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Key dates over May 1917

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Lives lost on this day: 88

21st May 1917 - Imperial War Graves Commission formally established in London (becoming the present Commonwealth War Graves Commission in 1960)

Rolling casualty count: 6463

War Front:

2nd Batt: C Coy forced to retire as the Germans nearly surrounded them. Batt later relieved by 2nd RW Fusiliers and moved back to trenches west of Croiselles.

3rd Batt: Enemy fired gas shells into Mont St Eloy starting at 5pm and later attacked G Sector and a portion of P sector. After very heavy bombardment, Batt moved up to Bethune Road.

4th Batt: Batt HQ in a captured enemy dug-out was shelled for an hour but there were no casualties.

2.7th Batt: Batt left Villers-Bocage and marched to Beauval. Men had baths pm.

2/8th Batt: Batt marched to billets at Sus-St-Leger.

10th Batt: Our artillery was constantly shelling enemy positions but there was little enemy retaliation. An officer patrol checked enemy craters and trenches in front of Bois Quarante and found them unoccupied.

Home front:

At a special parade at Norton Barracks on Sunday, six non-commissioned officers and a private of the Worcestershire Regiment were presented with Good Conduct Medals. There was a large number of officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the Worcestershire Regiment (including the Band of the Depot) and of the Royal Engineers on the parade ground. Col. Greenway, before pinning on the medals and addressing the assembly, said he was deputed by the Officer-in-Chief, Southern Command, to present the medals. Most of those on parade were young soldiers and he therefore explained that the medal was only given to non-commissioned officers and men for long service, which must be of an exemplary character. No man could earn that high distinction until he had put in at least 18 years’ service with the Colours.

Worcester Infirmary Committee: Proposed Testimonial to Miss Herbert: The House Committee recommended that Sister Watson be appointed Matron temporarily (in the place of Miss Herbert who has now left), at a salary of £80 per annum. The recommendation was adopted. The House Committee also recommended that some form of testimonial should be given to Miss Herbert and that a public appeal be made for subscriptions. They suggested that the Viscountess Deerhurst the Mayoress, Mrs. E. Day and the Chairman and Vice-Chairman be appointed a Committee to arrange the details. The Chairman moved the adoption of the recommendation. Canon Longhurst, in seconding, said he would be very sorry if he had no opportunity of expressing his grateful appreciation of the very valuable work that Miss Herbert had rendered the Infirmary.

Alleged Theft of Fowls: John Bourne, Upton Snodsbury, was charged with stealing nine fowls belonging to John Tarran, Broughton Hackett. P.C. Bainbridge reported that on May 13th he received information that five fowls had been stolen and on May 19th he received information that four other fowls had been stolen. He made inquiries and went to the house of the prisoner’s mother and there found nine fowls, which were identified by Miss Tarran as the property of her father. Prisoner said that he bought them out of the market for 12s. per couple. He was remanded till the Petty Sessions.

Admission of Churchwardens: At St. Helen’s Church House this morning, the Archdeacon of Worcester (Ven. J.H. Greig) held court for the admission of churchwardens. Between 50 and 60 parishes in the Archdeaconry were represented.

Charge of Wife Desertion: Christopher Turberfield, 1 Court, Foundry Alley, was summoned by the Worcester Board of Guardians for leaving his wife and children chargeable to the Common Fund of the Union. Mr. S.C. Homan said that the prisoner was earning £3 a week as a fitter’s labourer. He left that employment on April 27th, when he gave his wife 10s. and said that he was going to Liverpool. The Board gave the woman £1 a week and he sent her three sums of money – 3s.3d., 1s.6d., and 10s. The relief which his wife had received from the Guardians amounted to the extent of £2 5s. The Chairman said that he was very foolish to give up £3 a week. He was given a month in which to pay the £2 5s. and costs; in default, one month.