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Key dates over June 1917

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Lives lost on this day: 7

2nd June 1917 - GALLANT BRETFORTON SOLDIER WINS D.C.M.

Rolling casualty count: 6542

War Front:

1st Batt: Batt arrived at Godewaerwelte at noon and marched to billets in the Merris area.

2nd Batt: Batt rested and cleaned up during the day.

3rd Batt: B Coy under command of Lt AJB Hudson, accompanied by 2 lts paraded 80 strong and marched to trenches. The object of the raid was to capture prisoners and reconnoitre the enemy trenches, and find ways of holding them. At 10.45pm attacking troops formed up in front of our parapet and awaited the firing of our barrage. It opened up the enemy front line and men entered and overcame resistance. Enemy retaliation opened up but the Germans fled-no prisoners taken.

Twelve prisoners were brought back from another area of the line and 3 other Germans were killed crossing “No Man`s Land”

4th Batt: The day was spent resting and cleaning the mud from clothes and equipment.

2/7th Batt: Working parties were supplied at night. Lt Col Dorman was awarded the DSO and Reg Sgt Major Abrahams the MS Medal.

2/8th Batt: 25 other ranks proceeded for attachment to the 478th Field Coy of the RE.

11th Batt: Patrols from both sides went out at intervals and there were a few shell bursts along the hillsides.

SMD RFA: the 49th, 50th and Australian Batteries were placed under the command of Col Colville and the group became the left group with a zone from south west of Pronville to south of Bapaume-Cambrai road.

Home Front:

GALLANT BRETFORTON SOLDIER WINS D.C.M. – Mr and Mrs Charles Jelfs, Bretforton, have received official information that their third son, Pte William Jelfs, of the Worcestershire Regt., has been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallantry on the field. The information was contained in the following letter from Capt. K.M. Mylne: “I am sending you the D.C.M. ribbon that you son has been awarded. Unfortunately he is in hospital and we are unable to know where to write to him. When you send the ribbon on will you please tell him the Divisional General, the Brigadier and the Commanding Officer join with the whole Regiment in sending their congratulations. I am so glad he has won it. He was very brave and deserved it thoroughly. I trust his wounds are mending”. Pte Jelfs who is 21 years of age, was a porter on the Great Western Railway at Littleton and Badsey Station, and was very popular in the district.

CITY POLICE COURT – Missing Articles Wanted – William Smith (65) navvy, of no fixed abode, was charged with breaking and entering a dwelling house, 8 Court, Copenhagen Street, and stealing one coat, two pocket knives, 1oz twist of tobacco and one pocket book, valued 2s.7d., the property of William Jenkins. The Chief Constable said that the prisoner, who was apparently the worse for drink, burst open the door of the house and took the articles, which have not been recovered.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team