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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: 4

24th July 1918 - Co-operative Fruit Market prices

Rolling casualty count: 10262

War Front:

2nd Batt: 2nd Lts AE Barrs and M Glynn joined the Batt. Working party of 3 officers and 150 men found again.

4th Batt: All stretcher bearers attended a class of instruction under the MO. The Adjutant, 4 Coy Commanders and Intelligence officers reconnoitred the Blue Line approaches. 2LTs GW Wright and W Hayle joined the Batt. An inter platoon football competition commenced.

The following Army Orders were issued: Left hand salute is abolished, unless there is an incapacity of the right hand.

When saluting to the side, the head will turn to the person being saluted.

9th Batt: The Brigade was commanded by Lt Col WFO Faviell DSO of the 9th Batt and he took with him B Coy. They entrained at Abu Saida and detrained after dark at Ruz where men bivouacked for the night.

14th Batt: The 63rd Division was relieved by the 21st Division and Batt withdrew to general reserve.

Home Front:

Thrilling stories of the operations against Zeebrugge and Ostend are recorded in the “London Gazette,” in which are published the names of six members of the expedition who have been awarded the Victoria Cross for their gallantry. The names include: Sergeant Norman Augustus Finch, R.M.A., No. R.M.A./12150. Sergt. Finch was second in command of the pompoms and Lewis guns in the foretop of the Vindictive, under Lieut. Charles N.B. Rigby, R.M.A. At one period the Vindictive was being hit every few seconds, chiefly in the upper works, from which splinters caused many casualties. Pte. C.F. Potter, R.M.L.I., son of Mr. and Mrs. Potter, Compton Road, Worcester, who was on the Vindictive at the time, told our representative when on leave a few weeks ago about the extraordinary bravery of Sergt. Finch, who, he said, had been selected for the V.C. (though the actual award had not then been made). Apart from this he was recommended for the V.C. by Admiral Keyes. Gunner Vine, of Worcester, was among those who fell in action.

Edith V. Norman, Ombersley, was summoned for selling flour in excess of the maximum price. Mr. A.A. Maund appeared for defendant and pleaded guilty to a technical offence. She charged 1s. 5d. for half a stone, which was an excess of a penny. Her explanation was that as the price of one quarter was 8½d, so two quarters must be 1s. 5d. Fined £1; Charles Joyner, Ombersley, was summoned for selling ham at 1d. above the maximum price. He sold half a pound of ham at 1s. 3d, which was an overcharge of one penny, twopence a pound. Mr. Maund appeared for defendant in this case also, and pleaded not guilty. The case was dismissed, the defence not being called upon.

Pte. W.H. Meredith (son of Mrs. Meredith, 8, Middle Street, Arboretum, Worcester) has been awarded the Military Medal for his fine work and devotion to duty in the great German offensive of March-April. He has been in the South-Midland Field Ambulance since January, 1915, and in France since May, 1916. He was a compositor before the war.

Out of 162 applicants, Mr. George Ellis, D.C.M. (who has served 12 years in the Army, including the present war), now chief clerk of the Worcestershire War Pensions Committee has been appointed Secretary to the Discharged Sailors and Soldiers’ Section of the Richmond (Surrey) War Pensions Committee, at a salary of £200 per annum.

Co-operative Fruit Market: There was an increased entry for the second weekly sale of the Worcestershire Fruit and Vegetable Society, held at the Sheep Market on Tuesday. In all some 280 lots were sent, including all kinds of fruit and vegetables, and a useful supply of rabbits, poultry, etc. Some extraordinary prices were realised. Prolific plums made up to 1s. 7½d. per lb., apples up to 11d., loganberries 11½d., marrows (very large) 1s. 6d. each, tomatoes 1s. 1lb., walnuts 3d., potatoes 7s. pot, dwarf beans 15s. pot (4½d lb.), runners 19s., spring onions 6s. 6d. lb., onions 13s 6d. pot. There were a large number of buyers from the neighbourhood and also from South Wales.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team