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Key dates over July 1915

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Lives lost on this day: 1

31st July 1915 - Fort Royal Recreation Ground Opening Ceremony

Rolling casualty count: 1635

1st Batt: Relieved by 2/Scottish Rifles and 2/Middx Regt in section 25; 2nd Batt: Very quiet night, moonlight, no patrols sent out. The day passed off very quietly, little or no gunning. A heavy shower of rain during evening, also thunder and lightning. A German biplane flew along our front towards Givenchy – this was fired at by our Machine Gun. ‘D’ Coy relieved ‘A’ Coy in right front, ‘C’ Coy relieved ‘B’ Coy in left front ; 3rd Batt: In Bivouac 1 mile N. of Dickebusch; Royal Field Artillery: 1st (Hebuterne) and 3rd Battery (Sailly au Bois) preparing positions. 2nd Battery training.

Fort Royal Recreation Ground Opening Ceremony: The Fort Royal Recreation Ground, which the children of Worcester owe largely to the initiative and generosity of Canon Wilson, was formally presented to the city on Thursday evening. The Fort Royal Park, which lies on the hill above the recreation ground, was opened to the public a few weeks ago. The recreation ground was not then ready for use, so that the opening had to be delayed.; The 2/2nd South Midland F.A. Brigade having spent a month under canvas on the borders of the beautiful Epping Forest, have now moved into the Chelmsford area. The weather during the period of camp life was somewhat unsettled, and at times the horses and men have been in a perfect quagmire, but despite these conditions, all ranks have borne the discomforts with stolid cheerfulness. ; Malvern Man Wounded: Pte Leonard Hill, of Barnard’s Green, who is serving in the 4th Worcesters, has been landed at Malta from a hospital ship, suffering from shrapnel wounds in the right thigh and calf, received in the fighting at the Dardanelles.;

Local Man Wounded: Bombadier F. J. Powles, 14th Battery R.F.A., son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Powles, of Malvern View, Green Hill, London Road, who was wounded in Flanders, has been taken to Sheffield Hospital, suffering from concussion. He has already been under two operations, and another is being performed today. Two of his brothers have been at the front since the commencement of the War. Some recruitment verses composed by Bomb. Powles appeared in our columns recently;

4th Worcesters at the Dardanelles: Pte. Albert Bonell, 4th Worcs. States – “ I am in the best of health at present, but we are in rather a tight corner, as the Turks are only 25 yards from our firing line, and we can hear them talking. Now and again at night they try to throw bombs in our trenches. Judging by how things are looking at present here, I do not think the Turks can last much longer. We keep on gaining ground, but have had to fight hard for it. They have lost very heavily. The French have done some good work this week, they have taken 7 rows of trenches and numerous prisoners;”

2/8th Worcesters’ Good Shooting: The many friends of the members of the second 8th Worcs, now undergoing training at the East Coast station, will be glad to know that the Battalion is the best for shooting in the Gloucester and Worcester Infantry Brigade, and the best shooting company in the Brigade is “D” Company;

Obstruction: Edwin Percy Taylor, Manager, 58, Broad Street, was summoned for causing an obstruction with a wooden crate in Broad Street. P.C. Wynne stated that the crate was outside the shop all the afternoon. Defendant said that he rang up the Railway Company, and then, being very busy, he forgot it. Fined 5 shillings;

Discharged: At the County Police Court this morning, a man named Shaw, of Small Heath, was charged with lighting a fire in the main road in St. John’s, but was discharged;

Chief Scout’s Visit: The Chief Scout, Sir R. Baden Powell will inspect the Evesham and Pershore Boy Scouts on Sunday morning, and he will then motor to Worcester, where, at 2 o’clock, he will inspect those of the Worcester District in the Shire Hall Yard. Lady Baden Powell will accompany him.

Information researched by Sue Redding