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Key dates over April 1918

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Lives lost on this day: 16

20th April 1918 - GIVING FRITZ SOCKS

Rolling casualty count: 9490

War Front:

1st Batt: Brigade inspected by GOC of Division and medals were presented. Two bombs were dropped by hostile planes near the village.

2nd Batt: Batt marched from 6.30am to 2pm to billets near Noordpeene.

4th Batt: The 88th Brigade relieved by 401st Brigade at night but Batt only received orders to withdraw at 2pm. Lt HA Ward was killed.

10th Batt: Batt marched northwards to the Proven area.

Yeomanry/Cavalry: Rumours of an early move were rife.

Home Front:

WORCESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR – THE LATE COL. CLIVE M.P. – At the annual meeting of the Colwall Parish Council on Wednesday evening, the Chairman said that Col. Clive had given up his life in this terrible war. He had been twice wounded and the whole county would mourn his death.

GIVING FRITZ SOCKS – Mr John Kent of Upton upon Severn, has just a received a letter from a soldier friend in France, who from the beginning of the war had had two 10 days period of leave and on each occasion has been eager to get back to the front after being a week in England. He says “I have had a ----of a time lately and just missed being captured twice; I only got away by the skin of my teeth, as they say. We are far from being beaten yet and the boys are splendid – they are just giving Fritz socks. It’s a treat to see them mowing the Germans down”.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team