12th March 1918 - Increase of Tuberculosis Cases

Rolling casualty count: 8545

War Front:

2nd Batt: Capt. Upton died of his wounds.

4th Batt: HQ moved to California Camp. Coys working on Divisional Line as before.

Home Front:

County Council: Sir Harry Vernon, in presenting the report of the Executive Committee, said he had received a supplementary report, which showed that there was a very serious outbreak of sheep scab on the premises of Mr. Harvey Lane, Perdiswell, Claines. 79 sheep being affected, being part of 260 sheep he had brought from Hereford. He said the report had only just reached him and it was agreed that further inquiry should be made about it.

Increase of Tuberculosis Cases: The Tuberculosis and Sanatorium Committee reported that 671 case of tuberculosis were reported last year, an increase of 109. This increase was unhappily general in all parts of the country; the Medical Officer of the Local Government Board in his recent report, stating that compared with 1913 the deaths from pulmonary tuberculosis had increased by 1,562 in the year 1914, by 4,621 in 1915 and by 4,490 in 1916, the third year of the war. The Sanatorium Committee added that this increase constituted a very grave menace to the future health of the community, as many of these cases might become dangerous to others. 1 Worcestershire soldiers discharged as tubercular, received treatment in the County Sanatoria during the year.

Loris Price, 27, Rook Street, Wednesbury, was charged with stealing a pair of gold-rimmed spectacles, two dress cloths, six fowls, 4lbs. of oatmeal, quarter pound of tea and other articles to the value of £5 8s. 6d. belonging to Ernest King, of Warndon. The case was adjourned for 14 days.

The City Coroner has been informed of the death of a man named Frank Bruton, a fitter, Cumberland Street. In the neighbourhood it is known that he had been away from work for some time. He is said to have stated that he was going to work, but later was found dead at his home. His head was wrapped in a mackintosh, one end of a piece of tubing was in his mouth and the other end was connected with the gas. An inquest will be held.

Children’s Court: George Houlson (12) and Alec Clarke (15), Park Field, Hallow, were charged with stealing a tame rabbit, the property of Mr. Blizzard. They pleaded guilty. P.C. Carr said he saw Clarke, who said: “We went to the box where the rabbits were kept and took the rabbit and Houlson took it home. We agreed to say that we found the rabbit on the Vicarage lawn.” Houlson made a similar statement. The lads had previously borne a good character and their parents were very respectable. The father of one of the boys informed the constable at Hallow that the boys said they found the rabbit on the Vicarage lawn and that the owner could have it on fetching it. Fined 2s. 6d. each.

New Rationing Scheme: City teachers have left with many households yet another rationing form. This, it should be explained, is the beginning of the machinery occasioned by the Meat Rationing Order, which will supersede the local scheme. It is expected to come into force on April 7th and further particulars of it appear in our advertisement columns. Citizens should study carefully this advert. It is expected that the national scheme will operate more nearly on the lines of that in London and Home Counties than in the Worcester scheme. For instance, in the London scheme (and in the new national scheme) such meat as is known by the term offal – tripe, liver, ox-tails, etc. is included in the rationed items, whereas in Worcester they are extras. The new scheme will also include all pork, bacon and ham, sausages, poultry and game, hares, rabbits, venison and horseflesh and cooked and canned meats.

Band Boys Fire Hay Ricks: At the Children’s Court, Ronald F. Gillman (15) and Henry James Trott (15), band boys, Norton Barracks, were charged with arson to a hay rick. Mr. Betteridge, farmer, Broomhall Farm, Norton, said he received information that a 13 ton hay rick was on fire and, on going to the spot, picked up a boy’s glove near the rick. The damage was estimated at £70. Sergt. Hampshire said that he saw the boys run across the field and directly afterwards saw the rick ablaze. P.C. Bird charged the boys and they replied: “Not wilfully; we went for a smoke.”. The Army would be willing to take the boys back if the Bench wished. The Chairman cautioned the boys, telling them they had been grossly careless and handed them over to the Military Authorities.

Theft at 74: Edward Westwood (74) was charged with deserting the Workhouse and carrying away clothing. Mr. Roberts, the Workhouse Master, said that the man had been in the house since 1916. On February 8 last, witness saw him in the yard. Prisoner said that Mr. Bishop, the Task Master, behaved so badly towards him and kept on knocking him about so much, that he could stand it no longer and he left. The Bench sent him to prison for 14 days

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team