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Key dates over August 1916

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Lives lost on this day: 4

13th August 1916 - Soldiers letters to be charged on delivery at single rate of postage

At the Front:

1st Batt: D Coy relieved by C Coy. Very heavy shelling in pm.

2nd Batt: batt relieved by half the Middlesex Reg at 7.30am and marched to bivouacs near Becourdel and spent the day clearing up.

4th Batt: Still working on X crossing. Lt Grogan and 3 other ranks left for 29th Divisional School of Instruction.

7th Batt: Church Parade in am. Major Green took over duties as 2nd in Command.

10th Batt: At 2.00am a patrol went from B Coy under 2nd Lt Williams to inspect enemy wire, which was strong but cut in places by our artillery. Enemy relief in the night, so little machine gun fire. A Belgian aeroplane flew over at 6.30am.

SMD RFA: D Battery moved to Wagon lines by Albert.

On the Home Front:

Worcestershire Rick Fires – Brigade Out 22 Hours – On Thursday afternoon, about 4.30, the Norwich Union Fire Brigade received a call from Mr J Betteridge, The Kedges, Kenwick, the brigade on arrival found a 40 ton hay and clover rick on fire. Plenty of water was obtained from a pool 350 yards away, about two thirds of the rick was saved. About ten feet from the burning rick another two ricks of about 35 tons each and a number of farm buildings, to the value of about £4,000 or £5,000, were saved. On the return journey they were stopped at Henwick, and informed of a fire at Mrs Whittal’s Ambrose Farm, Oldbury Road. On arrival they found a rick on fire. Farm buildings were also close by. Water was obtained from Laugherne Brook, which is about 100 yards away. Part of the rick was saved and also the farm buildings. The cause of the fire was over-heating. The Brigade returned on Friday morning at 1am after being out 22 hours.

Soldier’s Letters from Camp – Letters sent by Soldiers in this country from camp to home must be paid for at the ordinary letter rates. An impression that they can be sent at lower rates, which has been prevalent in some camps, is quite incorrect. For the present the Post Office authorities have given instructions that unpaid or short-paid inland letters bearing on the outside some indication that they have been sent by soldiers are to be charged on delivery at the single rate of postage instead of at the double rate ordinarily charged.

Drowned While Bathing at Evesham – This morning another man, the second this week, was drowned in the Avon at Evesham. Four Birmingham visitors have lately been camping on Clark’s Hill, Hampton and two of them James Bosworth, turner and fitter aged 19 and Ernest Shearman, were this morning bathing. Both of them could swim fairly well, but could not be described as expert swimmers. They swam across the river from the Hampton to the Evesham side and landed. Sherman then noticed that Bosworth was shivering and he suggested they should get back. While swimming back Bosworth appeared in difficulties and called for help. Sherman swam as quickly as he could to him and found him sinking. He did his best to rescue him and held him up for some time, but was pulled under several times and nearly lost his own life. A boy also did what he could, but Bosworth eventually sank and Sherman managed to get to the bank, greatly exhausted. It is thought that Bosworth was seized with cramp. The river is about ten feet deep at the spot.

Information researched by the WWW100 team.