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Key dates over April 1917

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Lives lost on this day: 6

19th April 1917 - Yeomanry in fresh attack

Rolling casualty count: 5867

War Front: 1st Batt: Batt provided working parties to carry on wiring the Corps line.

2nd Batt: Batt relieved in the evening by the 21st Royal Welsh Fusiliers and Coys moved back to bivouacs in the Railway Cutting in front of Judas Farm.

2/8th Batt: 21 other ranks were moved to the Casualty Clearing Station.

4th Batt: Orders received to take over part of the Reserve Trenches in the Brown Line, south east of Cambrai Road. Batt forced to halt on the way by heavy shelling. Trenches in a fair condition.

10th Batt: batt moved to Curragh Camp, Locre.

Yeomanry/Cavalry: Divisions in position at 2am, men carrying gas-masks. The objective was the Atewineh Redoubt which lay on the Gaza to Beersheeba Road.. the bombardment started at 5.30am when shells of all calibres up to 11 inches, tore holes in the elaborate Turkish defences. At 7.30am the Reg deployed and dismounted, leaving their horses in the Wadi, the best shelter available. There were many casualties there. There was a lull in battle when the sun was at its hottest and then the Turks launched a great attack on the right centre of the British Line and the Australian light Horse gave way. At 7.45 ,as darkness fell, orders to retire were received. Progress all day was slow but there was some advancement.

Home Front: KEMPSEY WAR SHRINE – Dedicated by the Bishop – On Saturday evening the Bishop of Worcester dedicated a wayside war shrine in the village of Kempsey. The shrine commemorates all the men from the village who are serving their country in His Majesty’s forces. It has been given by Mrs Barten Allen, wife of the Vicar of Kempsey, who is himself with two of his sons, on active service.

WORCESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR – KILL THE SPARROWS – To minimise the great loss and damage to crops caused by sparrows, rewards have been offered to all persons in the Chaddesley Corbett district who destroy the greatest numbers of these pests and take their eggs, viz, one penny per dozen for all sparrows or their eggs taken, and six pence for the greatest aggregate numbers. Heads and blown eggs to be delivered weekly to any member of the committee, up to September 30th 1917, when the prizes will be awarded. The minimum number to qualify for a prize to be not less than 100 heads or eggs.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team