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Key dates over May 1917

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Lives lost on this day: 18

29th May 1917 - Remarkable escapes over Diglis Water

Rolling casualty count: 6509

War Front:

1st Batt: Batt marched from Moislains to a camp 19 1/2 miles east of Suzaines where there was plenty of good accommodation.

2nd Batt: In the evening, Batt relieved by 9th HLI after a day of heavy shelling by enemy.

4th Batt: Early am a patrol reconnoitred the enemy`s post south of Felyes lane and found it strongly held and protected with machine guns. The wire was thin in places. Ten men killed and 6 wounded today.

2/7th Batt Men did practice attacks using the old German front line.

10th Batt: Adjutant`s Parade at 9.12am and later Batt moved from Curragh Camp to Epsom Camp, Westoutree.

SMD RFA: Brigade HQ shelled in evening. B Coy shelled but no damage done. C Coy also shelled and 4 guns were hit and 2 put out of action.

Yeomanry /Cavalry: Extended reconnaissance of surrounding area by officers. There was some fighting around El Buggar Ridge but with the help of the Glos on the left and the Australian Light Horse on the right, the position was secured.

Home front:

“While Rallying His Men:” Mrs. T. Dowdeswell, of Perdiswell Cottage, Droitwich Road, Worcester, has received the following letter with reference to the death of her husband (Sergt. T. Dowdeswell) from his Company Commander :- “ I wish to convey to you very great sympathy from myself and from his comrades in the Company. We attacked the positions at night, and your husband was shot and killed instantly, while magnificently rallying his men and leading them on to the attack. If one can therefore accept the hard fact that he is gone, the manner of his going leaves nothing to be desired. He was always a fine, steadying influence, cool and collected, and his loss is a very real one to me and the Company. What it must be to you I can but faintly realise, but in your grief you may feel comforted to know that he died splendidly and that you have all our sympathy.”

The Salute: An Incident: Sir, seeing a commotion, and haring some rather excited language from a group of respectable-looking people in High Street, this evening, I wondered what was the cause thereof, and in walking along I saw a soldier given in charge of two others, by an officer, because the soldier had not saluted him, I would like to ask the person in officer’s uniform if he has never omitted to return the salute of a soldier? There are some who are continually neglecting to acknowledge salutes. I myself, one day, saw about six soldiers pass at intervals and salute a many in officer’s uniform, who did not take the slightest notice. I would like all such men to be immediately sent to the front, for the duty is as incumbent on one as on the other. There is such a phrase in use as “An officer and a gentleman.” ‘Civilian’

Remarkable Escapes: Eight people have gone over Diglis Water in boats within the past fortnight, and it is remarkable that not one life has been lost. It need hardly be said that not one of the persons went over intentionally; each one state that they had no idea that there was a weir there. It seems an extraordinary statement to make, but in the case of strangers who visit the City it may be accepted, for the warning post near Diglis is often unobserved from the river…On Monday evening, a young man and a lady were lucky in the sense that they escaped with their lives. He and his companion were thrown into the dangerous swirl at the bottom of the weir, and the boat was sunk. Happily, the lock assistant, Sidney Burrows, was within call, and he promptly got a boat and succeeded in rescuing both people, though the lady was in an exhausted condition, having been submerged twice…The frequency of these accidents indicates that it is necessary for owners of boats to give a warning, to those who hire boats, of the presence of the weir.

Untruthful and Dishonest: George Brooks junr., Porter’s Mill, Claines, was charged with the theft of an iron gate. This case had also been adjourned in order that inquiries may be made. Sergt. Miller informed the Bench of his inquiries, saying that Brookes was very untruthful and dishonest. The father had thrashed him, but he had not improved. The Magistrates decided to send him to an Industrial School.

A Rush for the River: There was a great number of people about the City on Bank Holiday. First impressions led one to believe that there must be a greater number of visitors than on most Bank Holidays, even in normal times, but it is suggested that the aspect of the streets was a deceptive one. There were no sports and no cricket match which usually attract some thousands of people and diminish the number about the streets…As there was little to entertain them the river seems to have attracted most of them after they had strolled around the City. Indeed, many went straight from the railway station to the river, and the steamers were crowded from morning to night…Naturally these were full on every trip, and there has probably never been so animated a scene on the quays. Hundreds of people waited – at one time there was a queue half a mile long for an opportunity to get on the steamer.

Sudden Death: The City Coroner (Mr. W.B. Hulme) held an inquest at the Guildhall this morning respecting the death of Mary Richards (77), of 31, Pinkett Street, who was found dead in her bedroom on Saturday. Dr. Watson said the post mortem examination showed that there was an excess of fat about the heart. The valves of the left side were badly diseased. Death was due to heart failure. [see 28 March]