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Key dates over March 1917

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Lives lost on this day: 3

20th March 1917 - Local footballer killed

Rolling casualty count: 5687

War Front: 2nd Batt: PT before breakfast. Batt marched via Fouilly to a position on the Aubigny-Villers- Brettoneux road. Batt then deployed from the column of route to Artillery formation and then extended into attack formation, then advanced to the final objective.

2/8th Batt: Sixteen other ranks evacuated sick.

10th Batt: Inspections am and football pm.

Home Front: To the Editor: Destruction of Sparrows; Sir, a few days ago you were good enough to publish our request to the citizens to assist in the destruction of sparrows as part of the work of saving our food supply. We shall be much obliged if you will give publicity to the following remarks made by Lord Devonport on this important subject: “Sparrows destroy many thousands of pounds’ worth of grain annually, and they have increased enormously of recent years. That is probably due to the abolition of the Farmers’ Sparrow Clubs which used to exist all over the country. The policy of the country against sparrows should be practically unlimited war of extermination. They are most excellent eating.” Yours faithfully, The Land Cultivation Sub-Committee, Guildhall, Worcester.

Worcester Footballer Killed: Mr. and Mrs. W. Waldron, of Vauxhall Street, received intimation on Sunday from an Army Chaplain that their son, Pte. W. Waldron, 2nd Batt. Rifle Brigade, had been killed in action. He was well known in Worcester football and cricket circles, playing for the Young Liberals for five seasons. He was the third member of the Young Liberals’ football team that gained promotion to Division I of the Worcester and District League, season 1911-12, to be killed in action, George Howell and Wally Clifford having gone before.

Ploughmen: A number of able-bodied Ploughmen are at the Depot, Norton Barracks, for Loan on the Land, till April 15th, 1917. Apply to the Secretary, War Agricultural Committee, 3, Sansome Place, Worcester.

Truthful but Adventurous: Three small boys, Charles Russell (9), Thomas Vernon (11), Arthur Frank Staite (7), pleaded guilty to stealing eight eggs from a carrier’s van a the Swan with Two Necks Inn, New Street. William Bayliss, carrier, said he left a basket of eggs in his van, Frederick Lewis, cycle dealer, New Street, said he saw two of the boys jump into the van take something out. He caught Vernon and took him into the Inn, when Mr. Bayliss found two eggs in his pocket…Ordinarily they were nice boys, but they had spells of staying out late at nights. Staite was the second boy of the family who had gone wrong, his brother being in industrial school. …Russell and Vernon were ordered four strokes with the birch and Staite two strokes.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team