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Key dates over April 1916

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Lives lost on this day: 5

10th April 1916 - Tragedy at Hereford Theatre

Rolling Casualty Count: 2899

At the Front:

4th Batt: One officer and 5 other ranks left for leave in England. Batt marched to 2nd line trenches at 5.45pm. Gen Cayley visited the line and then they marched back. This was done in order that all men would know the position in case of emergency.

9th Batt: Ly EK Myles showed utter fearlessness, dashing out from cover time and again to rescue wounded men He was hit while carrying a wounded man but got him back to safety. He earned a Victoria Cross.

Nine officers and over 100 men had fallen.

10th Batt: Artillery fired on the roads behind the german lines as a relief was in progress, the information came from a german prisoner.

On the Home Front:

Fire at Hereford Theatre – Terrible Scene – Six Little Girls Dead. A terrible tragedy occurred at the Garrick Theatre on Friday night, resulting in the death by fire, of six little girls, who were taking part in an entertainment in aid of a fund to provide comforts for the Herefordshire Territorials and the local men in the Shropshire Regiment. Late in the evening a fire, the cause of which is unknown, occurred on the stage among the children taking part. They were attired in cotton wool. There was a large attendance.

Help was quickly on hand and children in flames were picked up and wrapped in anything that was handy to extinguish the flames. The Mothers who were on the stage or in the wings assisted. More than a dozen children were in flames. They were immediately conveyed to hospital and up to Saturday six deaths were reported. The cause of the fire is a mystery, for only electric lights were in use. It is thought that the clothes of one of the little girls in some way set alight and rushed amongst the other children in fright and so the fire spread.

New hospital for wounded soldiers at Malvern - Some residents who appreciate the beneficial climate of Malvern have started a new hospital for wounded soldiers at Ashfield placed at their disposal by Mr Dyson-Perrins under a committee which includes Earl Beauchamp, Countess Beauchamp, Mrs Hollins, Mrs Winsmore Hooper, Mrs Swann and Dr Brockatt. Dr Brockatt has kindly undertaken the medical superintendence of the hospital and the Vicar of Malvern has consented to act as Chaplain. Upon completion of the alterations a reception will be held at the hospital to enlist local interest.

Information researched by the WW100 team.