Key dates over March 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: 104
22nd March 1918 - Disappeared when on Bail
Rolling casualty count: 8775
War Front:
1st Batt: Batt proceeded by route march from Meringhem to St Omer where it entrained for Nesle.
2nd Batt: Coys entrained at St Pierre Siding preparatory to Batt relieving the 16th KRRC in support at Cordial Factory.
3rd Batt: Batt HQ moved to a deeper dug-out. Major Traill took over command of Batt as Lt Col PR Whalley, DSO who was ordered back to HQ. B and C Coys were ordered to extend the left flank along the northern side of Maricourt Wood towards Vaux Wood, where fresh attacks on the Corps Line were taking place. A Batt was withdrawn from the left so B and C Coys were ordered to withdraw to the Sunken Road. As attacks were heavy, only C Coy could be extricated. A and B Coys inflicted heavy losses on the enemy. During this day, Capt JM Lett, Lt DG Herries, Lt FG Elliot, 2LT A Houghton were killed and 2Lt C Latham was wounded.
4th Batt: Batt relieved the 2nd South Wales Borderers in the left sub-section of the Divisional Sector (Passchendaele,) 3 Coys being conveyed by train from Poperinghe to Spree Farm. 1 Coy went to Wieltje, W Coy went to support at Wallemolen and Inch Houses, X Coy was at Kronprinz and Y Coy at English Camp.
10th Batt: The enemy was not 50 yards away but Worcs Coys held the Line parallel to the Sunken Road. Enemy was now in full possession of the Ridge west of Louverval, but they tried 3 times to take the Worcs Coys in the flank and failed. The spirit of the defence was marvellously sustained by the example and courage of Capt. GMI Blackburne. After darkness the Batt covered the withdrawal of the Highland Batts who had been holding the trenches and fighting for 48 hours.
Home Front:
On Thursday evening Mr. W.B. Hulme (the City Coroner) resumed the inquest as to the death of George Albert Leeke (52), wood carver, of 37 Lich Street. The Coroner informed the Jury that an analysis of the contents of the bottle, from which Leeke was seen to drink, revealed that it contained morphine hydrochloride and that there was a quarter of a grain of morphia per dose. Mr. S. C. Legge, surgeon, continuing his evidence, said that the five or six mouthfuls of the mixture which Leeke took would be sufficient to cause death, especially as he was in an enfeebled condition. Witness cited the fact that one grain of morphia had been known to cause death. The symptoms were confirmatory of morphine poisoning. The Jury returned a verdict that “Death was due to an overdose of morphia, taken by misadventure.”
“Summer-Time” comes into operation during the night Saturday-Sunday, when clocks must be put forward an hour. Officially the change will take place at 2 am, when railway clocks will jump forward an hour and trains thenceforward will run accordingly. For the majority of people, however, the lost hour-to be recovered on the last day of September- will be taken out of the Saturday, when clocks and watches are wound prior to the household retiring to bed. It should be pointed out that in the case of striking timepieces the clock should be allowed to strike fully the hour, half-hour and quarter as the hands are moved.
Disappeared when on Bail: George Passey, late of 45 Dent Street, Canal Side, Worcester, was charged with failing to appear at the Worcester Quarter Sessions in July last on three charges of fowl stealing. Inspector Price gave evidence of identiy and said that prisoner, who was committed for trial to the Quarter Sessions some months ago, was arrested in Sheffield. Prisoner was committed to prison until the next Quarter Sessions.
Rummage Sale for Mayor’s Fund: On Thursday, at the Corn Exchange, a rummage sale was held in aid of the Mayor’s Fund for providing homes for disabled soldiers and sailors. Miss Jones, of 52, Broad Street, was in charge of the sale and was assisted by other ladies, many of whom acted as stallholders.As early as 1 pm people began to collect outside the gates of the Corn Exchange waiting to purchase a the sale and at 3 pm there was a large crowd. The people entered in groups of ten or twenty to make their purchases, but the supply was not equal to the demand and by 4.15pm the stocks, consisting mostly of clothing, gave out. There were a number of articles and all descriptions of hardware, which quickly found a market. Unfortunately, owing to other engagments, the Mayor and Mayoress, who had hoped to attend, were unable to do so.
Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team
Casualties
- L/Cpl. Ernest Aston 12313 - Leicestershire Regiment
- Pte. Harry Fisher 28792 - Royal Warwickshire Regiment
- Pte. Frank Gibbons 44374 - The Royal Welsh (Welch) Fusiliers
- Rifleman Thomas Henry Goodyear B/200279 - Rifle Brigade
- Pte. Frederick Harris 29852 - 15th (The King's) Hussars
- Pte. Joseph Millman 204389 - King's Shropshire Light Infantry
- Pte. William Joseph Priest 41325 - South Wales Borderers
- Pte. Joseph Charles Adderley 235361 - 3rd Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Reginald Arthur Andrews 41822 - 3rd Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Alfred Ernest Baker 202691 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. John William Barrow 39916 - 3rd Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Charles Victor Belfield 41947 - 3rd Bn Worcs Reg
- Cpl. Bertie Carter 46457 - The Royal Welsh (Welch) Fusiliers
- Pte. Vivian Biggin 41949 - 3rd Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. John Bill 201402 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. John Alexander Billingsley 41950 - 3rd Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. William Bishop 203259 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Frank Blackwell 41962 - 3rd Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Michael Blewitt 9114 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- L/Cpl. Ernest George Bond 10392 - 3rd Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. William Brabyn 40355 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. William Henry Brace 42907 - The Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment)
- Pte. Frederick Bradley 203325 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Thomas William Bradley 202396 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Patrick Brennan 41964 - 3rd Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. William Henry Britland 41963 - 3rd Bn Worcs Reg
- 2/Lt. Harry Broomhall att. 2nd Bn Royal Berks Reg
- Pte. Simon Broughton 39913 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Samuel Bunn 38177 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Thomas Burke 9659 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Arthur Leonard Carpenter 41853 - 3rd Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Alfred Carter 27961 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Victor Cartwright 30976 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. James Arthur Clay 42245 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. James Clough 41973 - 3rd Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. William Samuel Coleman 203156 - 14th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Victor James Collins G/69726 - Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment
- Cpl. Gilbert Cox 28545 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. George Daybank 30703 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Alfred Dipple 203277 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Edgar Dunwell 42247 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Harry Edworthy 203335 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Lt. Frederick Guy Elliott 3rd Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Frank Etheridge 37561 - 3rd Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Herbert Edward Figgures 42842 - 3rd Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Charles Henry Freeman 41863 - 3rd Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Jack Gardner 201902 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Robert Gibson 42006 - 3rd Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Albert Edward Gill 203644 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Frank Gill 39974 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Robert Henry Griffiths 203924 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Percy Frederick Gulliver 34538 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Arthur John Hall 17007 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- C.S.M. John Edward Harper 10900 - 3rd Bn Worcs Reg
- Sgt. Frederick James Hartlebury 200161 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. William Hartley 235146 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Albert Henry Hassall 201951 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Lt. Donald George Hemus 3rd Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. John Holden 201078 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Joseph Hollis 35959 - 3rd Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Harry Oswald Horton 19182 - 9th Bn Worcs Reg
- 2/Lt. Arthur Houghton 3rd Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Herbert Leslie Hucker 41690 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Walter Thomas Hughes 235245 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Albert Jennings 36446 - 3rd Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Victor Thomas Johnson 43468 - Lincolnshire Regiment
- L/Cpl. Albert Jones 14928 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- L/Cpl. Joseph Jones 201663 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. James Arthur Jowett 235156 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. George Kirkham 39994 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Sgt. Allen Lawrence 18986 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Thomas Henry Leek 33493 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- 2/Lt. John Millard Lett 3rd Bn Worcs Reg
- Sgt. Albert Lewis 52480 - 3rd Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. John Arthur Lewis 241613 - 1/8th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Alfred Lilly 35226 - 3rd Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Isaac Edward Luxton 203486 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Cpl. Arthur MacDonald 40726 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. William Charles Macham 201888 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Edgar John Matthews 31685 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Sidney Hector Matthews 202574 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Harold Metcalfe 42368 - 3rd Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. William Mitton 38534 - 3rd Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. William Moore 40703 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Leonard John Perks 22919 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. George Pooler 48274 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. William Ernest Powick 203410 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- L/Cpl. Francis George Preece 28667 - Gloucestershire Regiment
- Pte. Arthur Sadler 27277 - 3rd Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. John Henry Sandlands 203485 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Thomas Nelson Seeley 35189 - Royal Warwickshire Regiment
- Pte. Harry Shute 16936 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Joseph William Smith 40117 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Sidney John Smith 203440 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Sydney Walter Smith 202011 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. William Smith 46783 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Arthur Stevenson 235176 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Joseph Turner 42271 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. John William Wall 201945 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- 2/Lt. Paul Francis Seymour Ward 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Cpl. Albert Whetton 39887 - 3rd Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Joseph White 42273 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Fred Wilkes 202824 - 10th Bn Worcs Reg
- Pte. Sydney Wyatt 46942 - 3rd Bn Worcs Reg