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Key dates over May 1915

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Lives lost on this day: 8

11th May 1915 - Enemy shellfire causing large number of casualties

Rolling casualty count: 1164

1st Batt: The Battn held the above line all day (see 10 May) and was subjected to heavy shell fire at intervals on the night of the 10th about 80 wounded were brought in from the front. From 7pm to 9pm a most intense bombardment from both sides took place. At 10.30 the Battn was relieved by the Scottish Rifles and 2/Middx Regt and withdrew from the trenches with no loss. Billets were in Laventie where the lasy coy arrived about 1am. Draft of 92 men joined;

2nd Batt: At 8am Battalion marched to billets in Richebourg St Vaast near Windy Corner. Considerable amount of shelling in vicinity of billets, being directed probably at a Battery in position there (3 men and 3 horses wounded);

3rd Batt: In billets at Dickebush;

Alexandra Day in Worcester: The Mayor of Worcester, Ald. H.A. Leicester, presided at a meeting held at the Guildhall, today, to make arrangements for an Alexandra Day for the benefit of the Worcester Infirmary on similar lines to the rose sale which took place last year. ..the celebration day was fixed for Saturday, June 26th. It was resolved to organise a small fete for the workers, to be held at the close of the day’s proceedings, probably at Barbourne College;

The Bishop of Worcester consecrated an addition to the churchyard at Offenham;

D.S.O. for Ex-Worcester Officer: Captain Lionel Peter Collins, of the 4th Gurkha Rifles, who has been given the D.S.O., was a former Worcestershire officer. He first served with the Militia, and was afterwards with the 3rd Battalion before he transferred to the Indian Army. The act for which he has been decorated is described in the official notice as follows: Took the initiative with his company in the attack at Bois de Biez on March 12th, and captured a German trench, taking 100 prisoners, killing or wounding a considerable number of the remainder of the occupants;

Deserters: Pte. James Sidney Daynes (21), 35 Dolday, Pte. Frank Williams (22), 5 Court, Dolday were charged with being deserters from the 11th Battalion, Royal Warks. Regiment. D.C. Handley searched Daynes’ house but could not find the prisoner. He returned with P.C. Harrington half an hour later, and they saw the prisoner, partially dressed, getting out of a bedroom window, and trying to hide behind a chimney. The prisoners were remanded to await a military escort;

Poisonous Gas: A Local Victim: Lieut. J.W. Evatt, of the 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers (son-in-law of the Rector of St. Helen’s) is recovering from poisonous gas in hospital at the base, where Mrs. Evatt has joined him;

Yeomanry Third Line; Major Knight informs us that the Yeomanry third line unit is filling up very fast. Intending recruits should apply at once.

Information researched by Sue Redding