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Key dates over March 1916

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Lives lost on this day: 1

21st March 1916 - Thefts from Woolworths Store

Rolling Casualty Count: 2815

At the Front:

1st Batt: Batt marched to Hersin, Bayeffles and Aix Noulette forward to the trenches north os Souchez where they relieved the 1st Royal Berks. Weather cold. There was continuous shelling and frequent casualties.

2nd Batt: A,B and D Coys relieved by 1st/6th Scottish Rifles but C Coy stayed to help the Scottish Rifles as their fighting strength was only about 200 men.

9th Batt: low-lying country was all sand but the river banks were slippery with mud making wheeled transport and marching laborious.

Yeomanry/Cavalry: The 2nd SM Brigade had gone to the Sahara with the Western Frontier Force where they had a successful campaign against the Senussi.

On the Home Front:

Mittens for the 14th Worcestershires: In addition to providing mackintosh capes for the men of the 14th Battalion Worcs. Regt., Lieut.-Col. Sir H. Webb, M.P., has defrayed the expense of the wool out of which ladies of Worcestershire have made mittens for the men of the Battalion.

Yeoman’s Influenza: Mr. James Neal, of 170, Henwick Road, has received information that his son, Pte. V. Neal, 3/1st Worcs. Yeomanry ( who went out to join the 1st Regiment in February) has been admitted to a rest camp from hospital, suffering with influenza.

(Funeral see 23 March) Sec.-Lieut. P.R. Gibbs, 14th Battalion Worcs.Regt. (Severn Valley Pioneers), now training on Salisbury Plain, has died suddenly in camp. He was formerly one of the Road Surveyors of the Worcs. County Council, and lived at Ingleside, Bromsgrove. On Friday he took breakfast in the mess, but afterwards suffered from internal pains, and was absent from parades. He did not wish to see the medical officer, and, although he suffered much pain, he was not regarded as seriously ill. The same night his condition suddenly became worse, and he died before the medical officer could arrive. Mr. Gibbs was married in 1912, and leaves one child.

King’s School: Ketch Run – The annual Ketch Cross-Country School run took place under the worst possible conditions of rain and mud. An unusually large entry of 80 were started by Mr. Beach Hicks, at 4.30, from the Cathedral Ferry, under handicap for age. In spite of the conditions, some 20 boys completed the course under the 25 minutes.

Powick Lunatic’s Fatal Accident: An inquest was held at the Asylum, Powick respecting the death of William Henry Rogers (47), gun stocker. Dr. Walter Berry said that Rogers was admitted from the Rubery Hill Asylum on 27th April, 1915. He was suffering from epileptic mania. Witness was called to Rogers on February 26th last, and found that both bones of his left leg were fractured between the knee and ankle. Ward attendant, Victor Herman, said that Rogers had fallen off a chair with his leg under him. He was put to bed, and both fractures progressed satisfactorily. He was troublesome and required constant supervision and care. On March 6th the leg was satisfactory, but Roger’s mental condition was worse. On the 15th he developed congestion of the lungs and died on the 16th. The congestion was probably brought on by the confinement to bed.

There were four cases at the Police Court today of thefts from the new shop, 41, High Street, occupied by F.W. Woolworths, Ltd., which has just been opened…Mr. Hemming, who defended two of the cases, commented on the manner in which the goods were displayed, saying it provided a terrible temptation which many weak human beings, and particularly children, could not withstand.

The Mesh of a Salmon Net: Joseph William Arnold, Joseph Willis, and Walter Wilesmith, all of Holt, were summoned under the Fishery Laws for taking salmon from the Severn with a net of smaller mesh than that prescribed. Mr. F. J. Hemming, who defended, pleaded not guilty, and contended that the net had been passed by a water bailiff. The bailiff said he did not measure the whole of the net, and had since found a portion that was not prescribed. This had now been remedied. Giving evidence, Arnold said that the net was also passed by another bailiff. He thought the net was of correct mesh. The Bench agreed that Mr. Arnold’s action was bona fide, and fined him only 10s. The other defendants were employed by Mr. Arnold.

Information researched by the WWW100 team.