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Key dates over November 1917

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Lives lost on this day: 4

27th November 1917 - Hay Cutter who caught 40 Huns

Rolling casualty count: 8220

War Front:

Yeomanry – Private Stevens re-joined after being separated from Squadron at Huj.

Home Front:

Hay Cutter who caught 40 Huns: Worcester citizens will learn with pride and pleasure that a resident has won the V.C. Rumours of this interesting distinction had been current in the city for some days and the official news published this morning places all doubt at rest. The announcement in the “London Gazette” (in which the names of 20 V.C.’s are given) is as follows: _ No 21654 Pte. Frederick George Dancox, Worcestershire Regiment (Worcester). For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in attack. After the first objective had been captured and consolidation had been started, work was considerably hampered and numerous casualties were caused by an enemy machine-gun firing from a concrete emplacement situated on the edge of our protective barrage. Pte. Dancox was one of a party of about 10 men detailed as moppers-up. Owing to the position of the machine-gun emplacement, it was extremely difficult to work round a flank. However, this man with great gallantry worked his way round through the barrage and entered the “pill –box” from the rear, threatening the garrison with a Mills bomb. Shortly afterwards he reappeared with a machine-gun under his arm, followed by about 40 enemy. The machine-gun was brought back to our position by Pte. Dancox and he kept it in action throughout the day. By his resolution, absolute disregard of danger and cheerful disposition, the morale of his comrades was maintained at a very high standard, under extremely trying circumstances. The new V.C. was born in Barbourne, about 38 years ago and his wife and four children live in 12 Court, Dolday. Pte. Dancox had worked for a good many years as a hay cutter and in that capacity he was well known on many of the farms in the district. A tall, heavily-built man, he was familiarly called “Dando” by his associates. A man of blunt speech and forcible action, he was known as one to whom the spirit of adventure appealed strongly and some of his friends today expressed no sort of surprise at his wonderful deed of sustained heroism. One said, “Just the sort of thing he would do if he took it into his head. As strong as an ox, he never knew what fear was.”

At the City Police Court today, two Belgians, J. Hans, 26, London Road and G.J.J. Graindorge, 4, Barry Street, both munition workers, were summoned by Mr. F.T. Price, tax collector, for non-payment of income tax. Mr. Price stated that Hans owed a quarter’s income tax amounting to £7 19s. 2d. (which means that he was in receipt of an income of over £300 a year), and Graindorge owed £1 4s. 9d. tax for a quarter. The Chairman said it was a most extraordinary thing that Belgians working under the protection of the British Crown should refuse to pay their proper share of taxation. It was a monstrous and scandalous thing. The Bench made an order in each case for the payment of the sums.

Theatre Royal: The Baroness D’Astreel trio is what is termed “an interesting singing and dancing scene,” head an interesting variety bill at the Theatre Royal this week. The lady plays a vivacious part and dances attractively in a series of items which have no relevance one to the other. They afford her plenty of opportunity to make the most of her gifts and she and her helpers- a tenor (Pedro Alvarez) and a dancer (Harry Robins) give an entertainment which is bright and at times bustling.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team