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Key dates over April 1917

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Lives lost on this day: 13

14th April 1917 - Fourth Battalion sustain losses in German counter-attacks

Rolling casualty count: 5834

War Front: 1st Batt: One or two shells fell on Heudicourt but no casualties. Men cleaning up equipment and clothing.

2nd Batt: At 4pm Batt received orders to move to St Leger immediately.

2/8th Batt: 12 other ranks arrived from Base.

3rd Batt:Batt relieved 8th Loyal Lancs Reg and became Brigade support batt. C Coy occupied supporting posts and B Coy went into Grand Rabet Farm.

4th Batt: At 5.30 am batt advanced under cover of a barrage and gained their objective. At 10am about 2000 Germans were seen advancing towards us with small parties of our men retiring before them. Artillery informed and barrage ceased and retiring troops got back safely. The enemy had been only 100 yards from our trenches. The attackers lost 70% of their strength and Capt S Barrister died of wounds. About 60 other ranks were killed or wounded. The Corps congratulated the division in its defence of Monchy saying they were gallant men who sustained 2 strong counter attacks with heavy losses.

9th Batt: Batt facing the enemy out-posts in shimmering heat.

Home Front: COUNTY APPEAL TRIBUNAL – ANOTHER HEAVY LIST AT WORCESTER – Military’s City Appeals – There were 60 cases down for hearing at a meeting of the Worcestershire Appeal Tribunal today. Many of the cases were the automatic review cases of men under 31 years of age, and of the 33 city cases half a dozen were military appeals.

COMMISSIONS FOR SERVICE IN THE FIELD – The War Office announce that commissions as second lieutenants have been granted to the following: Worcs Regiment Corpl. J Clarke, from 17th Lancers, Squad Sergt-major B.W. Dudley from 4th Husars, Sergt. C.T. Bellow from 4th Hussars.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team