30th May 1917 - Italian Honour for Worcester Man

Rolling casualty count: 6516

War Front:

1st Batt: Batt training in rapid loading.

2nd Batt: A quiet day in the Hindenburg trenches.

3rd Batt: A quiet day but much bombing activity at night on the new crater.

4th Batt: Orders received to attack and capture an enemy post. A heavy thunderstorm at 4pm flooded our trenches with water, over our knees in places. At 11.25pm 2 platoons were in the front line, 1 platoon in the 2nd line and 1 platoon in Finger trench to carry equipment, rations and water to captured position. Attack immediately observed by the enemy and there was continual heavy fire from rifles and machine guns. It was eventually found impossible to advance further so parties were brought back to Finger Trench. From papers recovered from enemy dead it was discovered that the enemy had planned an attack at the same time. Casualties were 12 killed, 27 wounded and 2 missing.

2/7th Batt: There was a tank demonstration for officers at Wailly.

2/9th Batt: Two other ranks went to England for Commissions.

SMD RFA: Batteries remained where they were as no suitable positions could be found. Honours go to Major E Meacher, Capt and Adj A C Hobson, Lt F H Adshead (mentioned in despatches. A bar to the Military Medal to Bombardier FA Bosworth and Military medal to Bombardier HR Andrew.

Yeomanry/Cavalry: Men digging trenches and wiring.

Home front:

City War Tribunals: Mr. Hemming represented Messrs. Kay and Co., who resisted an application for review in the cases of John Porteous (39), married (general service), and Thomas James Harris (32), married (B.1). Mr. Hemming said that Porteous was engaged in work of national importance; he repaired and corrected clocks on the railways and signal boxes. In reply to Mr. Hemming, Mr. H. Spicer (representing Messrs. Kay) said that Harris was the only lino cutter and packer they had left. He cut 40,000 to 50,000 yards of lino in a year. Lieut. Doxon said that on their form sent to the Military there wre three other men who did similar work to that done by Porteous. Mr. Spicer said that Porteous was the only man who could do certain work to signal and other clocks. In reply to Lieut. Dixon, Mr. Spicer said that if Harris went that department would have to be shut. LIeut. Dixon: That would not lose the War, would it? Mr. Spicer: No. The Military appeals were dismissed

City War Tribunals: Mr. Hemming applied on behalf of Robert Williams, 32 Tybridge Street, for his son, Samuel Roberts (18), single (general service). In reply to Mr. Hemming, Roberts said that he had had 19 children, had lost two sons in the war, and a third had been discharged from the Army. He had 10 children at home now. Samuel Roberts was employed as a dresser of skins wanted for an Army contract at Messrs. Roberts and Sons, Three Springs. The contract would end in two months. Exemption till June 18th.

Sober Worcester: At the City Police Court, today, the Chairman (Ald. J.S. Cook) said that he noticed that there was a clean sheet. This had been so for three days of the week. He presumed it showed that the Whitsuntide holidays passed without a case of drunkenness coming before the Court, notwithstanding the large number of visitors to the city. He thought it was a matter for congratulations. The Chief Constable said that this was the eighth consecutive week in which there had been no conviction for drunkenness.

Two Brothers in Hospital: Pte. A. Frost, of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, son of Mrs. Frost, 73, George Street, Worcester, has sent a card home stating that he is in hospital in France, suffering from trench fever. Pte. Frost joined up on the outbreak of war, and has been gassed twice, this being his third spell at the front. His only brother, Pte. William Frost, of the Royal Warwickshire Regt., is also in hospital at Rouen. Their father, who is a reservist, is serving with the 46th Training Reserve.

Mrs. Wood, of 150, London Road, whose son, Trooper Wilfrid C. Wood, one of a number of Worcestershire Yeomanry who was taken prisoner by the Turks at Qatia on Easter Sunday of last year, and from whom she had not heard for six months, received a letter from him yesterday, dated Angora, March 9th, and another this morning, dated April 6th. He says he is alright, and is surprised to hear that she had not received his letters, because he had written regularly every week. He says that he received nine of her parcels in one week. Trooper Wood is a son of Sergt.-Instructor H. Wood, of the Worcestershires.

Italian Honour for Worcester Man: Co.-Sergt. Major A. Jenkins, of a Worcestershire Territorial battalion, who was “mentioned” by Sir Douglas Haig last week, has now been awarded the Italian Bronze Medal for Military Valour. He is a son of Mr. J.W. Jenkins, of 4, Middle Street, and joined the Army in 1914, soon after the outbreak of the war, going out to France about 12 months ago. Previous to the war he was at Messrs. Fownes Bros., where he was Captain of the Cricket Club.

First American Congress Woman: Washington, Tuesday: Miss Rankin, the first woman member of the House of Representatives, made her maiden speech today in favour of an amendment of the Food Bill to the effect that the services of women should be utilised as far as possible in the making of the projected food survey throughout the United States. Miss Rankin, in an effective speech, laid stress on women’s familiarity with the food problem in the home, and emphasised the fact that the various girls’ colleges were turning out every year a large number of young women capable of serving the public on commissions and in other capacities. This first speech of the first Congress woman was heard by a crowded House, and the applause was spontaneous and enthusiastic. On its conclusion the House, with characteristic American gallantry, unanimously voted in favour of the amendment.