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Key dates over May 1917

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Lives lost on this day: 7

28th May 1917 - Sudden Death

Rolling casualty count: 6491

War Front:

1st Batt: Batt did a short route march and then began preparations to move.

2nd Batt: Batt resting during the day and moved back to the Assembly trench in the evening relieving the 5th Batt Scottish Rifles. Night was spent improving the trench

4th Batt: Batt relieved the Cycle Corps in the same sector. Draft of 40 men and 2 officers arrived from Base. 3 men were wounded by shrapnel in Railway Triangle.

SMD RFA :

2/7th Batt: All men at Brigade Bombing School. A hand grenade accidentally exploded killing 1 man and wounding 2 Lt WJ Dore-Hill.

2/8th Batt: Batt in practice attack trench to trench at Petit Chateau near Wailly. The following have been mentioned in despatches from Sir Douglas Haig`s Despatch: Temp. Lt Col L L Bilton, CSM T H Eames, CSM A Jenkins and CQM S F H Hickling.

Home Front:

Three Months for Norton Soldier: A soldier named Thomas Hobday, or Radnor, aged 22, whose address was given as the Barracks, Worcester, was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment at Walsall, on Friday, for stealing a gold watch, a gold brooch, and purse, valued £7, and also £1-2s. in money. He and a woman took lodgings at the house of a widow, from whom the property was stolen.

The Bishop of Worcester, who on Saturday was to have addressed the Winchester College boys on his American tour, has been suddenly taken ill. The cause appears to be overstrain from much diocesan work, combined with anxiety about illness in his family. The Bishop hopes to keep his mission engagement next week in Dudley; meanwhile he should be spared letters.

Slight Concussion: Frances Holland (4½), 12, Inglethorpe Square, was admitted to the Infirmary on Thursday suffering from slight concussion and a cut face. She is better.

Sudden Death: Mary Richards, who lived alone at 31, Pinkett Street, was found dead in bed on Saturday. She had not been seen for a day or two, and the police forced an entrance and found her as stated. An inquest will be held tomorrow. [see 29 March]

Corporation Employee’s Accident: Early on Sunday morning a Corporation employee, named George Drew, carter, of 99, McIntyre Road, St. John’s, was collecting refuse in Lowesmoor with a collecting drum. His feet slipped and he fell. The horse moved forward and the wheel of the drum passed over his left knee and up the left side of his body as far as his shoulder. Nobody saw the accident. P.C.Gregg took Drew to the Infirmary where it was found that he had injuries to his left leg, knee, shoulder and back. His condition shows improvement.

Whitsunday 1917, will be long remembered as one of the wettest Whit-Sundays on record. There were a fair number of visitors in the city, mainly from Birmingham and the Black Country districts, and for them the persistent rain was specially unfortunate. Some of the braver spirits ventured on the river in the afternoon, but their experience was anything but enjoyable. Practically and inch and a half of rain fell from 9 o’clock in the morning, which of course, is an exceptional rainfall for any one day.

A Bar to the Military Cross: Sec.-Lieut. (Acting Capt.) G.R. Wallace, M.C., Worcestershire Regiment: For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He led his company in a most gallant manner and succeeded in reaching his final objective. Later, he took over the whole battalion line and reorganised the defence of the captured position. Capt. Wallace, who was awarded the M.C. in February last for his service when he commanded a fighting patrol which raided successfully an enemy trench, is a Worcestershire Territorial officer. He is the second son of Mr. L.A. Wallace, of Hawford House, Worcester, and a grandson of the late Mr. Wallace, of Eardiston.