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Key dates over September 1916

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Lives lost on this day: 2

28th September 1916 - Professor Kewsick lectures in physiognomy

2nd Batt; Batt marched to St Almand, Gaudiempre and to billets at Sombrin.

4th Batt: Batt entrained at Brandhoek and arrived at the Asylum, Ypres at 7.20 pm and relieved the 1st Lancs Fusiliers in Right Sector.

The King of Belgium visited the lines with Gen Sir A Hunter-Weston.

10th Batt: Batt now in training to a strict programme of work.

SMD RFA: Lt Col Colville left to command half of the 48th Division owning to the death of Lt Col West.

Riddled, But Still Gay: Pte. J. Oakley, a Worcester machine gunner, writes to Mrs. Dauncey, of Northfield Street (which whom he was billeted), stating that he has been badly wounded. He says: “I was wounded five weeks today, and they still make a fuss of me. They simply riddled my two legs, face, neck and hand, and I am the luckiest chap alive to have my eyesight. I still keep smiling like. When I got hit I shouted, ‘I’ve stopped it!’ The Officer said, ‘You’re sticking it well, Oakley,’ and I replied, ‘I can’t give it to anybody else.’ He did laugh, and so did I – I don’t think. The worst of it was, you can’t see who has done it. I was just coming out of the trenches to have a rest. In another minute I should have been out. I am going on splendidly, but the doctor says there is a large quantity of lead in me yet. So if Mr. Dauncey wants some gas piping let me know, and I will run one of my legs down a bit. I shall be a string of walking lead piping when I come out, if they don’t melt me down. I should like to be in Northfield Street once again before they finish me off.”

Flag Day for the Allied Nations will be celebrated in Worcester on Saturday next. The collection, which is authorised, will be given to the Red Cross Funds.

Worcester Education Committee: Preliminary Technical Classes for boys and girls will re-open on Monday next, at 7pm at St. Barnabas’, St. John’s, St. Peter’s , and St. Stephen’s Schools, and at Victoria Institute for girls only. Fee for the Session 1/-. Further particulars can be obtained at the Public Library.

Professor Keswick’s Lecture: Prof. J. B. Keswick, the physiognomist and phrenologist, commenced a series of eighteen lectures. On Wednesday, in a chatty and interesting way, he described how the physiognomist reads character, using a number of lantern slides to illustrate his remarks. He compared physiognomy and phrenology, and described the value of each. He passed in review a series of faces of various types and of various professions and schools of thought, pointing out their predominant traits are shown in their faces, and his review included bishops, politicians, criminals, and maniacs. He divided faces into three types – the round, the oval, and the long, described what each meant, and the dispositions, temperament, etc. of each. There was a very good attendance.

N.S.P.C.C. and Child Neglect: The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children investigated 3,617 complaints of neglect and cruelty in England, Wales and Ireland during the month of August. Of the 3,531 completed cases, 3,401 were found to be true, affecting the welfare of 10,377 children, and involving 4,186 offenders. Warnings were issued in 3,076 cases; 145 were prosecuted (resulting in 144 convictions), and 180 were dealt with by transfer or in other ways. In the Worcester and Mid-Worcestershire Branch during the same month, 18 cases were dealt with, affecting 55 children.

Drunk and Disorderly: Horatio Prior, no fixed abode, was summoned for being drunk on the Cross. P.C. Drinkwater said that the prisoner was lying in the gutter, and when he roused him he became very violent. Witness had to get assistance to get him to the Police Station. The policeman’s thumb was sprained in the struggle. Fined 10s.

Youthful Deserter: William Moule (18), 39, St. Clement’s Square, was charged with being a deserter from the A.S.C. D.S. Handley said that prisoner had been absent since July 7. He left his uniform at the depot in Pierpoint Street. He had only just returned from Birmingham, where he had been on munition work. He was remanded to await an escort.

Content researched by the Worcestershire World War 100 project team.