23rd July 1918 - Excessive Price for Ham

Rolling casualty count: 10258

War Front:

1st Batt: Batt supplying working parties at Petit Vimy.

2nd Batt: Batt in Brigade reserve. Working parties of 3 officers and 150 OR were supplied.

4th Batt: Batt had classes instead of training due to heavy rain.

Home Front:

Staff Sergt. F. Beach, A.V.C., husband of Mrs. M. Beach, 9, Bromyard Road, St. John’s, Worcester, has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in recognition of valuable services rendered with the forces in France. He joined the Army soon after the outbreak of war, and has served two years and two months in France. He was an old member of the Rowing Club. He is the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Beach, of Sebright Avenue, London Road, Worcester.

Pte. Ernest Bridges, Worcesters, (son of Mr. and Mrs. Bridges, 18 Wakeman Street, Worcester,) who has been reported missing since April 1917, is now officially reported as having been killed in action on that date. He was 29 years of age. He joined up in February 1916 and went to the Balkans. Some years ago he was employed by Messrs. Nicholson, the organ builders, and latterly he was in private service.

Mr. W.B. Hulme (City Coroner) held an inquest at Worcester Infirmary this morning respecting the death of Fielding Clayton (46), 17, Cumberland Street. The widow said the accident occurred on Wednesday last, and she saw him in the Infirmary. On the night before he died deceased said, “The bolt was not strong enough; the thread was worn. It was only a seven-eighth inch, when it should have been an inch.” Four or five years back deceased said, “The pumps are old; they will get some new ones when somebody gets hurt or killed.” She thought he made the remark at the time when his fingers were injured by the same press. The Coroner said the only question for the Jury was whether deceased’s death was traceable to the neglect of any person or persons. The Jury returned a verdict of “Accidental Death.”

Excessive Price for Ham: Violet Lane, Fernhill Heath, pleaded guilty to selling ham above the maximum price. Mr. Hemming prosecuted. Mr. Quarrel defended. Mr. C. Stevens, Enforcement Officer of the Droitwich Rural District Food Control Committee, said defendant sold ½ lb. of ham at 1s. 3d. instead of 1s. 2d. Mr. Quarrel’s defence was ignorance of the precise price, but Mr. Stevens said he had told her the day before about the terms of the Order. Defendant was fined £1.

Affiliation Case: William George Fennell, a soldier, in the A.S.C., who formerly worked as a chauffeur at Witley, was summoned by Edith May Walton, of Top Barn Cottage, Holt, who sought an affiliation order. Mr. Harrison said defendant walked out with the girl, and represented that he was a single man. He did not appear. Complainant said that she found out that Fennell was married while she was staying with him at Faversham. An order was made for the defendant to pay 5s. a week until the child is 16 years of age.

At the Worcester County Petty Sessions, Frank Edwin Hughes, Albert Edward Maple, and Ernest Munslow, three Worcester youths, were charged with playing a game of chance on the steamer Holt Castle. They pleaded guilty. (24 July) The Chairman said the Bench felt that there was such a conflict of evidence that they did not think it safe to convict. They believed that there was a good deal of card playing on the steamers and they were glad the police took steps to put it down. Hughes, Maple, and Munslow, were fined 5s. each. Eight other men, including L.-Cpl. Sidney Williamson, Norton Barracks, were also charged with playing a game of chance on the Holt Castle, and Joseph Hale, South Parade, Worcester, was charged with aiding and abetting the defendants. George Wilkins, a detective officer of Stourbridge, and Wm. Hancocks, a discharged soldier, living at Stourbridge, gave evidence that they saw defendants playing with cards and money in the cabin. (Proceeding.)

The necessity of increasing the pig supply was emphasised by Sir Charles Bathurst, M.P., on Monday at the Farmers’ Club. Mr. H. S. Cautley, Director of Pig Production said if were not for the obstinacy of some Government Departments the supply of pigs would increase still more quickly in the future. Unless this obstinacy was overcome he did not see how the pigs would be fed during the winter. He defied anyone to feed them on house refuse alone. In reply to a suggestion that local authorities should be empowered to compel householders to keep edible waste from inedible waste, he said housewives were too careful now to let much of it accrue. Sir Charles Bathurst said Mr. Hoover was to be consulted on the question of reducing the percentage of flour milled from the wheat so that more of the coarser part now used in bread may be set aside for the pigs. It was also proposed, he said, that all the Allies should have the same standard loaf.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team