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Key dates over December 1917

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Lives lost on this day: 6

29th December 1917 - New Worcester Industry – Unbreakable Dolls

Rolling casualty count: 8421

War Front:

8/1st Batt: There was gas shelling of our trenches by the enemy. More snow fell.

2nd Batt: There was voluntary RC Service. All officers, NCOs down to the rank of Cpl, paraded as a demonstration by the Commanding Officer. The remainder of the Batt was cleaning up their equipment.

4th Batt: Batt did a route march of 6 miles in 2 hours in fine weather. The week`s training had been successful in spite of the cold conditions. At night a concert was given by the “Fragments Troupe” of the 88th Field Ambulance.

2/7th Batt: Batt had their Christmas Dinner!

2/8th Batt: 2Lts RH Hunt, CT Pratt, R Todd and 17 other ranks joined the Batt from Batt Depot.

Yeomanry/Cavalry: The camp moved forward to a more convenient site with fewer rocks. Men anticipating the return of their horses. Rival concerts were held all around the camp.

Home Front:

New Worcester Industry – Unbreakable Dolls – Before many months have passed Worcester may awaken to find itself still more famous because of the addition of another artistic industry to the list for which is it is already world renowned. Only half a year has lapsed since the Dixon Doll Manufactory began to put upon the market a few dozen dolls per month. But already the daintiness of them has so charmed the people of Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Bristol and Cardiff that the output has been increased to 5,000 per week. The proprietor Mr T Dixon is about forthwith to double his plant and of course his output to 10,000.

Our Food Supply – Labour Convention – Demand for Compulsory Rationing – A national convention on the food supply was held today at Worcester, under the auspices of the Trade Union Congress, the Labour Party and the War Emergency Workers’ National Committee. There was a very large representative attendance. A resolution protesting against the suffering inflicted upon consumers by the lack of an equitable system of food distribution and declaring that all should share alike, whether rich or poor. The Food Controller was urged to enforce compulsory rationing, so that each person, without distinction of class may secure his proper proportion of what is available.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team