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Key dates over April 1918

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Lives lost on this day: 72

17th April 1918 - Considered finally ready for battle, US 1st Division sent to join French Fifth Army

Rolling casualty count: 9448

War Front:

1st Batt: Batt found parties to work on the roads near Nurlu.

2nd Batt: More counter attacks and heavy barrage all day. The French Artillery were lending support. Batt finally relieved by Yorks and Lancs Regiments.

3rd Batt: Heavy shelling on Front line all day. Batt relieved at night by Batt of 102nd Div.

4th Batt: Batt heavily bombarded am and pm and suffered many casualties. French troops assisted our stretcher bearers. Five enemy attacks were beaten back.

10th Batt: The enemy attacked south and east of Mount Kemmel but attack failed and the British Line was not pierced. Batt suffered many casualties.

Yeomanry/Cavalry: Reg. left for Latron on being posted to the 20th Corps as the Corps Cavalry, leaving the old 5th Mounted Brigade.

Home Front:

CITY WAR PENSIONS COMMITTEE – Care of Motherless Children – A meeting of the City War Pensions Committee was held on Tuesday, the Secretary submitted the case of the wife of an ex-soldier now in an asylum suffering from insanity, brought about by war service. She received 13s.9d. a week and 12s.6d. for her three children, whereas if her husband had been in another class of institution she would have received a total of £2. 6s.9d – the full pension (less 7s maintenance) and the children’s allowances. The Committee resolved to draw the attention of the Ministry to the inadequate amount paid to the wives of such members and the Secretary was directed to pay the woman in question a sum which would bring her present allowance up to that she would have received if her husband had been treated in another institution.

CITY POLICE COURT - THURSDAY – THEFT OF EGGS – Harold Potter (11) Tybridge Street was charged with stealing three hen eggs, value 10d, the property of John Smith, Henwick Mills. Mr Smith said the fowls were housed in pens about the fields, near the house. He found one of the pens had been damaged. He had missed a number of eggs. Mrs Ballanger, Henwick Mill, said that on Thursday she saw the defendant in Mr Smith’s field and she took one egg from him. In a truck in the road she found two other eggs. Defendant’s mother said he suffered from fits and she had a lot of trouble with him. The bench cautioned him and fined him 2s.6d.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team