4th November 1916 - Old city cemetery should be hallowed site

Rolling casualty count: 4804

2nd Batt: Orders for a further attack with the French Batt stationed at French Reg HQ in Sunken Road SW of Morval. They dug in across the French end of Mirage and Baritskal Trenches which had been taped out by the RE.

4th batt: GOC 29th Division visited Ville and inspected the site for new Transport Lines, Men marched to baths in Ville in parties of 100 per hour.

2/7th Batt: Men training in trench consolidation.

10th Batt: Cleaning of kit and a gas helmet inspection.

Yeomanry/Cavalry: A Squadron rejoined the Regiment at Hod Bayud from Mageibra and Capt Teichman retuned having recovered from his wound from Romani battle.

Home Front:

Sir:- Passing down Tallow Hill by the City Old Cemetery on “the Day of the Dead,” as the French call Nov. 2nd, All Soul’s Day, and afterwards reading in “The Times” of the homage to the brave dead paid by the President of the French Republic and the deputation at various hallowed spots, I could not but note the contrast. The public are allowed to make a short-cut across it. The graves of the well-to-do are railed off; the graves of the nameless poor are trodden under foot. We are paying for organised games, and quite rightly, at Fort Royal Hill; here we are undoing our work there by allowing the children to grow up without any sense of reverence for the dead and the other world by letting them run riot over the graveyard. Why not hand it over to the Scouts to guard and beautify? Why not turn this old resting place of our city’s dead into a fair garden where children and the aged may rest and enjoy themselves quietly? Perhaps the mortuary chapel might be used as a “Shrine” by the mothers who live around. And in days to come, when peace once more reigns, they will raise a crucifix to tell of Him who has saved our boys and keeps them glad in His Paradise. George F. Hooper, St. Oswald’s Hospital, 4th November, 1916

Burnt by Candle: Ida Key (10), 11, Wakeman Street, Barbourne, was admitted to the Infirmary, on Friday, suffering from severe burns to her shoulder, caused by setting fire to herself with a candle.

Accident to Mr. John Stokes: Whilst at work on some scaffolding at Messrs. G.H. Williamson and Son’s factory, the Blockhouse, on Friday afternoon, where Messrs. Stokes Bros. are carrying out some extensions. Mr. John Stokes and one of his workmen fell from the scaffolding, which gave way under them, a distance of 25 feet. Both Mr. Stokes and John Billington (51), a slater, of 6, Ten Yard Terrace, St. John’s, were rather badly hurt, though happily they escaped without any broken bones…Mr. Stokes was attended at the works by Dr. Crowe, and then conveyed home in a cab, where his medical attendant and Dr. Crowe attended him. Billington was taken to the Infirmary and detained. He was badly bruised about the back, but is better today. He had only recently recovered from another accident. A third man, Arthur Spiers, saved himself from another accident and he was hurt in his effort to save Mr. Stokes.

Sapper A.H. Haynes, of the Royal Engineers’ Signal Co., has written home to his wife at 13, Washington Street, to say that he has been awarded the Military Medal for the work he did in repairing telephone wires under shell-fire. He adds that the ribbon was pinned on his chest at a full parade by the General, who read out to the Unit what the award was for, shook hands with him and wished him the best of luck. Sapper Haynes was formerly employed at the Worcester Post Office. He is one of the seven fighting sons of Mr. and Mrs. Haynes, of Southfield Street.

The teachers and scholars of Hindlip schools have presented their Headmaster (Mr. Horace Teare) with a silver illuminated wrist watch, with his monogram engraved thereon, and an album containing the names of the subscribers. Mr. Teare, who has joined the Royal Garrison Artillery, is now in Ireland. The watch and the album were forwarded to him, with a letter saying “Will you please accept this small present as a token of the great respect and high esteem we, the scholars of Hindlip schools, have for you, and to show the hearty appreaciation we have of the interest you have always taken in our welfare…we wish you good luck and God-speed.” In reply Mr. Teare wrote expressing his thanks. He says he is settling down to the life, and is “as fit as a fiddle.”

Information has been received by the British Red Cross Society, through Geneva, that according to a German official list, dated Sept. 23rd, Sapper Dudley Far Cox (of Malvern Link), London Field Co., Royal Engineers, previously reported prisoner and wounded in Germany had died in the Kriegs Lazarett, at Caudry. For many years the deceased was with Mr. T.W. Holds, architect, Malvern, and afterwards held an appointment in the Land Valuation Office.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team