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Key dates over March 1916

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Lives lost on this day: 2

27th March 1916 - Royal Albert Orphanage holds annual meeting

Rolling Casualty Count: 2823

At the Front:

1st Batt: Working parties. Col Grogan took over command of the 24th Battery temporarily. Major Vaughan took command of the Batt.

2nd Batt: Bombing and Lewis gun, wiring and sapping classes at Montmorency Barracks.

9th Batt: Reconnaisance from the air revealed that there was line after line of trenches called Hanna, Falahija and Sannaiyatt.

On the Home Front:

Cathedral School Boat Race: The annual boat race between Worcester and Hereford Cathedral Schools took place this afternoon in cold, windy weather at Worcester, the course being from the Dog and Duck to the Deanery. Worcester, who were slightly the heavier crew, got away at the start, and gained an increasing advantage to the end, when they won by ten lengths. They rowed a steadier and stronger stroke throughout, and on the swift current made a great pace. After the race the Worcester boat was swamped near the Cathedral ferry, and the crew were all thrown into the water, but swam safely to the Terrace.

14th Battalion Football: The Rugby XV of the 14th Battalion Worcs. Regt. (Severn Valley Pioneers) commanded by Lieut.-Col. Sir Henry Webb, MP, scored a good win over the R.A.M.C. XV on Saturday by 17 points to nil. The match was played in a brisk wind but enjoyable conditions.

Worcestershire Soldier’s Death: Pte. John Henry Potter was an old St. George’s boy, and joined the Army in January, 1915. Prior to enlisting he was an actor. He enlisted under his stage name of Vincent, but letters were found on him, by which he was identified. Capt. Radcliffe writes of him: “Pte. Vincent was killed on the 6th. I had chosen him out as a grenadier, and he, with 11 others, were holding a crater. A rifle grenade burst just above his head, and he was killed instantaneously. As is always the way, the best men go first, and this was so in his case.”

At the annual meeting of the Royal Albert Orphanage, the 53rd annual report stated that the Master, Matron, and other officers had discharged their duties to the entire satisfaction of the Committee. Under the powers conferred upon them by Rule 2, the Committee admitted during the year four children. The father of two of them was killed in Gallipoli. The total number of children admitted to the Orphanage since its foundation in 1862 was 585. Of these 233 had been placed in situations, 84 had been apprenticed, 69 had emigrated to Canada, 10 had died, 109 had been returned to their guardians, and one had been placed in another Home, leaving 79 at present in the Institution.

St. Patrick’s Day at 12th Worcestershire’s Camp: In honour of Ireland’s Patron Saint, and by the invitation of the Warrant-Officers, Staff-Sergeants, and Sergeants of the 12th Worcs. Regt., a goodly company, exceeding 160, assembled at the Sergeant’s Mess on Friday evening. An excellent concert was provided, the string band of the King’s Own ably assisting, their services being gratuitous. Speeches of a patriotic nature were in evidence, and an extremely pleasing social evening was spent… The mess was lavishly decorated with flags, bunting, and flowers and in this connection much credit is due to Colour-Sergeant P. Russell, who was responsible for designing the regimental crest, which was unanimously considered to be a work of art.

National Egg Collection: Eight hundred and fifty-seven eggs were collected at the Guildhall for the week ending Saturday, as compared to 750 the previous week. Kempsey sent 165, Inkberrow 90, Powick and Callow End 82, Grafton Flyford school children came next with 30. The eggs were sent to London for France.

Fire: A fire broke out at the dwelling-house of Mrs. Andrews, 27, Victoria Street, Barbourne, on Saturday evening. The City Police Fire Brigade, under the Chief Constable, turned out with their hose, and found that the fire had already been extinguished by the neighbours with buckets of water. The fire had broken out in a bedroom, and all the contents of the room were burnt. The cause of the fire was a defective flue from the ground floor of the kitchen to the bedroom above.

Royal Grammar School: The annual cross-country race took place over the usual course on Saturday. Although the weather conditions were very bad, a large number of competitors took place. The heavy ground and strong wind made the going difficult but E.A. Wood did a good performance, finishing the course in 30 mins. 30 secs; S. Wells won the junior race in good style in 19 mins. 55 secs.

Information researched by the WWW100 team.