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Key dates over April 1917

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Lives lost on this day: 6

26th April 1917 - Captain Bannister, 4th Worcestershires, died of wounds at The Scarpe

Rolling casualty count: 6231

War Front: 1st Batt: Batt in the out-post lone and managed to push our right post forward by 100 yards.

2nd Batt: Batt rested in billets which were quite good and there was plenty of room. A gas dump blew up in Arras during pm.

2/7th Batt: In pm there was an inter Coy football competition.

10th Batt: A draft of 12 other ranks was received from base. The fighting strength of Batt was 701.

SMD RFA: There was little firing from either side.

Yeomanry/Cavalry: The Turkish trenches were well manned. They had made pot-holes in rows to hold up advancing cavalry. They were made when the clay was soft and were 6 feet in diameter and 4 feet deep.

Home Front: MALVERN OFFICER’S WONDERFUL COURAGE – With reference to the death in action of Capt. Samuel Bannister, Worcestershire Regiment (son of Mr Bannister of Victoria House, Cowleigh Road, North Malvern) the following letter from his Commanding Officer has been received:- “I write to convey our sympathy with you at your great loss which has come to you in the death of your son. He had his left arm blown off on the morning of the 14th April and at the same time another officer was hit. He absolutely refused to be taken away until the other officer was cleared, and expressed a wish to remain with his Company. His courage and bravery were a fine example to those around him, and, when he was carried away, the whole of his Company cheered him as he left”.

MILITARY MEDAL FOR STOURBRIDGE SOLDIER – Sergeant H Langford of the Worcestershire Regiment, the younger of two soldier sons of Mr and Mrs F Langford, has been awarded the Military Medal, and was decorated with the ribbon at a recent battalion parade in France.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team