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Key dates over March 1917

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Lives lost on this day: 8

7th March 1917 - Motor ploughing comes to Worcestershire

Rolling casualty count: 5659

War Front: 2nd Batt: The billets are not good considering the distance behind the Line, so the day was spent in general cleaning and inspections.

4th Batt: Batt training on ground west of Albert Road. There was a lecture by Major Stokes –Roberts on map reading.

2/8th Batt: Inoculation of all men. One other rank evacuated sick.

Home Front: New Pensions’ Scale: The House of Commons, on Tuesday, discussed the new scale of pensions…Mr. George Barnes, the Minister of Pensions, gave some astonishing figures when he came to review the operations of the new Department. He explained that the Ministry had charge of the following: Disabled men: 140,275; Children of disabled men: 157,544; Widows: 62,796; Children of widows: 128,294; Dependents of deceased men: 29,832. Total on the books: 518,741. Besides these, there were 125,000 widows who had not reached the pension stage; 65,000 men in hospitals; and 65,000 men medically unfit. Those figures brought the total number of men, women, and children up to 673,741.

In conjunction with the Board of Agriculture’s motor ploughing scheme, Mr. P.W. Barker, Lowesmoor, has been appointed to take charge of the Worcester district. The motor ploughs supplied are to be kept working day and night for the next 40 days, the work at night to be done by the aid of electric and other light. Six men have to be found for each plough, and they will work two at a time in 8-hour shifts, one hour being allowed for meals, the pay being 4s. per shift, with a bonus of 6d. per acre. It is hoped that amateur motorists and others accustomed to drive motor cars will come forward and offer their whole or part time services in view of the urgent importance of the work of the nation. In some parts of the country the tractors are already at work, and owners of motor cars and other amateurs have given enthusiastic and successful assistance.

Proposed Water Main: The Water and Sewerage Committee recommended the Council to instruct the Engineer to lay a water main from Ombersley Road along Checketts Lane to the Droitwich Road, and along that road to Little Perdiswell, including an extension along the road called The Drive, at an estimated cost of £420. Mr. Sharpe said the main would serve 65 houses. The people were not paying the water rate at the present time, but when the main was laid they would pay it, and that would be an adequate return on the outlay. Mr. Moore seconded, and the motion was carried.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team