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Key dates over May 1917

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Lives lost on this day: 4

16th May 1917 - More Police Called Up

Rolling casualty count: 6366

War Front:

2nd Batt: Preparations were made for an attack on the Hindenburg Line on the 17th but it was cancelled owing to very wet weather.

4th Batt: At 9am the Batt, less 10% of all ranks, moved to occupy the trenches south east of Feuchy, known as Landerland. Batt relieved 6th Queens who were less than 200 strong.

2/7th Batt: Batt preparing to move to Longeau area.

9th Batt: Column marched back unmolested and reached Sindhiya-Windhuja Line

SMD RFA: Brigade marched to Beaulencourt and billeted in a standing camp for the 1st time since landing in France.

Home Front:

Worcester Tribunals: Mr. Harrison represented W.W. Beck, horse slaughterer, who applied for his son, Michael Walter Beck (36), married (C1) who, he said was the only person who could flay horses and render the flesh into fat. Certificate withdrawn in a month.

More Police Called Up: The Military are calling up a number of policemen in the city and county. It appears that the Home Office has sent out intimation that each city or county should provide a further quota of police for the Army. The Military Authorities confer with the Police Authorities as to the men who should go and that we understand, has been done in the city and county and that about 20 men will go from the County Force and about four from the City Force.

Medals to Worcestershire Men: At Birmingham on Tuesday, Lieut.-General Sir Henry Slater, G.C.B., Chief of the Southern Command, presented decorations to soldiers or (in the case where the soldier had been killed) to relatives. The included the following: Distinguished Conduct Medal to the wife of Pte. Roper, Worcestershire Regiment. Military Medals to the father of Pte. Green; Pte. Knowles, Pte. Wilkes, Sergt. Brooks, Co.Q.M.S. Powell, all of the Worcestershire Regiment.

Beating the Bounds: This ancient custom was observed in St. Peter’s parish on Monday. In pre-Reformation days at Regationate – the three days before Ascension Day – Litanies and processions were usual when the crops of the earth were blessed and the perambulation of the bounds of the parish took place. Starting from St. Mary’s steps in Edgar Street, where there is a bench mark, the party was conducted by Mr. William Hodges down Edgar Street to the left hand corner, where the boundary runs through Mr. Holloway’s shop and the two shops adjoining, emerging into the street again at Mr. Colwell’s door. It then runs northward along Sidbury and Friar Street to a timbered house near the Almshouses, goes at a right angle down to the old city wall and the canal to the middle of Park Street, crosses Wyld’s Lane, runs up Fort Royal Hill and emerges again at the London Road. Those taking part in the perambulation included a contingent of the Church Lads’ Brigade, under the command of Sergt. Perrins. The boys were made to touch the bench marks where they could be found in order to impress the points upon their memory. They were enjoined to kiss the stones, but this they would not do.