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Key dates over February 1915

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Lives lost on this day: 3

18th February 1915 - Under-age recruiting urged by Army - leave your birth certificate at home!

Rolling casualty count: 653

1st Batt: ‘B’ Lines: A quiet day.; 2nd Batt: In billets at Les Choquax;3rd Batt: In trenches E. Kemmel

8th Battalion Worcester Regiment: MEN WANTED AT ONCE – What are YOU doing now? Cannot Worcester find 500 men? Come & make one to-day. “For your credit’s sake.” Come to 16, Silver Street, Worcester, and have the satisfaction of doing YOUR DUTY. In return- you have a clear conscience, good food, good clothes, good pocket-money, and good pals. Come round to-day. “God Save the King;”

Torchlight Procession: The recruiting campaign organised by Mr. W.A. Cheesewright brought Malvern within the sphere of activity, when a military parade and torchlight procession, preceded a remarkable rally at the Assembly Rooms…The scene at the Assembly Rooms, where a patriotic cinema show was given, was animated, in more senses that one, the hall being filled to overflowing in every part. In the alcove the Yeomanry Band were stationed, and they opened the proceedings with stirring martial music;

A concert was given at the St. John’s Infants’ School, by the St. John’s junior girls, in aid of the Girls’ Friendly Society New Hostel, Bath Road, and was well attended and much appreciated. The items given included a welcome speech, flag drill, patriotic and action songs, country dances, recitations etc. The excellent way in which these were rendered elicited well-merited applause;

Recruiting in Silver Cinema: In connection with the recruiting campaign in Worcestershire, Captain L.H. Green, addressed an audience at the Silver Cinema, through the courtesy of Mr. Arthur Carlton. The special Army film, which has been screened at other towns in the county, was shown. Fifty of the audience were members of the 11th Battalion of the Worcs. Regt., who were enlisted at Birmingham six months ago. Captain Green said that he had recruited his 210th man that day, having been in Worcester a fortnight. When he came to Worcester, he continued, he was told that the city was like a sucked orange, but he always knew that a place which had made a good record could always be relied upon to make a better one. He wanted to get 500 men before he left Worcester and he urged young fellows to come forward even if they were a month or two under 19. He would not ask for their birth certificate.

Information researched by Sue Redding