Skip to navigation | Skip to content | Skip to footer

Key dates over December 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 31

Lives lost on this day: 46

3rd December 1917 - Bromsgrove Officers’ Honours

Rolling casualty count: 8337

War Front:

1st Batt: Batt commenced training in musketry and Coy drill.

2nd Batt: Batt relieved by the 9th H L Infantry and moved back to right support relieving the 2/9th Manchester at Darling Crossing.

4th Batt: The 6th Division was attacked by the enemy and lost ground on the left of 88th Brigade. Situation very serious and Capt. RH Maryatt, Lt H Cromm-Johnson MC, 2nd Lts J Watts and RS Thomas arrived with 40 other ranks who formed a 5th Coy with 2 Middlesex platoons which went into the support line. HQ went to deep dug out in the Hindenburg Line. There was also gas shelling. It was bitterly cold and all ranks were exhausted.

2/7th Batt: Batt “Stood to”” all day and at dusk, A and B Coys were withdrawn from the Front Line. Transport and stores moved to Equancourt. Lt JS Sykes was missing, believed killed and 6 other ranks were killed. Cpt J Manuel and 13 other ranks were wounded.

2/8th Enemy attacked Corner Work again at 3.30pm. Information was received that the enemy was working round the rear of Corner Work so a bombing party was sent to clear those trenches. The remainder of the men “stood to” in the old British Trench support dug out. Capt G Pritchard was killed and 1 other rank. 2nd Lt JH Rose was wounded; Lts EH Lockwood and EHC Gumpert were gassed as were 7 other ranks.

2nd Lt GL Martin and 69 other ranks were wounded. 10 other ranks were missing and 35 other ranks believed to be prisoners.

Home Front:

Bromsgrove Officers’ Honours – The list of military honours announced include three Bromsgrove men. Sec. Lieut Howard Johnston, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, who has gained the Distinguished Service Order. He is still in hospital suffering from wounds to the head and right arm. Military Crosses have been awarded to Sec Lieut. (Acting Captain) J Bailey Garner, Leicestershire Regiment and Second Lieut. (Acting Captain) E Carter, Royal Warwickshire Regiment.

Worcestershire Captain Released – The Berne correspondent of the “Morning Post” states that among the officer prisoners of war who have arrived there is the following:- Worcestershire Regt. Captain Williams.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team