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Key dates over November 1916

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Lives lost on this day: 49

5th November 1916 - Victoria Cross for Lt Bennett

Rolling casualty count: 4853

2nd Batt: The attack was launched at 11.13am preceded by artillery creeping barrage. Mirage trench was found to be full of dead Germans. Five officers including 3 NCOs were killed in the 1st part of the attack. Lt EP Bennett was wounded as he reached sunken Road and his wounds were bandaged by a Frenchman. As the smoke cleared he could see that the attack had stopped so he found a spade and cut a strip in the bank and rallied the troops to follow him and the whole batt followed him “Like a swarm of rats.”. The Germans fell back and the Batt pushed forward 500 yards and consolidated-trench then called Bennett Trench. For his bravery and leadership, Lt Bennett was awarded the VC. The battle was Transloy Ridges.

4th batt: The Batt transport animals were inspected by ADVS. Church Parade was at the YMCA at 10am.

Yeomanry/Cavalry: Hostile aeroplanes flew over the camp most days but today reserved their bombs for El Abt and the railhead where they were shot at by antiquated anti-air-craft guns.

Home Front:

An inquest was held respecting the death of Norah Morris Kirkham, aged 1 year, the daughter of William Henry Kirkham, Bean Hall Mill, Feckenham. Hannah Kirkham, the mother said that she left home, taking Norah and another daughter, aged 3 with her to meet her two older daughters coming from school. She had to go over a footbridge over a brook. The bridge was wet and slippery, and witness’s foot slipped, and she fell backwards through the handrail. Norah fell into the water. She was carried down the stream and over a waterfall about 10 feet deep. Witness prevented her other child from falling into the water and rescued the child who was dead. Witness tried artificial respiration, but without effect. The bridge was about 20 inches wide, and very dangerous, the handrail was at the bottom, but there was none at the top of the bridge. The Jury returned a verdict of “Accidentally drowned.”

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team