13th July 1918 - Medals for Local Men

Rolling casualty count: 10233

War Front:

1st Batt: Batt training on the Brigade Scheme. 2 Officers and 40 OR joined the Batt.

2nd Batt: Lewis gunners were firing on the range all day.

4th Batt: Baths allotted to W and X Coys pm. The 88th Field Ambulance Concert Party gave a performance in the YMCA Tent at Lumbres. 5 ORs joined Batt.

9th Batt: The Batt left in the leading echelon in motor lorries.

Home Front:

Worcestershire Volunteer Regt: An opportunity offers for young men of 17 years, and not more than 17 years and 7 months, to join the Worcestershire Volunteer Regiment. They must be of good physique and not less than 5ft. 2in. in height. They will receive rifles and equipment as they become efficient. They must attend drill for 14 hours per month until passed as efficient, which should be in two to six weeks, and then only 30 hours in three months are required. The men so joining do not incur any greater responsibility than attaches them in civilian life so far as service in the Army is concerned, but they will be in a much better position as trained men when called up on attaining the military age. Their recruit stage in the Army would be shortened and rendered much easier.

Blind College Regatta The first day’s programme of the Blind College Annual Regatta, this year extended to two days, was held on Friday. Though the morning and early part of the afternoon were wet, the weather suddenly cleared about 3pm, and remained fine for the rest of the day. There were few present, except the relatives of the boys and those interested in the College, and some of these helped to “cox” the rowers. Among the items were several races between the College boys and officers blinded in the war, from St. Dunstan’s Hostel.

Missing: Pte. A. Harper, Devon Regt., son of Mr. and Mrs. Harper, Perdiswell Lodge, Worcester, has been missing since May 27th. He joined the Army in April, 1917, and went to France on Easter Monday, 1918. Previous to joining the Army, he worked at the Gas Works. He is 19 years of age.

Medals for Local Men: Mrs. Alfred Crawford, of 72, Worcester Street, Bromsgrove, has received official news saying that her son, Lce - Cpl. Alfred Crawford, of the Machine Gun Corps, has been awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field on June 14th. L.-Cpl. Crawford has been in the Army since August, 1914. He is 20 years of age;

1626 Flight-Sergt. James Stevenson has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, in recognition of valuable services rendered with the Forces abroad. Sergt. Stevenson joined the Army at the outbreak of war, and has been on active service with R.F.C. since 1915. He is the youngest of four sons serving of the late Mr. D.R. Stevenson, The Gorse, Belbroughton, and of Mrs. Stevenson, Broadheath, Worcester;

Sergt. William Evan Cartwright, of the R.F.A., has been awarded the Military Medal. He is the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Cartwright, of 8, Waterside, Evesham, and wrote home of June 23 stating that he had been awarded the medal “for maintaining the supplies of ammunition under heavy fire on April 9th and 11th.” He was formerly manager of Hunter’s Tea Stores, Evesham, and joined the forces three years last May.

Worcester Tribunals: Messrs. Mason and Sons applied for John William Flavill (45) Grade 1, married, shop manager. Lieut. Dixon said he had instructions not to press for some of the people engaged in food distribution, and he should leave the cases to the Tribunal. The Mayor remarked that this and other cases had been before five different Tribunals before they came there. Six months’ exemption. The same decision was given in the case of John Howard Sherwood (43), Grade 2, married, assistant of Messrs. Shuter and Flays, who it was said, attended to the requirements of 600 shops. In the case of George Edwin Bradley (45), Grade 2, married, The Stores, Cherry Orchard, the Tribunal gave six months’ exemption, and ordered him to give 24 hours a week to work of national importance. Roland Percy William Shead (45), manager of Messrs. Fearis, who made the application, said that the branch had 9,000 registered customers. He said he worked from 5.30 till late at night, and worked on the land on Sundays and Thursday afternoon. Six months; Volunteers excused. The Food Control Committee recommended exemption in this case also.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team