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Key dates over February 1915

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Lives lost on this day: 3

13th February 1915 - Five years penal servitude for impersonating a soldier

Rolling casualty count: 647

1st Batt: ’B’ Lines: Wind from the south, froze last night, rained hard most of the day. Germans again shelled ‘A’ Coys’ breastwork which will be constructed again tonight; 2nd Batt: A very quiet day. Little shelling by both sides;3rd Batt: Relieved Scots Fusiliers in trenches E. Kemmel ;

The results of the shoe-making for school children carried on in the workrooms initiated by the Central Committee on Women’s Employment have been greatly appreciated in the schools to which shoes have been sent. During the recent wet weather, the shoes have been in constant use, for the object of making them, was to provide the children who came with bad boots with a change when they are wet. On a wet day, the schoolroom presents rather a curious appearance. Over the hot pipes hang a collection of pitifully-ragged stockings, and underneath, a row of what were once boots. The children have bare feet comfortably tucked into slippers which have been made by unemployed women in the workrooms of scraps of material – felt, serge, cloth – the tops of old stockings, or silk top hats. Each pair is neatly bound round the top with binding or braid, and pieces of carpet or some other stout foundation have been used for soles. Before the shoes came, the children sat in their bare feet. The better class of children bring all their old boots to school for the others. In some instances, the child is in such urgent need, that the teacher looks about for an excuse to give her a pair of boots as a prize;

A successful whist drive was held at the Guildhall, in aid of the Worcester City Relief Fund. The drive was preceded by a bridge tournament in the afternoon. The refreshments were given entirely by friends, so that the total proceeds of the afternoon and evening functions will go, with very little deduction for printing expenses, to the Relief Fund;

Smart Sentence for Bogus Soldier: Edward Gardon, who wore a soldier’s uniform, pleaded guilty at the Shropshire Assizes, to several charges of obtaining various sums of money at Wem. The prisoner is the man who, at Worcester, posed as a Farrier-Sergeant-Major in the Scots Greys, wore several medals which he said he had been awarded in various campaigns. Police-Sergeant Fletcher said the accused was wearing a mixed uniform, with “Canada” on the buttons of the overcoat, and he believed the uniform was bought from a second-hand shop in London. His Lordship said prisoner pleaded guilty to a most despicable crime. He would be sentenced to 5 years’ penal servitude. Edward Gordon played the role of “the old soldier” so well that he victimised several Worcester people. He also persuaded a young woman who was them employed in Worcester, to go with him to Wem.

Information researched by Sue Redding

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