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Key dates over May 1917

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Lives lost on this day: 12

31st May 1917 - Theft from Porcelain Works

Rolling casualty count: 6528

War Front:

1st Batt: Batt marched from Camp 19 to camp 13 near Bray-Corbie Road.

2nd Batt: Batt relieved in evening by 12th Northumberland Fusiliers and moved back to Moyenville.

4th Batt: A quieter day. At 3pm a German came over and surrendered. He belonged to 141st Infantry Reg.

2/7th Batt: Revolver practice for officers and training for other ranks.

2/8th Batt: Capt A Cliff proceeded to Divisional Burial Party.

Yeomanry /Cavalry: There was a long night march to another reconnaissance along the Wadi Saba towards Beersheba.

Home front:

One of the Special Reserve Battalions of the Worcestershire Regiment held their annual sports on Whit Monday on the United Services’ Cricket Ground, Devonport. A most entertaining programme was carried out in beautiful weather, and the events admirably contested. The ropes were lined by thousands of people among whom was a large number of wounded sailors and soldiers...Amongst the usual events, Sgt. Hughes came first in the ‘Bombing Competition’, Cpl. D. Smith, second, and Sgt. Dyson, third.

Pte. E.J. Munn, Worcestershire Regt., has written home to his mother, Mrs. Munn, Bransford Road, St. John’s, saying that he has been admitted to a hospital in Surrey suffering from trench fever. He was in hospital at the base for some weeks before being sent home. Joining up last August, he went to the front in February.

Theft from Porcelain Works: Jemima Biddle (42), 29, Chestnut Street, was charged with stealing, between December 31st last and May 29th, from the Parian Room in the Royal Porcelain Works, various china ornaments, etc., value £1-15s-7d. Frederick William Wale, wholesale salesman, identified the articles, which were found in the defendant’s house. Evidence was given by Mrs. Bishop and Mrs. G. Cumberland, both of 49, Arboretum Road, that they bought the ornaments from the defendant, and that they gave her 4s-6d and 5s-6d respectively….Mr. Solon told the Court that the case was brought with the view to stop pilfering. It was difficult to fix the blame on anybody. They did not ask for a severe penalty, but wanted others to know that the offence as punishable. The Chairman, fining the defendant £1, said that future offences would be dealt with much more seriously.

Colds in Hot Weather: A great many people are suffering from colds, the result of indiscretions during the Whitsun holidays. “This is not at all surprising,” writes a doctor. “The ground is not yet thoroughly warmed; the cold microbes are as abundant as ever; and when people, fatigued by exercise in the hot sun throw themselves on the grass and lie there until they are chilled, the mischievous work of the microbes is just as easy as in winter. Even in the later summer people past 30 should not lie on the grass or the sands for more than a few minutes, especially when fatigued. Stout people with a good protective covering of non-conducting fat, and those who wear woollen under-clothing may escape; but the thin, the lightly clad, and all whose vitality is low run great risks.”

There are 15,000 allotments in the Midlands, against 5,000 before the war.