10th January 1918 - Boys charged with theft and bad language

Rolling casualty count: 8452

War Front:

3rd Batt: It was a quiet day with some offensive patrolling.

4th Batt: There was a rapid thaw. Batt practised for the Brigade Ceremonial. 2nd Lts TP Guy and BMG Klee joined and were posted to X and Y Coys respectively.

2/7th batt: C and D Coys engaged in working parties. A and B Coys were doing Coy training. 17 OR arrived from the 10th Battery Reg.

2/8th Batt: Little training possible due to the frost and snow.

10th Batt: Batt went on a route march.

Yeomanry/Cavalry: C Squadron was reformed under the command of Major HNS Wilson.

Home Front:

A meeting of the Worcester Board of Guardians was held on Thursday…In one of the relief cases an old man of 88, admitted to the Workhouse Infirmary, was stated to have an income of £44 from Consols. The Board decided to charge the cost of maintenance, said to be about 12s. a week. The Master reported that 5s. disappeared from a nurse’s room recently, and said that that made about £10 which had been lost lately. The police had made enquiries, but so far without success.

A Worcester Driver’s End: Mrs. Rastall, of McIntyre Road, St. John’s , mother of Dvr. A. Rastall (whose death in action has been reported), has received a letter from a comrade of her son, in which he says:- “Driver A. Rastall is reported missing, believed killed, and his comrades who were there at the same time say the latter is the more true verdict. He was waiting up at the gun position doing his duty, looking after his horses with his comrades, when a German shell struck an ammunition dump, with the result that the dump went up, and several fellows were killed. He was one of them. The horses, too, were also killed. Driver Rastall, some say, was badly wounded and taken to hospital, but most fellows who lived through it say he was killed. He was a very nice boy and greatly liked by all, and was always cheerful and ready to do his bit with others. In losing him we have lost a very nice fellow.”

Sergeant’s Distinguished Service: Mrs. Fowler, 48, Lower Chestnut Street, Worcester, has received from her son, Sergt. G. Fowler, Welsh Fusiliers, a card, which he had had from Major-General H. Stonbridge, stating: “Your Commanding Officer has informed me that you have distinguished yourself by good service in the field during the period, March 20th to September 20th, 1917. I have received his report, and, although promotion and decorations cannot be given in every case, I should like you to know that your good services are recognised and greatly appreciated.” A younger brother is in training on Salisbury Plain.

City Police Court: Charles Long (12), 6, Sidney Street, was charged with stealing a bicycle lamp valued at 12s. 6d., the property of Charles Hunt, bank manager, Pershore. Mr. Brickell said that the bicycle, on which was the lamp, was lent him by Mr. Hunt to come to Worcester. He left the bicycle outside a house in Infirmary Walk, and when Pte. Neale, a friend, went to extinguish the light, he found that the lamp was missing. P.C. Knight said that he saw the defendant in Barbourne Road, carrying the lamp, which was lighted. When stopped the Defendant said, “On Tuesday morning, about 9 o’clock, I was on the marl bank, when a lad asked me to buy the lamp.” He paid the boy a penny for it. Defendant added that he did not know the boy, but he would know him again if he saw him. Defendant told the Court that he was walking down Infirmary Walk, when he kicked the lamp. He picked it up and was taking it home when the policeman stopped him. The Bench ordered the defendant to receive three strokes of the birch.

James William Henry Narraway and Henry Dancox (8), 12 Court, Dolday, were charged with stealing a wooden truck, valued at 7s. 6d., the property of Florence Jones, 94, Wylds Lane. Mrs. Jones left the truck outside a shop in Little Angel Street, and when she came out she missed it. P.C.Knight went to Narraway’s house, and he told the witness that Dancox had taken the truck. Witness later saw Dancos, who said that Narraway told him to take it. The Chief Constable said that Narraway was a very bad boy. His mother could do nothing with him, he was beyond her control, and his language towards her was terrible. On one occasion he took a pony and trap from the Cattle market and drove out to Broadheath. It would be in the boy’s interest if he was sent away. The Bench ordered Narraway to receive six strokes with the birch, and dismissed the case against Dancox. Narraway, who is in poor health, is to be examined by the police doctor.

The Mayor of Kidderminster, at the meeting of the Corporation, on Wednesday, moved that the Town Clerk send letters of congratulation to Sir H. Whiteley, M.P., upon being made a baronet, and Mr. Willis Bund upon being made a Commander of the British Empire. Mr. Law seconded the motion. Mr. Wright asked if it would not be possible to get Mr. Willis Bund made a Dame of the Order. (Cries of “Order.”) The Mayor: No man is more worthy of the honour conferred than Mr. Willis Bund. (Hear, Hear.) The motion was carried.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team