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Key dates over March 1917

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Lives lost on this day: 0

24th March 1917 - Military Tribunals reports

Rolling casualty count: 5691

War Front: Capt Durlasher and 2nd Lt Hopkins were awarded the MC for good work in the raid. Sgt Grinnell won the DCM and Sgt Connelly won the MM. The batt furnished a guard of 5 officers and 120 men to attend the presentation of medal ribbons to the men plus CSM Bragg, CQMS Lugg, Sgt Jones and Pte St Pier.

2/7th batt: Men were filling Villecourt Crater.

2/8th Batt: men working on craters and defence lines on the west bank of the Somme.

Home Front: The Tribunals: In the case of Sidney Victor Elt (29), Broad Street, hat and boot specialist, adjourned from last Friday’s hearing, because there was a dispute about the classification, Mr. Hemming stated that he read the card as C3. Major Smith last week, in Court, said he had the man classed as B2. Col. Webb accepted the C3 classification, and if he (Mr. Hemming) erred, he erred in good company. Military clerks “flourished” gloriously in their writing, and this card was an example. The Chairman: We have seen the card, and do not wonder that you made a mistake. Mr. Hemming pointed out that Elt’s father and brother, who were in business in Worcester, had no connection with his business, which was a one-man business, which he had built up in seven years. In reply to the Chairman, Elt said he had a brother passed C3, and another rejected. The Chairman thought Elt’s father and brother could look after his shop in his absence, but Elt said if he had to go he would be absolutely ruined. Conditional, eight hours a week on the land.

Called up at 42: Mr. Hemming appealed for William Afred Willmott (41), single, passed B1, accountant and secretary to Messrs’ Kay and Co. Mr. Hemming said his client was 42 on March 27th, and on that ground alone was entitled to exemption. He was responsible for railway clocks, and Mr. Hemming said it was essential in the national interests that railway time should be accurate. Mr. Hemming said out of the firm’s 72 clerks, 14 only were left, and 12 of the firm’s clerks had been killed in action. Conditional: eight hours a week on the land. Mr. Hemming: Is there any objection to that being done on Sundays? Ald. Leicester: No, a very good day. The Town Clerk: The Archbishop of Canterbury says so.

A Bromsgrove Medalist: Lance-Corpl. George Taylor, of the Worcestershire Regt., and of 42, Central Road, Bromsgrove, was, on the 10th March, presented by the General commanding with the Military Medal, which had been awarded to him for distinguished conduct in the field at the end of February. Lance-Corpl. Taylor enlisted in April last, and has been on active service three months. He has three brothers serving, one of whom (Sydney) has been wounded, and has lost four fingers of his right hand.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team