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Key dates over September 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

Lives lost on this day: 5

12th September 1917 - How to Choose a Home

Rolling casualty count: 7499

War Front:

2nd Batt: Batt marched to Westrove to a position for assembly near Nortleutingham where a practice attack took place at 9am.

3rd Batt; Batt marched to Burbure where it was to stay for a period of training.

4th Batt: Batt moved to Herteele for 3 days of intensive training. Z Coy was billeted in the town and the remaining Coys were in farm buildings. HQ was at the monastery. Capt Bendysh was admitted to hospital.

2/7th Batt; working parties were on call in the Reserve Trench and dug-outs in the old German line. Some men were in carrying parties at night.

Home Front:

Comforts Fund: The Worcestershire Regimental Comforts Fund sends comforts to prisoners of war and to men serving with the County Regiments, either at home or abroad. Persons desiring to send parcels to prisoners of war should consult the regulations as to what may and what cannot, be sent. These can be obtained at the Post Office. Those who desire to send food to prisoners can only do so through the Regimental Comforts Fund. Relatives of soldiers can have a parcel sent in their name by sending 6s. to Mrs. Wodehouse, 24, Southfield Street; those who “adopt” a prisoner pay 7s. in respect of a parcel. Donations in cash may be sent to Mr. A.C. Cherry, Capital and Counties Bank, Worcester or to Mrs. Wodehouse. All money for food parcels should be sent to the latter.

Mons Heroes’ Return from Germany: Thirty-seven officers and 362 men, the first batch of wounded prisoners of war who have been sent home from Switzerland in accordance with the recent agreement for the exchange of prisoners between this country and Germany, arrived in London on Tuesday. The authorities at the War Office had not expected them home till today, but the arrangements were made so promptly in France that it was found possible to expedite their journey. As a result, the wounded officers and men arrived at Waterloo practically unnoticed and were thus deprived of the public welcome which otherwise would have been extended to them. Many members of the party belong to the first “contemptible little Army” which fought at Mons three years ago.

Cheaper Uniforms for Officers: Officers are shortly to enjoy an appreciable reduction in the cost of their uniforms as well as a guarantee of the best material being used says “The Daily Mail.” A scheme for supplying standard cloth at fixed prices for this purpose is nearing completion and a War Office notice issued on Tuesday states that merchants who wish to be placed on the list of firms entitled to deal in such cloth should apply to the Director of Army Contracts, Imperial House, Tothill Street, Westminster. For some time there have been complaints from officers about the high prices of uniforms and the shoddy material used in a number of instances. For a tunic of the best cloth as much as six guineas is charged by some tailors.

How to Choose a Home: There are a few points which everyone on the lookout for a house should bear in mind: 1) A damp house is a deadly house; 2) Live on the sunny side of the street; the doctor comes there less, as a rule, than opposite. 3) The drains are more important that the decorations; 4) As we spend a third of our lives in our bedrooms, they ought to have as much care as our drawing-rooms or more; 5) A dark, damp, unclean larder breeds disease.

Hints for the Home: Comfort for the Baby: When baby’s head needs washing rub on pure olive oil and in about five minutes use a fine comb and the child’s head will be as clean as though you had used soap and water; there will be no danger of taking cold. The oil also helps the growth of the hair. Don’t comb a child’s hair too often. Brush it carefully with a soft brush. In hot weather it is a good plan after the tepid morning bath to give baby just a little cooler shower at the end – that is, of course, if the little one can bear it. Then powder all over the body with a good nursery powder, and baby will remain nice and cool for the rest of the day. Pure white Castile soap is the best soap for a young infant’s skin. Never use a strong soap of any kind on a baby.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team