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Key dates over December 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: 0

24th December 1914 - Territorials' Christmas leave cancelled at last minute

Rolling casualty count: 561

1st Batt: ‘B’ Lines: Remained at La Gorgue in billets; 2nd Batt: In billets at Lacouture; 3rd Batt: E. Kemmel: Relieved Royal Fusrs in trenches 5pm.

The Kempsey Troop of Boy Scouts have now entered into new headquarters, which should make an excellent home for the movement in the village. Through the kindness of Mrs R Boucher, the large old “malt house,” standing in the centre of the parish, has been placed at their disposal, and during the next few days the members of the Troop, under Scoutmaster AJ Barley, have effected a transformation of the interior of the building. They did all the cleaning, whitewashing, distempering, and carpentry themselves, making their own tables and the partitions which divide the first floor into a large clubroom and three patrol rooms. Above is a large room which is used as the workshop and where a miniature range will be fixed shortly, whilst the ground floor will be used as a drill hall.

Worcestershire Soldier’s Plight: Pte James Price, of the Worcesters, Dudley, a local postman, has returned home injured. While in trench a German shell tore up the earthworks, burying Price, who had to be dug out by his comrades, the work of extricating him occupying over an hour. Price was severely injured in the back.

We understand that the men of the Battalion who were marked for Christmas leave had paraded for the distribution of the railway tickets on Wednesday at mid-day, when they were informed that orders had just come to hand cancelling all leave. The telegram sent to the Chief constable o f Worcester, and published in the Press, was for the information of the relatives of the soldiers, who were, naturally, very much disappointed. The order cancelling the leave affected the 7th& 8th Battalions and also the Gloucestershire Territorials. The leave of the Worcestershire Yeomanry and Artillery (also on the east Coast) has been stopped. This order does not affect the 11th Battalion, now stationed in Worcester.

Two boxes of presents brought from America by the Santa Claus ship, Jason, are now being distributed in the city and county of Worcester. In the county 200 gifts for children of British soldiers and sailors at the front were sent, and a number of things for Belgian children…In the city 250 gifts for children of soldiers at the front were received and would be distributed. The articles include toys, clothing, and quantities of tinned stuffs.

A few saddlers and shoeing smiths are needed for the Worcester Battery, 2nd South Midland Brigade, RFQ. Recruits should apply at the HQ, Southfield Street.

Information researched by Sue Redding