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Key dates over October 1918

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Lives lost on this day: 5

7th October 1918 - First Battalion in front line assault

Rolling casualty count: 10994

War Front:

1st Batt: At 5am B Coy. was holding the Front line and carried out a successful operation clearing Oppy Support. Two platoons under 2Lt Johnson were creeping up along the railway between Cruet and Chalk, attacking in a northerly direction. At the same time a bombing attack was carried out by the remainder of B Coy. D Coy was lined up along Link Trench and started to bomb along the Fresnes to Rouvroy Line. C Coy took up the fight and after a hard battle, cleared the Fresnes to Rouvroy Line as far south as Corn. This operation gained 11 machine guns and 36 prisoners. I OR was killed and 1 officer and 16 ORs were wounded.

3rd Batt: It was a quiet day and in the evening word came that the enemy had withdrawn from the Division on our left. Patrols were sent out and were able to advance some 800 yards with no opposition.

4th Batt: At about 6am, 30 of the enemy attempted to rush our extreme right post under cover of heavy mist. They were driven off before reaching the posts. Wiring and connecting of trenches continued. Our artillery kept up harassing fire day and night.

Home Front:

Wor’shire Honours – D.C.M. – 201250 Lce Corpl W Homer, Worcs R. (Quarry Bank) – For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty while in command of a Lewis gun section. Three times he was blown up by shell fire, and the rest of his section became casualties, but he continued to fire his gun and inflicted heavy loss on the enemy. During his withdrawal he remained behind, giving covering fire for his company. Throughout his personal disregard for danger was splendid.

19702 Sergt A Kay, Worc. R. (Wordsley, Stourbridge) – For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an enemy attack. When the right flank of his company became exposed, he rushed forward with an enemy machine gun which he had captured and fired on the enemy at very close range, effectively dispersing them. After using all the ammunition, he put the gun out of action before leaving it. He showed great courage and promptitude.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team