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Key dates over October 1914

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 31

Lives lost on this day: 4

26th October 1914 - Sergeant Mason from the Colour Party killed

Rolling casualty count: 296

2nd Batt: Gheluvelt: Withdrawn from the trenches to act as Divisional Reserve but suddenly ordered to support an attack by the 6th Infantry Brigade. After marching 3 miles they found out that they were not required so returned to Veldhoek.

3rd Batt: La Quinque Rue: enemy sniper all day. Advance up ditches towards Manchester Regt on our right. Enemy attack chiefly directed at Manchesters.

News received at Bevere that Lt Frederick Gwatkin Oldham (Freddie) Curtler has been killed in action. He was 21 years old, the son of Mr F L Curtler, of Bevere. He was educated at Rugby. He joined the 5th Batt of the Worcs Regt in December last, and went out to the front with the 2nd Batt. His cousin Lt W L Curtler is with the 8th Worcs;

8th Batt: only another dozen recruits are required for the 8th (Res) Batt, and those wishing to join are advised to hurry up;

Death of Sgt G H Mason, 2nd Batt. A private of the 2nd Batt said: ‘One of our fellows got wounded about 20 or 30 yards in front of the trenches, and he lay there groaning. Sgt mason got out of the trench he occupied and went straight to him and fetched him under hot fire.’ Mason was a son of Mr S Mason, who was for many years in the Worcs Militia Band. Sgt Mason was a member of the party that took the colours of the regiment to the Cathedral some 12 months ago. He was at one time employed at Messrs Williamsons’ Tinplate Works and he and his brother were members of the Sabrina Lodge of Oddfellows. He leaves a widow and three young children

About 60 of the 8th (Imperial Services) Batt Worcs Regt belonging to ‘A’ Company and the ‘H’ (Redditch) Company, arrived at Shrub Hill. They were accompanied by Cpt Clarke and Lt Hemming, and are home for a few days’ leave.

Information researched by Sue Redding