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Key dates over March 1915

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Lives lost on this day: 2

20th March 1915 - Major Wodehouse among those reported killed at Neuve Chapelle

Rolling casualty count: 951

1st Batt: In billets at Estaires. Draft of 4 officers and 240 OR.;

2nd Batt: In billets at the Orphanage Bethune;

3rd Batt: Marched to billets at Locre;

Major Wodehouse Missing: His many friends in the county will learn with regret that Major E.C.F. Wodehouse, D.S.O. has been reported by the War Office to be “wounded and missing,” and they will join in hoping that favourable news of him may soon be forthcoming. Major Wodehouse won the D.S.O. in South Africa, when he was mentioned in despatches. It is understood that he received his wounds during the brilliant advance by the British Forces at Neuve Chapelle, a few days ago. An official list of officers killed and wounded, dated March 13, includes no Worcestershire officer, but the notification sent to relatives precedes the War Office announcement;

The Malverns: Human Skull Unearthed: During the excavations in connection with the extension of Malvern Post Office, on land adjoining the Priory Churchyard, a human skull, in an almost perfect state of preservation, was unearthed on Tuesday, together with the remains of a coffin. Bones and skulls were found on this site a few days ago;

Patriotic Sale at Bromsgrove: Promoted by Bromsgrove and Droitwich Farmers’ Club, an auction sale was conducted at Bromsgrove in aid of the National Relief Fund and the Red Cross Fund. The lots included six pigs, three lambs, a calf, a load of straw, a load of mangolds, many sacks of wheat and oats, hundreds of eggs, poultry, and hay. One lot (two dozen eggs) was sold and resold 29 times, and the sum realised was £2 17s. 6d. per dozen. The total proceeds amounted to between £50 and £60;

There was a ready response to the appeal for gifts for our soldiers made to members of the Worcesters’ League of Honour, and a gratifying array of comforts of all kinds was to be seen at the Guildhall on Tuesday evening. From eight o’clock, the time for receiving the gifts, for nearly half-an-hour there was a constant stream of women and girls up to the table in the Assembly Hall, draped in the National colours, where each member deposited her gift which would be sent to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Worcesters at the front. The Mayoress (Mrs. H.A. Leicester), who presided over the gathering, expressed her delight at the large number of beautiful gifts. She knew that they must, in many cases, mean great sacrifice to the givers, many of whom doubtless had dear ones at the front.

Information researched by Sue Redding