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Key dates over June 1917

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Lives lost on this day: 7

9th June 1917 - MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT BROMSGROVE

Rolling casualty count: 6627

War Front:

2nd Batt; A Batt Boxing Competition was held in the evening at which Bombardier Wills gave an exhibition. Pte Dugmore, CSM Davis and Ptes Horne and Denning won their respective fights. The Divisional Band played.

3rd Batt: Batt on Messines Ridge engaged in digging in the neighbourhood of Middle Farm.

2/8th Batt: 200 other ranks were in Coy Working Party carrying to the front line.2nd Lt CA Underwood went to hospital.

Home Front:

29 V.C. HEROES – Leader of Worcestershire Battalion Honoured – One of the posthumous honours is that of Major (Acting Lieut. Col) E. Henderson late N. Staffs Regt. It is stated that he brought his battalion up to our two front line trenches, which were under intense fire and his battalion had suffered heavy casualties when the enemy made a heavy counter attack and succeeded in penetrating our line in several places, the situation becoming critical. Although shot through the arm Lieut Col Henderson jumped onto the parapet and advanced alone some distance in front of his battalion, cheering them on under the most intense fire over 500 yards of open ground. Again wounded, he nevertheless continued to lead his men on in the most gallant manner, finally capturing the position by a bayonet charge. He was again twice wounded and died when he was eventually brought in.

MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT BROMSGROVE – Soldier’s and Woman’s Clothing Found Near Pond – The Bromsgrove Police are engaged in the investigation of a mysterious affair. On Thursday night a girl found a wounded soldier’s uniform and a woman’s clothing on the bank of the old Cotton Mill Pool. The Police on Friday dragged the pond, but no bodies have been found, nor any traces of a struggle or of footmarks been discovered. Enquiries have been made, but so far no information has been received of a wounded soldier being missing from any of the local war hospitals.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team