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Key dates over January 1918

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: 0

29th January 1918 - 'Tale of two cities' at St John's Cinema for the week

Rolling casualty count: 8483

War Front:

2nd Batt: General training and Coy inspections.

4th Batt: The 29th Division extended its front westward as far as Tournament Farm. Batt HQ at Kron Prinz Farm. Y and Z Coys plus 2 platoons of Y Coy, relieved the 4th North Staffs in left sub-sector of Brigade Front (Goudberg Sector.) W Coy and 1 platoon of Y Coy remained at California Camp.

2/8th Batt: Weather fine and sunny after a slight frost. Batt providing working parties.

10th Batt: Batt relieved by the 6th Wilts and proceeded to Eastwood camp at Havringcourt Wood.

Home Front:

In the Corner: The estimates given in Saturday’s issue of the number of rations of margarine sold at the central and suburban shops of Worcester were very substantially correct, At the two shops in Rainbow Hill about 1,400 people were served, and almost exactly the same number is recorded at St. John’s, at Barbourne, and at Sidbury, making an aggregate of about 5,600 persons supplied at the eight shops in the four suburbs. To enable them to be so supplied 1 ton 2cwt of margarine was taken from the 2 ton 10cwt available at the Maypole shop on the Cross; and 10 cwt was taken from the 25 cwt available at the company’s shop in the Shambles. What was left to the company enabled them to serve some 6,500 customers at the Cross and 3,500 customers at the Shambles, making a total of 11,000.

Men of the Worcester Regiment awarded D.C.Ms: 29988 Pte. S. Fudger: At a critical moment, when his platoon was held up by an enemy machine-gun, he and a N.C.O. took forward their Lewis gun and attacked the enemy. Finding after a time that they had not put the gun out of action, they went forward with the greatest courage, accounted for the gun team, and captured and brought back the gun; 103826 Spr. R. Gardiner, R.E:- Throughout the whole night before the attack and the following day he continually repaired telephone lines under very heavy machine-gun and shell fire, always going out on his own initiative as soon as a line became disconnected. During an enemy counter attack he took an active part in the defense of his line, and showed the greatest fearlessness and determination throughout the operations; 29813 Pte. D. Godson: With great skill and courage he led a Lewis gun team against an enemy strong point which had been isolated by the attacking troops. To effect this he had to advance several hundred yards across the open under heavy shell fire, and without any protective barrage, in spite of which he successfully occupied the position. He was wounded later on the same day.

War Cookery Demonstration: Under the auspices of the Borough and Rural District Food Control Committeeds, a lecture and demonstration on “War-time Food and how to cook it,” was given at the Salters’ Hall, Droitwich, on Monday afternoon by the Hon. Mrs. Henry Scott, of Himbleton. Lady Hindlip presided, and Ald. W.E. Lovesey, Commissioner of the Ministry of Food, gave an addresss. There was a good attendance.

St. John’s Cinema: At considerable expense, the Manager has obtained for the whole of the week (and for one matinée on Thursday) what is said to be one of the finest examples of the picture producer’s art – “A Tale of Two Cities.” Over £30,000 was spent on its production, and certainly it is an exceptionally fine film. The “story” is adapted from that of Dickens’ celebrated work of the French Revolution, and all the most interesting parts are presented in an artistic manner. The photography is of the best, and the principal characters are in the hands of such well-known cinema stars as William Farnum (the dual role of Darnay and Carton) and Jewel Carmen (Lucie Manette).

On Monday morning, Miss Scott, of the Army Remount Depot, was riding a horse along the Tything when the animal shied at a passing tramcar, with the result that she was thrown to the ground and rendered unconscious. She was taken into the Nursing Institution, where she was treated. She has regained consciousness and been removed to her lodgings, where she is making good progress. No bones were broken. The horse was stopped by Mr. Richards, tobacconist.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team