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Key dates over September 1917

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Lives lost on this day: 3

17th September 1917 - Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Baldwin celebrate their silver wedding

Rolling casualty count: 7510

War Front:

2nd Batt: Batt marched from Steenevoorde to Berthen Camp arriving at 1.30pm. Billets fairly good with some men in huts.

4th Batt: Coy reorganization and training.

2/7th Batt: Batt marched to billets near Wormhoute. Baths were allotted to the Batt. Capt WF Smellie evacuated to England as he was badly gassed.

1/8th Batt: Batt left School Camp at 11 am, marched to Abeele Station and entrained for Audrurucque and then marched to new billets at Recques where there was a fresh training ground.

2/8th Batt: Batt marched to Wemaens Cappel.

Home Front:

Entertainment at College Hall: There was a large attendance in the College Hall of the King’s School on Saturday afternoon, lent for the occasion by the Headmaster (Canon Chappel), when an entertainment, arranged by Viscountess Deerhurst, was given by a company of distinguished amateurs, in aid of the G.F.S. Lodge and War Workers’ Hostel, opened some time ago at Rainbow Hill for the women munition workers at Blackpole. The programme consisted for the most part of Old Testament tableaux, arranged by Lady Deerhurst, assisted by the Mayor of Worcester. At the close of the programme a fruit pulping and drying demonstration was given by Dr. Goodrich, a lady attached to the Food Production Department and a fruit canning demonstration by Mr. Vincent Banks, of the same department.

Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Baldwin celebrated their silver wedding last week. On Saturday afternoon they entertained a large number of wounded soldiers at Astley Hall. Invitations had been sent to the V.A.D. Hospitals at Kidderminster, Hartlebury, Stourport and Wilden and all the soldiers with the chief members of the staff accepted. The afternoon was very fine and a most enjoyable time was spent. The guests were received by Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin and the members of their family, Mr. Rudyard Kipling and Sir Philip Burne Jones, cousins of Mr. Baldwin, being amongst the most active in promoting the enjoyment of the soldiers. After spending a little time in the grounds a concert party gave an entertainment. Tea followed and then a conjuror afforded much amusement and all too soon the very merry party had to break up with hearty cheers and expressions of good wishes to their host and hostess.

27,500 Butterflies Caught: Prizes were awarded at the Food Production Society’s exhibition at Southend on Saturday for the largest number of white cabbage butterflies caught in Southend. The counting of the butterflies occupied a dozen boy scouts all the morning. Twenty-one boys and girls entered and the total number of butterflies sent in was 27,500. The first prize was won by Alice Stevenson with 3,974 and the second by Masis Wright (aged 13) with 2,550.

To the Editor: Dear Sir, - On Oct. 4th, a test of efficiency testing for women employed in farm work, will be held at Edgbaston, Birmingham and I am most anxious that Worcestershire should be well represented and should lead in the contest. My Committee will be very grateful if farmers in the county will make it possible for any women that they think will do credit to the county to enter for the tests. Yours truly, V. Deerhurst, Pirton Court.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team