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Key dates over July 1916

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Lives lost on this day: 7

21st July 1916 - Droitwich Aviator killed

Rolling Casualty Count: 3851

At the Front:

2nd Batt: Brigade relieved evening by 15th Division and went back to bivouacs at Becourt at 3.0am. two officers and others gassed.

4th Batt: Two german aeroplanes passed over the wood and were dispersed by our artillery

10th Batt: Batt joined the 2nd Worcs. near Windmill Cemetery which was shelled causing 15 casualties. At 3.0pm Batt attempted to capture a german machine gun with bombers and Lewis guns in support.

Yeomanry/Cavalry: One Squadron of Worcs Yeomanry, one of Glos Yeo and two Squadrons of NZ Mounted Rifles ordered to be ready to move at an hour`s notice. All moved to bivouacs on Hill 70, 7 miles east of Kantara.

On the Home Front:

Droitwich Aviator: Sec.-Lieut. William B. Power, of the Royal Flying Corps, son of Mr. William Power, of Wych Cottage, Albert Street, Droitwich, was killed on Monday evening whilst flying at Farnborough. His aeroplane when over Farnborough Common was seen to side slip and then nose-dive to the earth. The machine was completely wrecked and the pilot was killed instantly. Lieut. Power received his commission only recently, but had held his flying certificate since the outbreak of war, and was considered a first-class pilot. He was on a visit home last week-end.

Line of Trenches Taken: North of the Somme we are consolidating the positions won by us this morning. South of the Somme we extended our front of attack in the course of the afternoon, and carried in its entirety the first German position from Estrées to the Hill of Vermand-Ovillers. In the course of the day’s fighting we captured on both banks of the river about 2,900 prisoners, including 30 officers. Three guns, 30 machine-guns, and a large quantity of war material also remained in our hands. (Vermaud_Ovillers is about half-way between Estrées and Chaulnes, to the south-west. East of Vermaud-Ovillers, and due south of Estrées, the ground rises to 300ft.)

Worcester Bluejacket: Mrs. Evelyn Wells (formerly Mrs. Gilbert), of 45, Pheasant Street, Worcester, has been notified that her son, Able Seaman Percy George Gilbert , of the “Defence,” was lost when that vessel was sunk in in the naval battle off Jutland. He was aged 27, and had been in the Navy for nearly 12 years, and had been in many parts of the world. On one occasion he was five hours in the water before being picked up. He was given a gold medal for his services at the time of the Messina earthquake.

County Appeal Tribunal: The Bishop of Worcester made an appeal on behalf of his chauffeur, Wm. Steward…the Bishop had given up from Hartlebury, one chauffeur, four other men, and his two sons, and he had given up part of the Castle for Convalescent soldiers…Mr. Stallard gave evidence, he said that as parts of the Dioceses were inaccessible excepting by motor the Bishop was compelled to have a chauffeur. A lady chauffeur was out of the question, because the Bishop must have a competent mechanic…When Lieut. Glanfield suggested that a disabled soldier might be employed, the Chairman said that the Bishop might be shocked by the bad language. Lieut. Glanfield retorted: It might be good for the Bishop to hear what other people say. It would give him someone to preach a sermon to. Besides, some soldiers do not use that language. In reply to the contention that a lady chauffeur could not be employed, Lieut. Glanfield said that Mr. Lloyd George (an officer of State), was driven about by a lady chauffeur. The Tribunal gave until Sept. 30th.

Soldiers Comforts’ Fund Fete: At the fete tomorrow at Boughton Park, in aid of the fund, the entertainments will be practically the same as on Thursday. The aviator will again appear, and will loop the loop and perform other feats. The admission to the rummage sale will be 3d during the first hour, and 1d. afterwards. Entrance may be gained without going to the fete.

Curious Spectacle: On Thursday evening residents in the neighbourhood of Britannia Square noticed what appeared to be a curious black cloud, which, by the action of a strong wind, was whirling furiously in the air. After a series of spiral evolutions it descended, and then the spectators saw that the object which they had watched so intensely was a large bundle of hay, which had been flicked up from somewhere unknown. It was distributed over a considerable area in the Square, covering some of the gardens

Information researched by the WWW100 team.