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Key dates over September 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

Lives lost on this day: 14

2nd September 1918 - Potato Wart Disease

Rolling casualty count: 10503

War Front:

1st Batt: Batt still in Oppy Sector. One officer was wounded and 1 OR was gassed.

2nd Batt: Batt in Brigade exercise involving the capture of Sus-St-Leger and Beaudricourt with the advance covered by tanks and an artillery barrage.

4th Batt: In the early morning our line was advanced under heavy enemy machine gun fire and later 7 machine guns and 7 prisoners were taken. At 6 pm the line advanced again and many enemy dead were seen. 2Lt VC Cornish was wounded.

14th Batt: Batt moved around 3 am to Henin-Sur Soseul working on forward roads. A Coy was on the road from Fontaine Les Croisilles to Hennecourt Gagnicourt Road and C Coy on the Hendricourt to Riencourt Les Gagnicourt Road. B Coy took over at night.

Yeomanry /Cavalry: The Cavalry which had held the Jordan Valley for so many months was gradually being replaced by Indian Infantry, British West Indian troops and others.

Home Front:

Casualties among officers in today’s list number 125 – killed, 20; wounded, 87 (including killed 7, wounded 19, missing 4, of the Royal Air Force). Casualties in the ranks number 3,412 – killed, 313; died of wounds, 70; died, 10; wounded, 2,933; missing, 9; prisoners of war, 68. The names appear of 377 men who were prisoners of war in Germany, and have now arrived in England.

Potato Wart Disease: It is clear (says “Crowquill” in “Berrow’s Worcester Journal”) that, despite the efforts made by the Board of Agriculture to check the spread of potato wart diseases, there will be a considerable increase in the number of areas in the County affected by it. Already this season the Inspector, Mr. J. Lansdell, has received reports that the disease has appeared in a number of new places, and as growers proceed to dig their late potatoes it is feared that other cases will be revealed. Obviously some of the Board’s regulations have been disregarded or the disease would not have been imported from affected areas.

The King, it is announced in Friday night’s “London Gazette,” has issued a Commission “to consider and report whether it is advisable to make any changes in the denomination of the currency and money account of the United Kingdom, with a view to placing them on the decimal basis, and whether, if an alteration of the present system is recommended, it is desirable to adopt, with or without modification, the proposals embodied in the Bill recently introduced into the House of Lords by Lord Southwark, or some other scheme, and in the latter alternative to make specific recommendations for consideration by Parliament.”

District News: On Thursday afternoon, thanks to the kindness of the late Sir George Hingley and the Misses Hingley, the boys belonging to St. Michael’s Church Choir had their annual outing. Accompanied by the Rector (the Rev. E. Sinker) and Mr. W. Robinson (Churchwarden) they went by train from Droitwich to Worcester and then by steamer to Holt Fleet. After strolling about for a short time they returned to the steamer, where Mrs. Huxter had provided a substantial tea, which was thoroughly enjoyed. The return journey was then made, and Salwarpe was reached about 8 o’clock, after a very enjoyable outing.

Miss Irene Vanbrugh, who has just finished her successful London season, is paying a flying visit to Worcester next Tuesday, and will present at the Theatre Royal “Seven Women” and “The Twelve Pound Lock,” by Sir James Barrie. “The Twelve Pound Lock” was specially written for Miss Vanbrugh by Sir James. In this she plays the part of the brave little woman who fought her way to independence by means of a twelve-pound typewriter. In “Seven Women” she gives a delightful study of a charming woman with an unerring touch and buoyancy that communicates itself to her audiences. Miss Vanbrugh is a daughter of Prebendary Barnes, of Exeter Cathedral.

City Police Court: Alvina Howston (38), 16, Bush Walk, married woman, was summoned for obstruction with a truck in St. Swithin’s Street. P.C. Jauncey said that defendant remained with a truck for half an hour. She was cautioned the same afternoon about it. Defendant was fined 2s. 6d.

Pte. Walter Thomas Richardson, A.S.C. (son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Richardson, 10, Derby Road, Worcester) was accidentally killed in the Balkans on July 8th. From letters which Mrs. Richardson has received it appears that on a very dark night her son was out with his car on maintenance duty, lights not being safe. He mistook a stream for a road, and headed over a cliff, dropping 10 feet into the stream. The car overturned and pinned him underneath. A Serbian doctor states that death was instantaneous. He was buried with full military honours, being carried to the grave by his chums.

Under the Order issued on Saturday by the Board of Agriculture, male agricultural worker’s wages above 21 years of age from 2 September have been fixed at 33s. weekly for 48 hours’ work. Overtime is to be paid at 9d. and Sunday work at 11p. per hour.

On Saturday last 300 children, whose fathers have been killed in the war, were taken on the Holt Castle for a free trip to Holt. Some were accompanied by their surviving parents. The weather was favourable, and the children enjoyed themselves. Whilst on the journey to Holt Mr. Cantle entertained the children. Mr. Clark played the piano, Nelly Danxos, the late V.C.’s five-year-old daughter, also sang. On their arrival the children went into a field lent by Mr. Arnold. Here children’s races were held.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team