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Key dates over July 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 31

Lives lost on this day: 3

2nd July 1918 - Charges against a Soldier

Rolling casualty count: 10202

War Front:

2nd Batt: It was quiet until midnight when a “Chinese Barrage” on our left made our artillery retaliate.

4th Batt: Coys practising shaking out into artillery formation and extended order. Y Coy beat 88th Field Ambulance in the 2nd round of the football competition.

1/7th Batt: Batt had rested at Cereda overnight and marched to Arzignano.

1/8th Batt: Batt marched from Chuipiano to Cornedo and then to Arzignano.

9th Batt: No railway existed across the Persian Plateau and men were moved in echelons by motor lorries with the 7th North Staffs first to leave so Batt had to wait.

Home Front:

On Sunday, the British had a most successful day in the air. In fighting, 25 enemy machines were shot down and 10 others were driven down out of control. Two German balloons were destroyed in addition. Twenty-nine and a half tons of bombs were dropped by day and 17 tons on the following night. Of the latter, over seven tons fell with good effect on the railway connexions at Tournai. From the whole of these operations all British aeroplanes returned safely, with the exception of one scout and one night-bombing machine.

Charges against a Soldier: John Jones, wearing the uniform of the R.G.A. was indicted on two charges, one of stealing a silver candlestick, valued at £6, from Mrs. Price-Hughes, Red Hill, Worcester and the other of stealing four silver cups and a silver cake dish, valued at £44, from Mrs. Weir, Broadheath. Prisoner was found guilty. An officer from Winchester said that prisoner had a very bad conduct sheet. The Chairman said he had known prisoner’s father for a number of years and prisoner was taking after him. Prisoner had 38 convictions against him. He was sentenced to 12 months’ hard labour.

Worcester Tribunals: The Older Men’s Cases: Mr. Stallard applied for David H. Farnham (46), G1, dripping manufacturer, tallow melter, etc. He said that he supplied dripping for our war prisoners. Farnham said that if he went the whole of the fat and refuse in the city and Droitwich would go to wastes. His brother, who used to assist him, was in the Army. Three months. Messrs. Lea and Perrins applied for Frank Bullock (45), Grade 1, sauce maker. The firm applied for Bullock on the ground that he was indispensable for confidential work, and Mr. Dyson Perrins said, in reply to the Chairman, that if Bullock went they would have to consider seriously the question of closing the business. Three months. Herbert Clarke (46), Grade 2, grocer’s porter for Messrs. Bailey Bros., was represented by Mr. Garrard, who said that the man had eight children, one of whom was fighting. Six months.

General List: Today’s list contains the names of 133 officers, of whom 24 (nine of the Royal Air Force) are killed, six have died, 55 are wounded and 15 (nine of the R.A.F.) are missing. Ten officers previously posted missing are now stated to be prisoners of the Germans. Casualties in the ranks total 3,713: Killed, 337; died of wounds, 193; wounded, 3,001; missing, 124.

Lce.-Cpl. Edward Donovan, D.C.M., of a Territorial Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment, the youngest son of Mrs. Margaret Donovan, 15, Wood Terrace, Worcester, is reported to have died of wounds received in action on the 18th of June. Donovan was very well known in the City. In pre-war days he was very active in football circles. He helped to foster Thursday football and frequently played in one position or another in local teams and he was popular among footballers generally.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team