20th June 1918 - Fire at Barbourne

Rolling casualty count: 10161

War Front:

1st Batt: GOC 8th Division, inspected the Batt. One hundred OR joined the Batt.

2nd Batt: At 12.15 pm, a party of 5 officers, with 2nd Lt Boswell in command, plus 150 OR raided enemy lines west of Zillebeke. They killed many Germans and brought back 5 prisoners. B Coy returned to billets in Brigade Reserve. 3 OR were killed and 4 wounded. Batt relieved by the 9th HLI and went to Reserve south of Vlamertinghe.

3rd Batt: Batt refitting and reorganising.

4th Batt: Batt relieved by the 15th West Yorks of the 31st Brigade.

Home Front:

Fire at Barbourne: At 5.10 this morning a fire broke out on the premises of Messrs. Lee Bros., bakers, 24, Barbourne Road. The Police Fire Brigade, together with the horse hose tender, was called out under the command of the Chief Constable. The building was found to be well alight and flames were issuing through the roof. Under the same roof there are a coach-house, a stable and a store room containing coke. There was a horse in the stable, but it was saved. It appears that a quantity of coke in the store room burst into flames during the night. The fire was quickly extinguished by water. The damage was not serious.

Municipal Charities: On Tuesday the inmates of the almshouses had their annual outing, the place selected being the Lower Lode, Tewkesbury. They were accompanied by the High Sheriff of Worcester, Ald. C.H. Palmer (Chairman) the Rev. H.P. Higgins (Chaplain), Mr. Livingstone Wood, Mrs. Palmer, Mrs. Edwards and Miss Wood. The inmates reached the Lower Lode about 1.30 where a good dinner was ready. It was thoroughly enjoyed. Afterwards some amusements were provided. Then tea was taken and the return journey was began at about 4.30. The city was reached at about 7.30. The ladies and gentlemen present did everything they could for the comfort and amusement of the aged inmates and everyone expressed their appreciation and gratitude to the Trustees for their kindness. In spite of the weather, which was anything but nice, the party all enjoyed themselves.

Other Charges Expected: Lizzie Band (33), married woman, Windsor Place, Wylds Lane, was charged with stealing from a waiting room at the Crown Hotel, Broad Street, two voile dresses, one silk dress and one blue Georgette dress, together valued £16 16s., the property of Freda May Pope, Brockamin Farm, Leigh. The Chief Constable stated that the police received a complaint and visited the prisoner’s house, where they found a box which had been missed from the hotel. Prisoner admitted having stolen it and two other dresses which she had sold. The Chief Constable asked for a remand for a week, as the police would probably then be able to bring several other charges against her of obtaining goods by false pretences. Remanded for a week.

Death of Mr. G. Grundy: The death occurred at Breinton, near Hereford, on Wednesday of Mr. George Grundy, of Bath Road, Worcester, who was known throughout the countryside as a sheep and cattle dealer. He was journeying to Breinton on Wednesday week to view some cattle, when he had a seizure and succumbed in the house to which he was conveyed at the time. He was 60 years of age. A frequenter of practically all the markets in the neighbourhood, he was a well-known and popular figure. He was a wonderfully good judge of sheep of which a very large number passed through his hands. He also farmed land in the Bath Road. All four of his sons joined up. One is missing and the other three are serving. A son-in-law has been killed in the war. He leaves a widow and three daughters. The funeral will take place on Saturday at Powick at 2 o’clock.

Sow Now: Vegetable Marrow. Owing to fruit shortage the Food Production Dept. urge the growing of Vegetable Marrows for Jam making as the following extract from their Official Circular will show: “ I may say that the Ministry of Food is most anxious to secure the largest possible increase of this crop and that they are confident that the quantity of marrows which can be utilised during the coming season by the recognised jam manufacturers is to be estimated by thousands of tons.” Frederick Keeble, Controller of Horticulture.

Lce.-Corpl. H.E. Oram, 2nd Batt Royal Fusiliers, has undergone an operation for transfusion, giving 1½ pints of his blood to save a comrade’s life. He is now in Bangor Hospital, Edinburgh, recovering. He has been granted 21 days leave for this act. This is the third case reported recently in which a Worcester soldier has given blood to save the life of another.

The General List: The names of 179 officers appear in today’s list. Twenty-three are killed, 108 are wounded and 28 are missing. Casualties in the ranks total 5,649; killed 420, died of wounds 198, died 33, wounded 3,221, missing 1,690.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team