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Key dates over October 1917

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Lives lost on this day: 10

31st October 1917 - Third Battle of Gaza. Led by Allenby, British troops, combined with an Australian attack at Beersheba, finally breaking through Turkish lines in Palestine

Rolling casualty count: 8040

War Front:

1/8th Batt: Hostile artillery quiet during the day. More patrols sent out at night. In the Ypres Sector Lt, Acting Capt. HS Benjamin, 2nd Lt CJ Beacham plus 15 other ranks were killed. 2nd Lt HG Higman and 85 other ranks were wounded.

Military Medals awarded for action on October 9th were as follows: Segt. JG Osbourne, Act Cpls H Wood, AE Weston and AW Perry, Ptes EJ Marchment and HJ Styler.

2/8th Batt: Weather fine. 2 other ranks wounded.

4th Batt: Brigade Ceremonial Parade 10.30-12.45am on a fine day. Wins collected in the 88th Brigade Football Tournament mean that X, Y and Z Coys have all reached the semi-finals.

10th Batt: Platoon training in steady drill, saluting etc.

Yeomanry /Cavalry: 2 regiments of the 4th Australian Light Horse Brigade attacked Turks jumping through trenches taking some 900 prisoners and sealing the fate of Beersheba, the town being entered early evening.

Home Front:

GHELUVELT “The Day of Destiny”- HEROIC 500 WORCESTERSHIRES – Ceremonial Parade at Norton Barracks – October 31st is the anniversary of the first battle of Ypres, when the 2nd Worcestershire Regiment, by their bravery at Gheluvelt, in the face of overwhelming odds, turned back the Germans and saved Europe. On Wednesday in celebration of the event, the troops stationed at Norton Barracks were drawn up for a ceremonial parade in the barrack square, when Col. Greenway (commanding the Depot) who was accompanied by Capt. Godfrey (adjutant) addressed the men on the significance of the day and of the part which the regiment took in it. Col Greenway said: Comrades of the Worcestershire Regiment – Today October 31st., is the third anniversary of the first Battle of Ypres, which prevented the Germans reaching the coast of Northern France and thus save Britain and the Empire and altered the whole course of the war. The old regular army fought against tremendous odds at Ypres, probably six or seven to one, for the enemy had anything between three-quarters to a million of men between Lille and the sea and the British numbered scarcely more than 100,000. The first battle of Ypres marked the passage of the Empire, and of the world itself, through one of the supreme crises of history. We can now mark not merely the day, but the very hour which decided whether the Germans should break the Allied line and reach the French coast or recoil in failure from the thin, but indomitable ranks of Western chivalry.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team