19th May 1916 - Yeomanry Soldier describes Easter Sunday fighting

Rolling Casualty Count: 3144

At the Front:

4th Batt: During the night 100 men and 2 officers of Y Coy worked on Fort Prowse and Fort Moulin. Later the CO and Adj inspected Yellow Line of Forts.

The CO and Adj inspected the work to be done by Batt X Coy who went to work at 9.00pm and worked all night and day converting Felhard St into the Firing line near Knightsbridge.

9th Batt: Sudden news from troops in the front line that the enemy had evacuated the Bait Isa position and retreated. Batt D Coy and 7th North Staffs followed the Turks who settled in a new position outside Kut. No attack was attempted and men returned to Reserve positions.

On the Home Front:

Daylight Saving Circular: In a circular relating to the coming into operation of the Summer Time Act, issued to all local authorities, the President of the Local Government Board requests these bodies to take steps to ensure that clocks under their control and all others visible to the public are advanced one hour on the morning of Sunday next, and to display prominently on public buildings the official notification of the change in time.

Yeomanry Fight in Egypt: Corporal Bob Eaton, of Hanley Castle, has written home a thrilling story of the fight of the Yeomanry in Egypt on Easter Sunday. He gives a graphic description of the gallant fight of the Yeomanry against overwhelming odds, and thus describes his own escape: “What happened to me then was a miracle. I started to run back and grabbed a horse which was tied to a post about 50 yards from me and started to gallop away. I had not gone more than 30 yards when they shot the horse dead under me, causing me to turn about three somersaults. I gathered myself together again and saw another loose horse close by, caught him, and made off again. Before I could get to the Worcester led horses under cover they had shot this one in four places, neck, knee, shoulder, and hind quarters. I got to the horses all right and got another horse, leaving the other to die…Two more survivors and I kept quietly on, and we arrived at X about midnight, and I can tell you horses and ourselves were done up.”

D.C.M. for Charlton Man: Pte. Reginald Cowley of Charlton, and formerly of Moor, who has been awarded the D.C.M., is 24 years of age, and he was for three years in the Pershore Company of Territorials, and four years ago he joined the Grenadier Guards. He went to France at the outbreak of hostilities, and has seen a great deal of fighting. He was given the award for passing through the German lines and delivering despatches on October 14th, 1914. Although taken prisoner, he succeeded in escaping and again passing through the German lines, and delivered the despatches. He was slightly wounded in the chin and forehead on Christmas-eve, 1914, but was soon fighting again, and took part in the big battle of Neuve Chapelle. It was at Festubert, exactly 12 months ago last Thursday, that Pte. Cowley was seriously wounded. A bullet passed through his right shoulder shattering the bone: His arm having been amputated he now wears an artificial limb.

The Heat Wave: The maximum temperature registered at the Worcester Waterworks, for the last 24 hours up to 8am this morning was 86 degrees.

The “Sale” Pictures: The David Cox and other pictures, which came to the Victoria Institute under the will of the late Mr. C.J. Sale, have been suitably framed and hung in the Art Gallery of the Institute, where they will be exhibited from next Monday. Mrs. Berkeley, of Cotheridge, will open the exhibition at 3.30.

The Striking of Clocks: Alderman Steward said it would be a great convenience if the Cathedral clock was permitted to strike to a later hour. He understood that the Dean and Chapter had volunteered to stop the clock striking, and the hour fixed was 6 o’clock, but now that the evenings were light till a later hour there could be no harm in extending the time. It was suggested that the clock should strike until sunset. Alderman Gray said the same applied to St. Nicholas’ clock. It was agreed that those in charge of “public clocks” should be asked to permit them to strike until sunset. The Chief Constable said there was a new order that no clock or bells should sound during the hours of restricted lighting, which would permit the clocks striking at a later hour than that suggested.

Motor Car Obstruction: George Henry Williams, traveller, pleaded not guilty to causing an obstruction with a motor car in St. Swithin’s Street. P.C. Wynne said that the car was left unattended for 40 minutes. Defendant said that he did not think anyone was obstructed. Fined 10s.

Bull Unsecured: Albert Freeman, drover, pleaded guilty to leading in High Street a bull which was not properly secured. P.C. Lawley and ex-P.C. Hawker said that the man had a rope on the bull, but it was completely out of control. Defendant said the bull was as quiet as a sheep, and he could lead it with a piece of cotton until it was disturbed by a cyclist. The Chairman said it was a very serious offence, and he would be fined £1.

Information researched by the WWW100 team.