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Key dates over December 1914

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Lives lost on this day: 0

30th December 1914 - Major Hankey wounded

Rolling casualty count: 565

1st Batt: In billets at Red Barn; 2nd Batt: A large portion of the trenches flooded. Again moved Battn HQ, this time back to a small farm NW of RIchebourg-D’Avoue. Major Hankey wounded. Major Grogan assumes command of the Battn at 6pm; 3rd Batt: Westoutre: In billets.

“The Line Repairers,” the name which the Worcestershire Regiment have earned for themselves because of the frequency with which they are called upon to strengthen a position, bears a curious resemblance to an old nickname of the Corps, “The Guard of the Line.” But the best know term applied to the Regiment is “The Ever-Sworded 29th,” owing to the custom that prevailed in the 29th Regiment, by which all officers wore their swords at mess. Now only the captain and subaltern of the day avail themselves of this privilege.

The London Firemen heard that one of their old comrades, Fireman Frederick W Adams, private in the 3rd Battalion Worcestershire Regt, has been killed at Vailly. Six members of the force have lost their lives in the war.

Next to being shut up from the air, the greatest enemy of furs is damp. If they have been exposed to rain they should be immediately shaken lightly a moderate distance from the fire. In warm weather, when not required to be worn, they should never be shut up in a box or in a drawer for more than a few days at a time. After a few weeks, they should be brought out and shaken, also lightly, and carefully beaten. It is a great mistake to expose fur to the sun.

A meeting of the Committee appointed by the Worcester branch of the National Farmers’ Union to carry out the proposed “agricultural jumble sale” in Worcester, on behalf of the war relief funds, took place at the Star Hotel. The Committee decided that the sale should take place in the Corn Exchange, on Thursday, January 21st. The sale of miscellaneous articles will take place in the building, and the live stock (of which it is hoped that a large number will be sent) will be offered for auction on the Old Sheep, Market - if the consent of the authorities is obtained.

Mr Charles Williams, carriage painter at the GWR Works, Shrub Hill, has five sons (to say nothing of a son-in-law) on active service. Of the five sons four have yet escaped injury; and every fellow citizen will wish them good luck in their future service. The fifth brother, Charles Williams, belongs to the 3rd Battn Worcestershire Regiment, and, as a Reservist, went out with the Expeditionary Force in August. He was in the battle at Mons and the subsequent retreat, and also in the prolonged conflict on the Aisne. He was wounded by a rifle bullet in the left ankle (an injury which it is hoped will not be permanent…2 of his brothers, Frank and Walter are in the 1st Battn, another, Arthur, is in the Army Veterinary Corps, all of whom have gone to the front, while the remaining brother is in the Royal Marines. The brother-in-law, Sgt Major Brown, of the 2nd Battn, went out with the Expeditionary Force. He has gone unscathed, and has lately enjoyed a short leave, during which he paid a hurried visit home.

Information researched by Sue Redding