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Key dates over December 1914

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Lives lost on this day: 0

29th December 1914 - Battle of Sarikamish in the Caucasus. Russian troops initially pushed back by the Turks before the situation is reversed. Battle continues until 2 January 1915.

Rolling casualty count: 565

1st Batt: In billets at Red Barn; 2nd Batt: A part of the fire trench and some of the supporting trenches flooded out. A great deal of anxiety and trouble. GREAT difficulty in distribution of rations, meals etc. Communications trenches almost impossible. Maj Wodehouse (1st Battn, who are in the 24th Bde on our left) paid a visit to Battn HQ – also Lt Col Nicholson Commanding the 2nd East Lancs on our left. Move Battn HQ inot a cellar of a cottage already destroyed by shell fire.3rd Batt: Westoutre: In billets.

More wounded soldiers now staying in Malvern were entertained to tea at the Blind and Crippled Girls’ Floral Exhibition at the Assembly Rooms. The tea was provided for them by the large number of local ladies assisting at the exhibition.

The War Office has notified that the maximum compensation allowance to Territorial recruits for wear and tear of civilian clothing pending the issue of uniform has been increased from 7s 6d to 15s.

Mr T Duckworth, of the Local Red Cross Society, has received a nice letter from a Worcester boy who sent a contribution to help wounded soldiers. The letter was as follows: “I am too young to go for a soldier, but I want to help so I have been selling some paper roses, so I want you to have the shilling to help the poor wounded soldiers.”

Through the kind offices of Mrs Coleman, of Hanbury Rectory, HM the Queen sent 100 flannel shirts and 500 pairs of socks to Capt. Walford for the men of E Company 8th (Reserve) Battalion, the Worcestershire Regiment. These were distributed, and three cheers for Her Majesty were heartily given by the Company.

In returning thanks to Miss Ida Bridge and Miss Gladys Grove, who sent parcels of socks to the Worcesters from the Titford Road Council Schools, Birmimgham, Pte Oliver says: “The socks are very welcome indeed. We are just leaving the firing line for a rest after fighting in ice, snow, and rain.” Since sending this message Oliver has been removed to hospital with frost-bitten feet. “On one occasion,” he writes, “we were tired out in the trenches in which there were several inches of water. When we awoke my boots were frozen together.”

Information researched by Sue Redding