30th June 1918 - Appeal on conscientious grounds

Rolling casualty count: 10196

War Front:

1st Batt: Hostile artillery subsided a little owing to very wet weather.

2nd Batt: Batt shelled heavily am.

3rd Batt: Batt marched to Semoine preparatory to entraining for the British Zone.

4th Batt: Divine Service was held on the Parade Ground at camp with Assistant Chaplain Gen preaching the sermon. The Army Divisional Commander and Brigade Commander were present. After the service the Brigade was inspected by the Army Commander, Gen Sir Herbert CO Plumer GCB, GCWG, GCVO, DDC and marched past him. W Coy Worcs met X Coy Worcs in Brigade Football, with W Coy winning 2 - 0. Total strength of the Batt - 41 officers and 880 OR.

Batt: The 183rd Brigade Horse Show and Sports took place.

1/7th Batt: Orders were received for the 48th Division to move back to Reserve around Arzignano.

1/8th Batt: Batt ordered to move back to Reserve at Arzignano. Men marched at night to avoid the heat of the day.

Yeomanry /Cavalry: Capt. Noel Pearson returned to the Reg after a period in England, during which the Ministry of Munitions had attempted to secure his services. He took over C Squadron

Home Front:

Honour for Worcester Lady: Mrs. Ernest Day has received an intimation from His Excellency the Belgian Minister informing her that H.M. The King of the Belgians has been graciously pleased to confer upon her the Medaille de la Reine Elizabeth in recognition of “the kind help and valuable assistance she has personally given to the Belgian refugees and the Belgian soldiers during the war.” Mrs. Day has acted as honorary secretary to the Belgian Refugee Sub-Committee in Worcester since January 1915, when she took over the duties from Mr. Shuttleworth King, on his joining the Army.

Hay-Box Demonstration: At a meeting of the Women’s Institute at the Guildhall, on Wednesday, Mrs. Hawkins gave a demonstration of hay-box camouflage. The Mayoress (Mrs. Carlton), who was supported by Lady Isabel Margesson, remarked that in September she thought the Women’s Institute might do something for to help the prisoners of war fund; and she invited members to make any suggestions which would bring in a little money. Lady Margesson stated that a boot-mending class would be held in July, when a practical boot-mender would be engaged to teach the ladies. In Italy, she pointed out, women mended the soldiers’ boots. Mrs. Hawkins then described how food can be cooked in a hay-cooker. The food was brought to the boil and then put in the cooker, where it went on cooking. Mrs. Hawkins is the authoress of a cheap booklet entitled “The Hay Box and its Uses.”

Entertainment at St. Clements: The Church Army Pioneer League on Thursday gave a social and entertained friends from St. Andrew’s and St. Peter’s in return for their entertaining St. Clement’s branch. Mr. Sandless, the secretary of this branch was responsible for the arrangements. A very successful evening ended with “Sir Roger” and “Auld Lang Syne.”

Local Historian: The death occurred on Sunday of Mr. John Amphlett, of Clent. A barrister-at-law, Mr Amphlett belonged to a Worcestershire family, whose members for more than 200 years have been prominently associated with national and county affairs. Called to the Bar in 1870, he was for some year’s leader of the Junior Bar at Worcester. More recently he acted as Deputy Judge of the Birmingham and other County Courts. He was a cousin of Judge Amphlett of Wychbold. In earlier years he travelled a great deal and published a notable history of the fauna of the West Indies. He was one of the founders of the Worcestershire Historical Society and edited its publications for many years. He brought out “Habington’s Survey of Worcestershire” and made a complete index of “Nash’s History”. He was also a prominent member of the Worcestershire Archaeological Society and some years ago, with Lord Cobham, he made an inspection of the churches of Worcestershire.

Unsettled and cool as the weather has been during the past few days, genial sunshine prevailed at the opening of the fete yesterday on the County Cricket Ground, Worcester, on behalf of the Mayor’s Homes for Disabled Soldiers and Sailors. During the afternoon two representatives of the Land Army addressed an assembly from a gaily-bedecked motor car, being introduced by the Mayor, who jocularly remarked that he hoped after the speeches all the ladies on the ground would enlist in the Land Army. Miss Davy and Miss Gwynne-Jones then took the platform, the floor of the car – the last-named having previously worked on the land in Gloucestershire. She apologised for having a hoarse voice, as she had been speaking at recruiting meetings for six weeks in London and appealed for 30,000 women workers, to replace the men who were being released for the Army by the end of July. She explained the conditions under which the women were trained and described the Land Army as the home line of defence.

Worcester Tribunals: Joseph Edward Davis (18), plumber’s apprentice, appealed on conscientious grounds and submitted a certificate that he was a member of the Seventh Day Adventists. He told the Chairman that he was educated at St. Peter’s School, but he said that though he was taught Church of England principles he had never belonged to that Church. Asked to explain the differences between the Adventists and the Church of England, he said, “We believe in the Second coming of Christ.” The Chairman: So do we. What other differences are there? – No reply. The Chairman, after eliciting that the youth joined the Adventists at the age of 9, was asked what he would do if a boy hit him in the eye. He said that he would not hit back. Nor would he hit anyone who hit his mother, but he would ask them not to do so. The Chairman: You’d say, please be good and don’t hit mother. Dismissed.

Lce.-Corpl. J. Spragg, Worcestershire Yeomanry, attd. Worcs. Regt., who is seriously wounded and in a French Hospital, has received the Military Medal for gallant conduct in the field.

Pte. H Dangerfield, M.M., Worcs. Regt who was posted as missing on July 31st 1917, is now reported killed. Pte. Dangerfield won the Military Medal while acting as stretcher-bearer in the battle of Vimy Ridge, 1916. Before joining the forces he was employed at Gloucester Docks.

Mr. and Mrs. Flexman, of 2 Barbourne Terrace, have been notified that their third son, Walter Edward, an observer in the R.A.F., was killed in action in France on the 13th inst. He was aged 20. In a letter to Mrs. Flexman, the Squadron Commander writes: “While on a raid the formation was attacked by hostile aircraft. Your son fought gallantly, but a bullet hit him in the chest. His pilot, who was also wounded, immediately returned and landed near a hospital, but your son succumbed to his wound shortly after admission.” He adds: “I had the highest opinion of him. He was a gallant observer and showed great keenness and devotion to duty. He is a great loss to the squadron. Please accept my sincere sympathy and that of all the officers and men of the squadron on your sad loss.”

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team