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Key dates over May 1917

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Lives lost on this day: 5

7th May 1917 - Indecent assault on train

Rolling casualty count: 6325

War Front:

1st Batt: Batt in Brigade reserve. Heavy guns shelling Vaucelette farm all day. Very heavy rain in the night.

4th Batt: A good deal of bombing and shelling in early hours but no casualties. At 2pm Batt marched to Bernaville arriving at billets in huts at 5pm.Orders came from Corps Commander that following NCOs and men had been awarded medals: Bar to Military medal to L Cpl Edkins, Military medals to Pte Munden, Pte Neale and Pte Haywood.

2/7th Batt: A patrol of 10 men under Lt Robinson, moved to Gricourt-St Quentin road and halted 100yards from the north end of Kilworth. Very lights were sent up from both sides of the wood and machine gun opened fire from the north. Eight explosions were heard in Cepy farm around midnight. Lt Constantine wounded.

10th Batt: Railway dug -outs heavily shelled but few casualties -2 killed and 5 wounded. Working party of 230 men and 5 officers carrying and building up dug-outs.

Home Front:

A Tragic Coincidence: When Mrs Etheridge telegraphed to her husband, a sergeant in the Warwickshire Regiment, informing him of the death of his son and asked him to obtain leave to attend the funeral, Lieut.-Colonel Davidson replied that Sergeant Etheridge had that day been killed in action.

Dog Offence: Albert Jenkins (37), 12 Leicester Street, foreman, admitted being the owner of a dog which was found without having on the prescribed collar. Defendant said he let the dog out for a run with a proper collar on, but it did not return. The name plate on the collar had been taken or had fallen off. Fined 1s.

Cases Struck Out: William Henry Bevan, Littleworth, Norton, was summoned by his wife Mary Ann Bevan, 41 Foley Road, Worcester, for desertion. Mr. Tree appeared for complainant but she did not appear when the case was called on and it was struck out. In the case of Thomas Staples (235), stamper, 48 Newport Street, charged with using threats towards Annie Wallcroft, 1 Great Park Street, Wallcroft did not appear and this case also was struck out.

Assault on a Child: Walter Ernest Pitt (17), porter, 292 Astwood Road, was charged with an indecent assault upon Beatrice Ellen Rowe, a little girl aged six. The girl said she went to Henwick Station, where defendant was employed and he locked himself and her in the porter’s room and there committed the assault complained of. When a train passed defendant went out and returned and locked the door again. The Stationmaster, Mr. Dunsby, came and knocked the door until he knocked a hole in it and then defendant opened it. Detective Handley told Pitt what the little girl alleged and he said that he touched the girl when he lifted her off the stool. The defendant now pleaded guilty and was sent to prison for a month’s hard labour.

Pte. G.M. Nicholas, Royal Scots Regt. (son of Mrs. Nicholas, “West View,” Henwick), whom we reported as wounded in our issue of the 23rd April, has now been visited at the King George Hospital, London, by his mother, sister and several friends, who report that he is progressing as well as can be expected, but is in a very grave condition. His right thigh is fractured by gunshot and his leg broken. It is hoped that under such excellent treatment as he is receiving from the Medical Officer and staff an amputation may be avoided. Writing to his brother Jack, he says that he is quite happy and that everything possible is being done for him.