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Key dates over January 1916

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Lives lost on this day: 10

3rd January 1916 - Agriculture Committee urges more women for land work

Rolling Casualty Count: 2651

7th/8th Batt: little opportunities for working or training parties as men constantly employed digging reserve lines of defence all day and returning after dark soaked to the skin. Many men going sick.

10th Batt: Batt inspected in marching order by major general GTM Bridges CMG, DSO commander of 19th Division.

Yeomanry: Regiment entrained for El Salhia, a small village lying halfway between Alexandria and Kantara in the East Delta.

On the Home Front:

The Royal Grammar School, Worcester. Public School. One of the best equipped in the Midlands. Perrins’ Hall and Library now open. Preparatory School for small boys in separate buildings. Next term commences for New Boys on Wednesday, January 19th, 1916. For Prospectus, Etc., apply HEAD MASTER.

The County and Women on the Land: A meeting of the County War Agricultural Committee was held on Saturday. Mr. J.W. Willis Bund presided. Sir Sydney Olivier urged the importance of organising women’s labour on the land. He said the difficulties of the farmers would be likely to increase, and they would be compelled to take whatever labour they could get; hence the need for encouraging women to take up work on the land from patriotic motives. Other speakers urged that efforts should be made to stir the patriotism of local women to take up the work, rather than to import women from outside the parish.

Single Men up to 27 Years: It is understood on good authority that within a few days a proclamation will be published ordering men attested under Lord Derby’s scheme in groups 6, 7, 8 and 9 to present themselves for service by February 1. These groups consist of the single men from 23 to 27 years of age. They are to report themselves eleven days after the first four groups consisting of single men between the ages of 19 and 23, have been called. When these eight groups are with the Colours there will remain 14 classes of single men uncalled, excluding the group comprising men under military age. In order to facilitate their absorption into the army, it is understood the military tribunals will make every effort to expedite the hearing of the appeal cases received from recruits in the first four groups. A “sour grapes” acidity permeates all the German comment on the British Government’s decision to introduce compulsion. The enemy is now reduced to comforting himself with the conviction that compulsion will yet be wrecked on the rocks of party strife and Cabinet politics.

Local Farmer Found Shot: Farmers in a wide area round Worcester will regret to hear of the death, which took place in tragic circumstances this morning, of Mr. John Davis, of Cudleigh Court, Spetchley, a well-known and highly respected local farmer. He was found shot this morning. He was 73 years of age, and had farmed at Spetchley and at Bromyard for many years. It is understood that Mr. Davis had been worried because of the labour shortage on his farm.

Worcester Tailor Missing: Mr. William Hamsher, tailor, who until recently lived in Chestnut Walk, has been missing since Saturday, and the police are making enquiries respecting him. He left Chestnut Walk to become associated with a business in Barbourne Road. He was 45 years of age, was of a cheery disposition, height 5 feet 7 ins; of medium build, with fair complexion. His hair was turning grey, as was also his moustache.

It is a grievous disappointment to Mr. W.J. Gresson, Master of the Croome Hounds, that his medical adviser, prohibits any active participation in hunting for some time, and all followers of the pack hope for his speedy restoration to health.

Information researched by the WWW100 team.