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Key dates over November 1916

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Lives lost on this day: 0

13th November 1916 - Battle of the Ancre. Final action on the Somme begins.

Rolling casualty count: 4900

1st Batt: Batt went back into the line further to the left between Les Boeufs and Guidecourt.

2nd Batt: Batt did PT before breakfast and later Coys worked on handling of arms, Squad Drill and attended classes in pm.

4th Batt: Batt, in conjunction with 1st Newfoundland Reg, carried out practice attacks.

10th Batt: Working party of 100 men supplied. Others cleaning kit. There was a gas-helmet and an iron ration inspection.

SMD RFA: Brigade formed a flank barrage for an attack by the 5th Army. Attack successful and Beaumont –Hamel was taken. Slow fire kept up all day.

Home Front:

Big Civic and Military Gathering: There was a large gathering of citizens at the Mayor’s Church parade on Sunday, and the military display was, perhaps, more representative than usual, comprising various Regular and Territorial units. The Mayor (Ald. Carlton), with the Sheriff (Ald. Edwards, welcomed the visitors at the Guildhall. November had harked back to sunny September, and the ideal morning suggested contrasts with some of the dismal days of the Church parades of other years. Under these conditions it was not surprising to see a particularly large crowd lining the road to the Cathedral.

Public Houses and Women under 21: At a meeting of the Midland District Committee of the National Trade Defence Association held in Birmingham, the following resolution, moved, seconded and supported by the retail representatives for the counties of Worcester, Derby, Northants, and Stafford respectively, was unanimously adopted: “That this meeting approves the action of the Greater Birmingham Licensed Trade Committee in declining to accede to the suggestion made by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham that the trade should themselves voluntarily agree to exclude women under 21 from their licensed houses. The Committee is further of opinion that to have acceded to the request would have been tantamount to an act of disloyalty to the trade as a whole, and a failure to appreciate the principles by which that trade is governed.”

Worcester Solicitor and Bank Clerk Honoured: Among the list of recipients of the Military Medal awarded by the King for bravery in the field, two soldiers of the Worcestershire Regiment, Mr. E.C. Corbett and Mr. S.P. Maylett are very well known locally. The former is the Worcester solicitor, who, before he went abroad some years ago, was the Secretary of the Worcester Chamber of Commerce, where his encyclopaedic knowledge on all matters arising at the meetings of the Chamber was so often commented upon. He was once of the first to fill up the ranks of the 8th Battalion, who at the date of mobilisation were short of establishment. Sergt. S.P Maylett was another of the very first recruits at the time. For some years he was a clerk at Lloyd’s Bank and was very popular in the city, especially with member of the Hockey Club, of which he was an enthusiastic player. His brother, Lieut. F.G. Maylett, who is also at the front, is the Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, and Midland Counties’ Hockey player. They are the sons of Mrs. Maylett, St. George’s Square.

Worcester Hops: A fair amount of business was transacted during the week, 1,477 pockets passing the public scales, making a total of 15, 642 of this season’s growth. Stocks in the warehouses are now low, and on Saturday trade was decidedly dull. Sales were not pressed, and growers held out firmly as regards prices, business being done between £7 and £8, the latter figure being asked for anything choice.

Lighting Offence: The Mayor (Ald. A. Carlton) was this morning officially welcomed in the City Police Court to the position of Chief Magistrate…The first case before His Worship was that against Martha Perks, 33, Chestnut Walk, who through Mr. Harrison, pleaded guilty to a technical offence. Mr. Harrison said that the defendant was carrying a small lamp whilst her sister pulled down the blind. The Bench imposed a 5s. fine, but the Mayor said that as this was his first case, and he was allowed some sort of clemency he would have pleasure in paying the fine.

Change of Panel Doctors: Notice is given by an advertisement in our columns that insured persons resident in the city desiring to change their doctor or institution, or the method by which they have been obtaining treatment at the end of the year, must give notice to the City of Worcester Insurance Committee before 1st December, 1916. Persons who do not give such notice will be considered to have elected to obtain treatment for the year 1917 from the same doctor (or in the same manner) as in the current year.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team