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Key dates over April 1918

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Lives lost on this day: 39

26th April 1918 - WORCESTERSHIRE MEN’S DEEDS

Rolling casualty count: 9586

War Front:

1st Batt: Batt pushed our right post forward 100 yards.

2nd Batt: Batt and transport left at 7.30am, marching to St Mairie Capell. Batt standing to ready to move. Lt HGL Ward rejoined the Batt.

3rd Batt: At 3am Batt began a counter attack in the direction of Kemmel Village. The barrage was poor and the country difficult. First objectives taken easily but the right flank was held up as French did not advance. The Infantry brigade on our left fell back leaving the left flank exposed and untenable. Brigade was withdrawn and went to the line of the railway behind Kemmelbeke Stream. Batt held this line all day. Several officers wounded or missing. 2Lt LB Whittington later died from his wounds.

4th Batt: Batt found working parties for the Divisional Line. The following officers joined the Batt: Lts CW Morton MC, JVP O`Connor, W Strang, CG Sneade, MR Foster, GT Uren and 2Lts TL Gillespie and HT Crawford.

10th Batt: Batt supported the attack of Kemmel Hill, leaving camp at Proven at 1.30pm in buses to Ouderdom.

Yeomanry/Cavalry: At 6am the march to Jerusalem continued and men saw it first by moonlight. Reg turned off before Jaffa gate, round the old walls, past Damascus gate and Garden of Gethsemane, Mount of Olives to Bethany, where horses were fed. It was intensely cold and all were soon on the move again. The road went steeply down to Jericho and horses had to be led down the hairpin bends. Reg reached a bivouac site at Talaat ed Dumm with a good water supply. The weather was now warm and heavy.

Home Front:

WOR’SHIRE MEN’S DEEDS – AWARDS OF D.C.M. – 106099 SERGT. F ALDRIDGE R.E. Evesham, Worcester by his splendid courage, zeal and devotion to those who have become casualties he has earned the greatest respect from all ranks. His work at battery positions and his control under fire has been most praiseworthy. His award was announced in Dec 1917.

1896 BOMBR. A Bayliss, R.F.A. Worcester for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on many occasions and especially in repairing telephone wires under heavy shell fire. His award was first announced in December 1917.

UPTON WOMEN LAND WORKERS – Presentation of Ribbons – an interesting little function took place in the Town Hall, when the members of the Women’s Land Army and all other women who had worked on the land for six months or longer, were presented with the ribbons indicating the extent of their patriotic labours.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team