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Key dates over December 1916

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Lives lost on this day: 3

10th December 1916 - Work for German prisoners

Rolling casualty count: 5089

2nd Batt: During the night the batt supplied 200 men for fatigues. There was great difficulty getting hot food up.

4th batt: batt marched to camp at The Citadel after relief by 6th Oxford Light Infantry.

2/7th Batt: Relieved from the trenches by 2.4th Royal Warwicks and took over billets at Martinsart.2/8th Batt: Batt moved into huts in Martinsart Wood. A further 27 men evacuated sick.

9th batt: The Turkish army is estimated at 20000 men and 70 guns.

Home Front:

German Prisoners and Road Work - The District Council having written to the County Council on the subject of German prisoners for work on the roads, Mr Willis Bund said that he had spoken to the gentleman who was dealing with the question of German prisoners. He found that the restrictions at present prevailing made their employment on the roads almost impossible. The rule seemed to be that not less than gangs of 100 should be employed and a guard and accommodation had to be provided. The question as to whether the guard and accommodation were to be paid for by the State, or in whole or part by the persons or body employing the prisoners seemed not to be definitely settled and under these conditions it would be impossible for the County Council, and he thought any District Council to employ German prisoners on the roads.

The Powick Asylum Staff – Dr Braine Hartnell applied for Alfred John Hodges (32) married, asylum attendant, on the ground that the staff were now extremely low and that it was impossible to get the work done safely and properly if Hodges went. There were 38 men to look after 590 patients and it would be absolutely dangerous both for the patients and staff if the latter was further reduced.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team