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Key dates over June 1918

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Lives lost on this day: 6

3rd June 1918 - The Food Problem

Rolling casualty count: 9923

War Front:

1st Batt: Batt in Merris in Reserve and did training on the training ground which was very crowded.

2nd Batt: Two Coys working on Green and Blue lines. A Coy moved forward to Rubrouck where they fired a musketry course. There was a conference by the Brigadier at Batt HQ on the defence of the Line in the forthcoming tour.

4th Batt: At 1am the 86th division on our left with the 1st Australian Division, carried out an operation which captured Mont Merris. All objectives were gained and 32 prisoners were taken by the 86th and 230 by the Australians. There was harassing fire from both artilleries on roads and back areas. At 11.45am an SOS signal was seen on our left, so a heavy barrage was put down by our artillery. The enemy had attempted to bomb the new posts of the 86th Brigade but were repulsed leaving 6 prisoners. A draft of 23 men joined Batt.

1/7th Batt: The 144th Brigade marched back down the mountain slopes into reserve in the southern edge of the hills above Camiisina in the valley of the river Astico.

1/8th Batt: Batt marched down the mountain to the area of Camisino, in the valley of the River Astico.

Home Front:

On the King’s fifty-third birthday it is noted with satisfaction that his four Royal namesakes all lived to a good age. George I was 67 when he died. George IV, a year older, George II, 77, whilst George III lived to be 82.

A little paradox of the postal system is pointed out by the “Observer.” You may not use for a letter stamps bearing the image of Queen Victoria. If you do your correspondent will have to pay twopence (or whatever the charge is) at the other end. Buty he may pay that charge in coins marked with Queen Victoria’s head.

Dvr. W.C. Hartland, on a field ambulance of the R.A.M.C. Last year won the first prize at the first Army Horse Show for the best R.A.M.C. turn-out. He has now been awarded the first prize in the same class at both his Divisional and Corps Horse Shows.

The Food Problem: It is announced by the Ministry of Food that, under the new scheme for the distribution of tea supplies, which will take effect as from July 14, every person in Great Britain, not already registered should, not later than June 10, register with a tea retailer. The Food Controller has not yet decided whether the new system of distribution shall be accompanied by national rationing in July, but the supply of tea to retailers will be made upon a basis of 2oz. weekly for each registered customer, including children.

The General List: Twenty-six officers are reported killed in today’s list, 152 are wounded, and eight are missing. Casualties in the ranks total 4,029; killed 540, died of wounds 178, died 54, wounded 2,620, missing 608.

Absentee: James Herbert Press, alias Sgt. Wilkins (43), was charged with being an absentee from the Royal Engineers at Fenny Stratford. D.S. Penlington said that he went to 26, Little Boughton Street, and saw prisoner. He asked him for his pass, and he produced a pass bearing the name of Sergt. Wilkins. It was a forged one, and prisoner later admitted that he was Corpl. Press. The Bench remanded him to await an escort.

Assault: Emily Price (48), who did not appear, 9, George’s Yard, Friar Street, married woman, was summoned by Alice Smith, 9, George’s Yard, single woman, for assault. Complainant said that defendant caught her by the hair and threw her down “for laughing at her.” Yet witness did not provoke the assault at all. Complainant’s fater gave similar evidence. P.C. Fisher said that, when he served the summons, defendant said that before the week was out complainant “would have had some more.” Defendant was fined £1 or 14 days.

A pathetic touch was given to the proceedings at the Investiture on Saturday when Mr. Washington Ranger, the blind solicitor, formerly a student at the Worcester Blind College, was led forward by one of the Staff Officers and knelt before the King, who conferred on him the honour of Knighthood by resting a sword gently on each shoulder. The King shook hands warmly with Sir Washington and expressed appreciation of his work.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team