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Key dates over January 1916

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Lives lost on this day: 3

14th January 1916 - Parade of 1,300 volunteers in Redditch

Rolling Casualty Count:2699

At the Front:

10th Batt: heavy shelling in trenches at Neuve Chapelle

On the Home Front:

The main body of the 3/7th Worcestershires, who have spent some months in Malvern, under canvas and in billets, left for a coast station this morning. Some men of the Battalion are joining the 2/7th in another part of the country. The 3/8th will leave Malvern Link tomorrow.

Removal of Pigs: George Ellis, 1 Court, Powick Lane, was charged with removing nine store pigs from the Cattle Market to Dent Street without a license to do so. Defendant was fined 1s. in each case.

Unusual scenes were witnessed at Redditch when the men who have joined under Lord Derby’s Scheme and the Rifle Volunteers had a parade. It is estimated that 1,300 men joined in the procession, which was led by the military band and Col. H.S. Bartleet and Col. C.F.Milward , on horseback. The streets were lined with people, who showed great interest. The whole proceedings were most impressive and brought nearer to the thousands of people who congregated and took part in the crisis through which the country is now passing.

Yeomanry Recruits Wanted: Instructions have now been received for the recruiting for the Worcestershire Yeomanry to be re-started, and about 100 men are required at once. Applicants can apply either to the Silver Street Headquarters, or to any recruiting office.

Experiences on a Torpedoed Liner: Mrs. Eyres Monsell, wife of the gallant member for South Worcestershire, has, happily, suffered no ill effects from her exciting experiences, when the Japanese liner, Yasaka Maru, was sunk without warning by an enemy submarine on the journey to Port Said on Dec. 21. In a letter she says, “First, will you tell everyone who sent out parcels by me that I regret they are all at the bottom of the sea. I had just gone down to my cabin, when there came this violent bang which shook the whole ship.”

Regimental Comforts Fund Sale: A sale is arranged to take place tomorrow, and on Monday, at the Public Hall, Worcester. Many friends of the Regiment have promised choice and valuable articles. Many of these are of great intrinsic worth and of considerable local interest. In addition to the articles mentioned in the catalogue, the lots include an autograph letter from the great Duke of Wellington to the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, dated 1834, arranging for a Royal visit to that city; a diamond ring and a supper tray with five old blue and white Spode dishes (which have been in a Worcestershire family’s possession for 100 years.

Mr. J.A. Middleton of the Worcestershire Yeomanry has written from a hospital at Malta, where he has been undergoing treatment for exposure and frostbite. He says,”We had a d….. of a time for five days before I crocked up. We were washed out of trenches one night and got soaked to the skin, and for three days we had to run about on top to keep warm. When we left our trenches we had to march for a mile through water, anything from 2 to 4 feet deep, and we arrived at our destination at 2am. I shall not forget that tramp for a day or two. We had no sleep at all for three days and nights. As a matter of fact, we dare not, for fear of being frozen to death. Some poor beggars who got hold of some rum went to sleep, and they nearly all paid the penalty. Most of the boys took it as part of their work, and came through with smiling faces. The way some of them have stuck to it is marvellous.”

Information researched by the WWW100 team.