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Key dates over March 1918

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Lives lost on this day: 0

7th March 1918 - Worcester Tank Week

Rolling casualty count: 8535

War Front:

2nd Batt: General cleaning up and men allocated baths.

4th Batt: Three officers each from W and Z Coys reconnoitred the posts 7 to 16 on the Gravenstafel Ridge, which was the Divisional Reserve Line. Working party of 78 men was supplied to carry material from Waterloo Dump to posts 13-16. W and Z Coys moved to California Camp. The Brigade moved into the Line.

10th Batt: Batt moved forward from Beaulencourt to Barastre.

Home Front:

Worcester Tank Week: The opening ceremony will take place on Monday, March 18 at 12 o’clock. Two cheques of £10,000 each have already been promised by Worcester firms. Stourbridge people will invest both privately and on behalf of the town. It is hoped that all shops, business premises, etc., will be decorated for the week. On Wednesday and Thursday afternoons 6,000 school children will visit the Tank and collections made beforehand will be invested by the teachers in connection with the War Savings Associations of the various schools. On Wednesday evening, a concert will be given by the Band of the 2nd Battalion Worcestershire Volunteer Regiment. Some voluntary helpers will be required in connection with the filling up of Certificates for children. Those willing to help should apply to the Hon. Secretary, Mr. E.H. Tillett, 44 High Street, Worcester.

John Henry Days (8), 1 Court, Tallow Hill; Harold Edward Wells (9), 2 House, 5 Court, Quay Street, were charged with stealing four Army badges, valued 16s., the property of the Halford Cycle Co., Ltd., 12 Broad Street. P.C. Drinkwater said that he saw Days, who said Wells took the badges. Wells said that Days took the badges. When charged the defendants admitted taking two badges each. The Bench said that this pilfering was becoming a serious matter. Scarcely a day went by but what some child or a number of children, were brought before the Court. The Bench were determined to stop it. If a fine was inflicted the parents would have to pay it. Therefore each boy would receive three strokes with the birch.

Two Worcestershire D.C.M.s: The King has been pleased to award the Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallantry and distinguished service in the field to: 200336 Acting Co. Sergt.-Major J.N. Brooks, Worcs. Regt. (Birmingham): He took command of his platoon when his officer was wounded. Single-handed he captured nine prisoners, including an officer. 201174 Sergt. B. Salt, Worcs. Regt. (Cradley Heath): For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during a daylight raid on the enemy’s position. He led his men through a heavy hostile barrage, and by careful handling got them up to the enemy wire. Before he got through the wire he killed three of the enemy. He then entered the enemy’s trench, bombed the dug-outs, and obtained identifications.

City Clerk Gassed: Corpl. H.S. Hardisty, who was a member of the staff at the Educational Depot and the son of Mr. E. G Hardisty, Judges’ Lodgings, Shirehall, is now recovering from the effects of being gassed at Ypres and has been sent to a rest depot in Northumberland. He was a week in hospital and three months in a convalescent home. He joined the Public Schools Corps in October 1915 and was transferred to the M.G.C., in which unit he served in France.

General List: The casualty lists issued on Wednesday night show the following losses: - Officers: Dead 4, wounded or missing 21; total 25. Men: Dead 203, wounded or missing 258; total 461.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team