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Key dates over August 1915

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Lives lost on this day: 1

1st August 1915 - Chief Scout Baden Powell visits county

Rolling casualty count: 1636

1st Batt: Holding Section II trenches from 25 to Convent Wall. The whole of tour very quiet. Platoons of 10 attached for 24 hrs in trenches; 2nd Batt: As a test of co-operation between infantry and artillery we were ordered to open rapid fire on German trenches at 1am calling upon artillery for assistance. This was done and gunners opened fire on German lines in 1.5 minutes after being called on. Enemy retaliated with rifle fire immediately and their guns opened fire about 7 minutes afterwards. Fire was kept up for 10 minutes when all became quiet again. Remainder of night was quiet. (1 man killed and 1 wounded). Very quiet day. Communication trenches and village shelled from 9 to 11pm. Burst of rifle fire afterwards. (Lieuts. Prosser and Neale joined). Germans removed all their large steel loophole plates from their trenches. All sniping in our front by enemy practically ceased. About 10.30pm the explosion of a mine was heard in or beyond the Givenchy section; 3rd Batt: In Bivouac 1 mile N. of Dickebusch; Royal Field Artillery: Authie: 4pm 1st Battery occupied portion N. of Sailly au Bois. 11.15pm the remaining section of 3rd Battery went into action just S. of Hebuterne. 1st Battery went under the French Commandant for Tactical operations 3rd Batteries to 3rd S.M.F.A. Bde. 1st Battery attached 3 S.M.F.A. Bde. for administrative purposes.

2nd Worcesters’ Famous Charge: Sir, - Will you allow me a small space in your paper to correct Sir A. Conan Doyle’s statement re the Worcesters did not take the village of Gheluvelt. I am certain that they did take the village and held it until they were withdrawn by order of Capt. Whyman, c/o ‘A’ Company, between the hours of 11 and 12 pm on the night of October 31st. We advanced to the village in three parties, I took one party of 12 men and Sgt. Bromage and Capt. Williams the other. I lost my party and rejoined Sgt. Bromage’s with whom I stopped. I was sent into the village with two men by Sgt. Bromage to see if it was clear. I stayed in the village as near as I can stay about three parts of an hour. I also bandaged up some wounded Germans, one who gave me a pipe and tobacco, so that is proof to you that we were in the village, and I was sent back to the chateau to report the village clear. I could not find any of my own officers, so I reported to the CO of the Welch Regiment. When I returned my platoon were entrenched in the churchyard and across the road of the village. Please note that my platoon was in front of the remainder of Company ‘A’. I have plenty of proof to this effect, being the real truth, hoping it will catch the eyes of those that wish to rob the Worcesters of that famous day, which saved the whole line and prevented the Germans advancing on to Calais. Cpl. G. Rollings (One who was there);

Inspected by Sir R. Baden Powell: The Chief Scout (Sir Robert Baden Powell), inspected Troops of Boy Scouts on Sunday,at Evesham, Pershore, and in the Shirehall yard at Worcester, as he passed through the county en route for Wales. Whilst the war has proved the utility of the movement, many Scouts having performed useful duties which have relieved others for the Army, it has adversely affected some Troops by taking away their Scout Masters. In a few cases young ladies have taken over the duties of leading the Troops, and in others the boys have been kept together by the plucky work of patrol leaders…The boys to remember the three points of the promise which they made on becoming a Scout – to honour God and the King and to do a good turn for somebody every day;

D.C.M.s for Worcesters: Cpl. P. Allbut, 4th Battalion: For gallant work on May 25, 1915, during operations south-west of Krithia (Dardanelles) when constructing a trench in the firing line. He had previously shown great gallantry under fire and encouraged his men to advance when hard pressed.

Information researched by Sue Redding