres, preventing the German armies breaking through to the Channel ports. Continues to 22 November.

Rolling casualty count: 195

2nd Batt:Marched from Godewaersvelde at 5pm to billets at Poperinghe.

3rd Batt: Bois de Biez: occupied east edge from 6 am until noon, returned to billets.

A letter has been received from Pte J W Gattward, a reservist (and a former resident of Worcester) who was called up to join the 2nd Worcs Batt: "In England, am wounded in the head; do not worry." No other particulars are known at present. He had been in France since the beginning of the War;

At the annual meeting of the Malvern Camera Club, it was stated that Lt Fowke, (son of the vicar of Little Malvern) had written to the Hon Treasure, asking if the club would undertake , at one of their exhibitions, to put on view an album of his photographs, taken in the fighting line. The films would be sent home, and were not to be developed for 6 months, or until the expiration of the War. The Hon Treasurer reported that the Club would gladly grant his request, and added that the pictures would be great interest to Malvern people. He wished Lt Fowke good luck and safe return;

Refugees at Rushwick: A party of Belgian refugees, 7 in number, are being entertained at Rushwick by Mr & Mrs Croker-Fox. They comprise one family, and come from a small place near Ostend. Mrs Croker-Fox had taken a cottage at Rushwick, in which she proposed to make provision for 3 refugees, but this family desired not to be separated, and she took them all;

Another draft of 145 men have left Norton Depot for Plymouth to be equipped ready for joining the Worcs Line Battalions at the front, in due course. They were under the command of Lt G A Smeath of the 10th Batt, who was wounded early in the campaign; This afternoon the 250 members of the 8th Batt. And the 8th (HS) Batt., went for a route march round Broadheath and Crown East. They were accompanied by the Battalion Band and the King’s School OTC Band;

Sir H Foley Vernon asks us to state that the British Red Cross Society is still in want of flannel shirts, flannel pyjamas, vests and pants (preferably woven). Blankets, down pillows (20x30), Cardigan jackets, or sweaters, body belts, mufflers, and woollen gloves, sheets, towels (Turkish and huckaback), games, and special medical requirements, viz.: Gauze, boric lint, cyanide gauze, and hydrogen peroxide. No more pillows (except down), nor Bracknell shirts, nor bed jackets, nor cotton night shirts, nor cotton shirts, nor bed socks, are required at present. The British Red Cross have ready on sale a new illustrated book of hospital and other garments with patterns.

Information researched by Sue Redding