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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: 12

4th December 1917 - CHILD MURDER AT DUDLEY

Rolling casualty count: 8349

War Front:

4th Batt: This was a critical day on account of the attack. The Batt withdrew and took up a new position with W and X Coys holding the Outpost line.

2/7th Batt: Lt BJ Erickson (US Army) took up duties as Medical officer. 2 other ranks were killed, 2nd Lts HE Boswell and TF Flint plus 10 other ranks were wounded.

2/8th Batt: Some heavy artillery shelling and gas shelling by the enemy. LT Col LL Bilton gassed and 12 other ranks wounded - 6 to CC Station.

Yeomanry/Cavalry: Patrols sent out to Shilta Village to discover that the enemy had retired to a commanding position covering the village of Deir el Kuddis.

Home Front:

County War Prisoners – A meeting of the Executive Committee of the Worcestershire Prisoners of War Committee was held on Monday. The Chairman reported that it had been decided by the authorities that it was useless to continue the administration of relief to British and Indian prisoners of war in the District east of Aleppo, from this country, so that no further parcels would be sent.

Child Murder At Dudley – Sarah Wakeman (35) Simms Lane, Netherton, wife of Edward Wakeman, miner, was brought up at Dudley Police Court on Monday charged with the wilful murder of her two children, John aged 12 and Edward, aged one year and 11 month. Edward Wakeman stated that when he went to work at 6.15 on Saturday morning, the children were in bed asleep. He spoke to his wife who then appeared to be in a normal condition. She had had a nervous breakdown after the birth of the older child. She then seemed a “little silly” and after the birth of the second child had a similar attack. She was very fond of the children. A Verdict of Wilful Murder was returned.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team