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Key dates over July 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 31

Lives lost on this day: 4

27th July 1916 - News of Worcestershire Regiment's role in British offensive on the Western Front reaches home

Rolling Casualty Count: 3925

At the Front:

2nd Batt: Batt assembled en masse in the field west of the camp for CO`s parade. A Field General Court Martial was held at Batt HQ.

4th Batt: Batt left Beauval at 9.40am and marched to Candas where it entrained to Poperinghe. Billets in large and small convents, Batt HQ in small house opposite the Cathedral.

2/8th Batt: The Wick Salient was bombarded by artillery and trench mortars.

10th Batt: orders received to move up to the line to relieve 59th brigade but this was postponed.

On the Home Front:

Worcesters’ Part in the Advance: It is evident from the casualty lists that the Worcestershire Regiment has played a big part in the British offensive on the west front. Wounded men of the Regiment who have just returned to this country tell thrilling stories of the work of their Regiment in the more recent fighting. Of the end of Colonel Royston Piggot, commanding a Battalion, a corporal says: “Our Colonel was among the first of our officers to fall. He was leading us at a critical moment. He exposed himself too much, because he was as keen, and never asked men to take risks he would not take himself. He passed unscathed throughout a blizzard of bullets, but suddenly we saw him stagger a little, and the arm, slightly uplifted, which had been urging us on to the attack, dropped by his side…He seemed to be hit again, and then he dropped. He tried to rise again, but only succeeded in getting on his side. He waved his arm to us pointing in the direction of the enemy lines, and then he fell back again, after trying to call out to us some words we didn’t fully catch. All we could distinguish was, ‘On, lads, on. Give them……..’ That was the end of him. He was a fine commander, and the men were terribly cut up by his loss.”

Rescue from Drowning: Harold James Coombs, aged 13 years, residing at 81, Landsdowne Road, on Wednesday effected a plucky rescue from drowning in the Canal near Landsdowne Bridge. Coombs heard shouting, and running to the bridge saw a little girl in the water. The girl – Veronica O’Neill – is six years of age, and is on a visit with her mother and brother to her grandmother, at 28, Lower Chestnut Street. Coombs is a strong swimmer. He divested himself of his jacket and waistcoat as he ran, and, reaching the towing path, dived into the water and grasped the girl by the hair. In her struggles he lost his hold and both went under. He next grasped her clothing at the shoulder, and, knowing it would be difficult to turn in the water with her, he swam with her across the canal. Assistance was now at hand, and both were helped out. The girl, after receiving attention, went home with her brother, who had been fishing from the towing path.

Treat to Almshouse Inmates: Mr. G. Humpheys, of 8, Croft Walk, Worcester, writes to thank the Trustees of the Municipal Charities, on behalf of the inmates of the Almshouses, for their great kindness in providing them with “such a splendid and enjoyable outing as that which they generously provided on Tuesday last.” They went by motor ‘bus to the Hundred House. Then an excellent tea was provided, after which the party motored home via Stourport and Ombersley. It was a lovely day and the country looked at its best.

Territorial’s Eight Wounds: Mrs. Garney, of 112, Severn Street, Worcester, has received notice that her son, Pte Tom Gurney, of the Worcestershire Regiment (T.F.) has been wounded in the recent heavy fighting in France. In a cheery letter from France, he states that he has been wounded in both knees, right arm, and right thigh, but that, despite an operation that had to be performed on one knee, he is going on as well as can be expected. From another source the mother has since learned that he has received eight wounds. Pte Gurney was 21 years of age last month, having had two birthdays in the trenches, and was a member of the Territorial Force before the war (nearly 4 years’ service), and has been at the front 15 months.

Information researched by the WWW100 team.