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Key dates over September 1918

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Lives lost on this day: 15

4th September 1918 - Honours for Worcestershire Men

Rolling casualty count: 10542

War Front:

2nd Batt: A Coy practiced musketry and the remaining Coys carried out a tactical exercise. There was a lecture to all officers and Sgts on the general principles of the present warfare.

4th Batt: The enemy was seen to be massing for a counter attack and 2 Coys advanced and reinforced the 2nd Leinsters and 2nd Hants who had suffered heavy casualties. The counter attack was only successful on the extreme left of the trench in flames. One British aeroplane was brought down falling just behind the old GHQ Line. The pilot and observer were wounded.

14th Batt: A Coy worked on the Gagnicourt to Inchy Road and B coy on the Riencourt to Gagnicourt Road the Divisional Commander complimented the Batt on the good work which was enabling the guns, transport etc. to get up to the front line.

Home Front:

City Council: The Lord Lieutenant wrote asking for support for the Worcestershire Prisoners of War Fund, and the General Purposes Committee recommended the Council to vote £1,000 as a contribution towards the Fund; and to inform the War Office that the Council are of the opinion that the proper supply of comforts to the prisoners should be paid for out of Imperial funds, and thus avoid the inequality of charge which may result from each district being expected to support its own prisoners. Of the 1,800 prisoners of war in the county, 83 were citizens of Worcester. All were proud of the wonderful deeds of the Worcestershire Regiment, and it was the duty of all to aid the prisoners taken after fighting valiantly for their country.

Mr. Burgess asked if the Watch Committee would consider the advisability of doing away with the “hideous row” made by the electricity hooter on the occasion of a “supposed” air raid. He said it attracted people into the street and frightened invalids and old people. The Mayor promised that the Committee should have the matter brought before them at their next meeting.

General Infirmary: Week ending 31st August: Patients admitted 12, discharged 19, in the House – men 18, women 29, children 24, wounded soldiers 6, other classes of patients 5. Total 82.

Powick Asylum: The Medical Superintendent reported that the number of patients was 414 males and 566 females, total 780. Three had been discharged and 13 admitted since the last meeting.

Ex-Soldiers and Blackpole: A special meeting of Worcester Branch of Comrades of the Great War was held at the Bridge Inn on Sunday. Over 300 members were present. The following resolution was carried unanimously: “That this Branch of the Comrades of the Great War are not satisfied with the recent employment of eligible men at Blackpole when discharged soldiers and sailors could have been employed; and we also consider that many men could be released from this factory and substituted by ex-Service men.” It was resolved, “That the complaint should be forwarded to the Ministry of Munitions, Ministry of Pensions, and Comrades’ M.P.s.”

M.M. for Machine Gunner: Pte. William Hall, of the M.G.C., has been awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field. He is the eldest son of Mrs. Ada Hall, of 4, Portland Place, Charles Street, Worcester, and is 20 years of age. Having joined the Army in October, 1916, he went to France in March of the following year. He has been twice wounded. Before joining the Army he was apprenticed as a wheelwright and carpenter at Messrs. Nadin’s. At present he is in hospital recovering from a serious attack of pneumonia. Another brother, Driver Roland Hall, is serving with the A.S.C. in France.

Honours for Wor’shire Men: 88390 Co. Sergt.-Major (Actg. Reg. Sergt. –Major) T. Curtis, R.E. (Worcester). He was ordered to remove some howitzers, but on advancing, he found that the railway and batteries in the vicinity were being heavily shelled and the line broken. He repaired the line, under heavy fire, until he came to a part which was destroyed beyond repair. After notifying the battery commander that it was impossible to get through, he collected wounded and organised their evacuation from the dressing station. He set a fine example of soldierly courage and disregard for personal danger.

Sergt. Frank Sanders, Worcestershire Regiment (son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Sanders, Derby Road, Wyld’s Lane, Worcester) has been awarded the Military Medal for gallantry on the occasion of a midnight raid. A message of thanks from the Commanding Officer to the Companies concerned says that the raid “was carried out in the face of unusual difficulties because of the short time available in which to obtain a knowledge of the ground and for any preparations of the scheme, reflecting the greatest credit on every individual concerned.” Sergt. Sandes joined the Worcesters in February, 1915. Before the war he was employed by Messrs. Williamson. He was a member of St. Helen’s Choir, the Cathedral Infirmary Choir, a member of the Y.M.C.A. Gymnastic Club, and a tenor in the Festival Choral Society. His brother Archie is with the Somerset Light Infantry in France.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team