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Key dates over May 1916

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Lives lost on this day: 3

6th May 1916 - Anniversary of the torpedoing of the Lusitania

Rolling Casualty Count: 3115

At the Front:

1st Batt: Working parties of 300 men employed at Boursigny-Aix-Nousettes.

2nd Batt: Patrols were sent out and wire was put out by our front Coys.

SMR RFA: Artillery inactive. Infantry relieved. Brigade now covering 5th and 6th Staffs Regiments.

On the Home Front:

Wanted for H.M. Forces: Shoemakers and Repairers for service with the Royal Engineers and Army Ordnance Corps. Men between the ages of 19-41 who are unfit for the fighting line, and who are desirous of serving their country will be accepted, provided they are organically sound. Men between the ages of 41 and 47 will be accepted on the Ordinary Terms of Enlistment.

Tomorrow will actually be the anniversary of the torpedoing of the Lusitania, by which 1,198 defenceless men, women, and children lost their lives. The anniversary is being commemorated today. Organised by the British Empire Union, a procession formed on the Thames Embankment, near to Westminster Bridge, for Hyde Park. Following was a large model of the Lusitania (lent by the Cunard Company), mounted on a decorated trolley and escorted by members of the British Empire Union. There was a great contingent of members of the Union in the procession, all the London branches in particular being strongly represented. A banner proclaimed:- “Remember the Lusitania, 7th May, 1915. May that crime be forgiven in Heaven but not forgotten on earth.”

Malvern Man killed: Mr. and Mrs. W. Hewitt, of the Moodkee, North Malvern, have received an intimation of the death of their son, Private Cecil Hewitt, of the Worcestershire Regt., who was with his platoon in the first line of trenches, when a mine explosion occurred. His twin brother, Pte. Albert Hewitt, and a comrade, Pte. G.C. Jones, endeavoured to get him out of the debris. The former then received a bullet wound, and is now in hospital in England. His brother’s death was instantaneous. Deceased joined the Worcestershires on the 1st of September, 1914, and went to the front in December of that year. He had short leave in November last.

Failure: In the Worcester Bankruptcy Court a receiving order has been made on a creditor’s petition against Harry Waldron, of the Roman Restaurant, High Street, refreshment house keeper.

Benefit Football Match: A successful smoking concert was held at the Gun Tavern, Newtown Road, to receive the report in connection with the Railwaymen’s Good Friday Football Benefit March…The balance sheet was read, showing a total of £24 15s., less 15s. expenses. The three beneficiaries, Messrs. Bruce Wyatt, A. Underhill, and A. Hughes, received £8 each. An enjoyable evening was spent. A vote of thanks as proposed, seconded, and carried with acclamation, to the following: Mr. Jefferies for the free use of the Gun Field, the ticket sellers and subscribers to the fund, and the musical friends and entertainers. The singing of the National Anthem brought the proceedings to a close.

No Personal Injuries: At Powick, this afternoon, a Midland omnibus and motor-car collided. The car was following the ‘bus, which was coming towards Worcester. Another motor-car, owned by Mr. Dyson Perrins, was being driven from Worcester. The motor-car which was coming behind the ‘bus made a rush, endeavouring to pass Mr. Perrins’ car, before it reached the ‘bus. There was not enough space to pass, and the former car struck the right front wheel of the ‘bus, knocking the steering wheel out of the driver’s hand. He lost control of the ‘bus, which ran on the grass on the roadside, knocking over a telegraph pole, which fell on the ‘bus. The car which had struck the ‘bus turned over, the occupants were thrown out. It is now a complete wreck. The windscreen of the ‘bus was broken. Happily no one was injured, although several of the occupants of both ‘bus and car were shaken. Mr. Perrins’ car went on its journey untouched. It had been travelling slowly, and was pulled up short of the accident.

“A Musical Laureate:” On Monday and daily throughout the coming week two new works by Sir Edward Elgar will be heard at Queen’s Hall, together with “The Dream of Gerontius,” at performances arranged by Mme. Clara Butt in aid of the Red Cross Fund. Since the war began Elgar (says “The Times”) , more than ever before, has been regarded by the British people as their musical laureate. He voiced in vivid musical terms their feeling about the tragic glory of Belgium, and since then his “Polonia” and the dramatic episode “Une voix dans le desert” have spoken eloquently of other aspects of the war, even though these may not have touched public feeling on the quick as the “Carillon” did.

Wife’s Maintenance: John Reynolds, alias Webb (52), a bellhanger, was charged with deserting his wife and two children, leaving them chargeable to the Common Fund of the Union The arrears of maintenance and costs amounted to £7 3s. 6d. related to the year 1913. Defendant said that he had been soldiering, and that he was discharged. He had been unwell, but he now had a light job in a munition works, and if he was given a chance he would pay the money. The Bench said that he gave a similar promise when he was before the Court before. He was sent to prison for two months. Defendant: I shall never pay anything.

Information researched by the WWW100 team.