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Key dates over March 1916

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Lives lost on this day: 2

18th March 1916 - New Commander in Chief, Sir Douglas Haig, visits 1st Battalion billets

Rolling Casualty Count: 2809

At the Front:

1st Batt: The new Commander in Chief, Sir Douglas Haig, visited the billets of the Batt.

2nd Batt:Little activity during the daybut at 5.00pm the enemy started shelling and dropped a great manyshells into the Right Coy near Batt HQ. There were several ”Lachrinatory” shells and gas goggles were put on. Later the germans blew up two mines in front of the East Surreys.

SMD RFA: Bombardment of enemy trenches in preparation for a raid There was heavy bombardment to the right ofour zone which later information proved to be an enemy raid on the 6th Glos trenches.

On the Home Front:

Mr. A.W. Griffin, of the Gate Inn, Bourneheath, Bromsgrove, was notified this week that his eldest son, Lance-Corporal R.R. Griffin, Worcestershire Yeomanry, was admitted to No. 4 Auxiliary Hospital, Abbassia, Cairo, suffering from measles. Lance-Corporal Griffin (18), sailed for Egypt on February 1st. He enlisted in June 1915, and previously held a position in the Civil Service (Board of Agriculture and Fisheries).

A New Air Raid Hooter: The hooter fixed at Messrs. Heenan and Froude’s factory, to increase the volume of sound for air raid warnings, will be tried on Tuesday at noon.

Ship Steward’s Adventures: Mr. J. Llewellyn, the elder son of Mr. and Mrs. Llewellyn, 45 Hill Avenue, was steward on the British steamer Matatua, which sunk after being on fire for 24 hours in dock at St. John’s, New Brunswick. This is not the first thrilling adventure Mr. Llewellyn has had. In September last he was on board the British steamer Caroni, which was sunk by a German submarine, 15 miles off Les Baleines Point. It may be remembered that this vessel had on board 50 French ambulances, the proceeds of the French Flag Day in London. The crew were picked up by a trawler after they had been some hours in the boats.

Some Fine Performances: We are indebted to a member of the 4th Worcestershires, now on service, for the following report of their sports day. The open mile, for which competitors came from the whole of the 29th Division and the Navy, was very smartly won by Pte. Finch, 4th Worcs. Regt., who had only just previously won the regimental mile. The old soldiers’ race was won by Acting Regimental Sergeant Major J. Farrell. The machine gun competition (open to the Brigade) was won by the Battalion after tying with the 5th Royal Scots. Great excitement was caused by the mule race and the donkey race (in costume), some of the mules being very obstinate and not facing the starter.

An inquest was held at the Workhouse respecting the death of John Hobson (65), a labourer, and inmate of the Workhouse. Mrs. Roberts, Matron at the Workhouse, said she heard the alarm bell ring, and went to the men’s ward. She there saw Nurse Walker and the Porter, who told her that Hobson was ill. At the Nurse’s request, she went to ring up the doctor, but could not get on to the Exchange. She remained there for 10 or 15 minutes, and was then told the man was dead. A representative from the Post Office came up, and she showed him how she used the instrument. He said it was quite correct…William H. Michael, telegraphic operator said that he received a call from the Workhouse about 1.40, he answered the call immediately, but received no reply.

Information researched by the WWW100 team