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Key dates over April 1917

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Lives lost on this day: 137

24th April 1917 - Terriers in the fray in France and Macedonia

Rolling casualty count: 6139

War Front: 1st Batt: Villers-Ghislaine shelled intermittently all day.

2nd Batt: There were reports that the Germans had withdrawn so strong patrols were sent out to reconnoitre. They found that the Germans were still holding the Hindenburg Line.

1/8th Batt: C and D Companies captured the Knolll at Gillemont Farm attacking the Hindenburg Line south east of Epehy. Courage and bravery was countered by a german resistance that forced the battalion back to its starting point at a heavy cost in casualties.

2/7th batt: Cos Parade and inspection of rifles by the Armourer. Segt Major Dorman returned from Brigade and resumed command of the Batt.

4th Batt: Batt relieved and went back to Ronville where men were given tea and rum. They went to Schram Barracks in Arras and at 4pm motor buses took them to Simencourt but there was much traffic congestion and the journey took 10 hours instead of 6. The battle casualties were high with 34 other ranks killed, 325 wounded and 53 missing.

11th Batt: battle of Doiran, Macedonia. Attack by 26th Division's 78th Brigade on Turkish and Bulgarian troops. Captain Cooper wounded three times. Constant attack and counter-attack throughout the night. Some 350 of an initial battalion strength of 500 were lost on 23/24 April

SMD RFA: The Brigade with others covered the 6th Glos in the attack on the Knoll. It was unsuccessful with the enemy holding the trench on top with considerable strength.

Yeomanry/Cavalry: The camp moved near to Khan Yunis at Beni Sela.. There was a scarcity of water.

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Home Front: BRAVERY RECOGNISED AT EVESHAM – St George’s Day at Evesham was marked by various efforts to raise money for the Mayor’s Fund for local soldiers and sailors suffering from the effects of war. Flags were sold on the streets on Saturday. There was a large gathering in the market place when the Mayor presented the Royal Humane Society’s certificates of merit to Mr F Alcock and Mr R Ross for gallantry in rescuing W Roberts from drowning in the River Avon in February. Roberts was skating on the river when he ventured on thin ice and broke through.

LESS SUNDAY LABOUR – Sunday labour is, as far as possible, to be abolished in a large majority of establishments controlled by the Ministry of Munitions from the beginning of May. The abolition of continuous Sunday labour in national factories and controlled establishments in the Tyne and Tees areas has in most cases been highly beneficial, and it is believed that an extension of the experiment will have equally good effects on the health of workers and the output of munitions.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team