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Key dates over October 1916

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Lives lost on this day: 7

29th October 1916 - Shortage of farm labour caused by military recruitment

Rolling casualty count: 4754

1st Batt: Batt relieved by 9th Batt West Ridings at 10.30pm and spent the night in Trones wood. Travelling was difficult because of very wet weather.

3rd Batt: Batt entrained for 2nd Army area of Doullens and detrained at Bailleul at 3am next day.

4th Batt: Batt relieved by 5th and 6th Australians who had marched from Albert. Batt returned to Bernafay Camp where they received hot soup, tea and rum.

1/8th Batt: A football match was played between the 4th Glos and the Batt who was beaten 6-1.

2/8th Batt: Batt marched to billets at Busnelles.

Chamber of Agriculture – Labour Shortage Question – A meeting of the Worcestershire Chamber of Agriculture was held at the Crown Hotel, Worcester on Saturday. A discussion initiated by the Chairman on the question of the recruiting of farm labour developed into a debate on the general position of agriculture in this country. The Chairman said that Major Baldwin had told him that the Military would be obliged to take more and more men and had asked that the Chamber should consider this position. Of course the first thing must be to win the war, but he hoped that steps would be taken to ensure that the land was cultivated. The food supply was already in a serious position and they had seen wares sold in the market that day at 72s a quarter, the highest price for the last 35 or 40 years.

Sequel to Evesham Fatalities – At the Evesham County Court, Mabel Andrews, widow, 8 Evesham Road, made an application for arbitration under the Workmen’s Compensation Act airing out of the death of her husband, who on August 10th fell from the pleasure steamer Ladybyrd and was drowned in the river Avon at Chadbury. The husband was an insurance agent employed by the Pearl Assurance Co., and he also did fruit picking and other work in his spare time. It was alleged that he was employed by Mr Charles Byrd, to assist in running the trips of his steamer. For the defence it was stated that he was not paid for this work, which he did voluntarily, being fond of the river. The application was dismissed.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team