Skip to navigation | Skip to content | Skip to footer

Key dates over March 1916

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: 1

24th March 1916 - Widow's Theft from the Crown and Anchor Inn

Rolling Casualty Count: 2819

At the Front:

1st Batt: Bad shelling at intervals during the day, one man was killed and one wounded.

2nd Batt: Batt relieved by 20th Royal Fusiliers at 1.00pm and marched off by platoons. They formed up as a Batt ,East of Bethune,in orde. The drums played them into billets in huts at Rue D`Aipe

9th Batt: A new hazard is the rising of the Tigris owing to the Spring snow melt from the mountains. The banks are protected by dykes called “bunds,” which need constant maintenance

On the Home Front:

Worcestershire Casualties: Official intimation has reached Mr. and Mrs. Williams, Tybridge Street, of the death of their son, Pte. Robert Williams, a groom in the transport section of the 2nd Worcesters. He was shoeing a horse four miles behind the firing line when a fragment of shell killed him. He had previously served in India and South Africa. A brother, Drummer William Williams, has arrived at Norton Depot with 35 wounds, received while serving with the 2nd Worcesters; Mrs. Nind, living in a court off High Street, has received official notice of the death of her son, Pte. Albert Nind, who served with the 4th Worcs. At the Dardanelles. She has five other soldier sons.

Bible Society Annual Meeting: Mr. R. Cadbury, Joint Hon. Secretary with Mr. Green, presented the report. This showed that the distribution of Gospels to troops had been carried on continuously since the outbreak of war, 8,000 copies having been gratefully received by soldiers. The cost had been met out of a general fund provided by members of the Committee and lady collectors. The fund was now almost exhausted, and private subscriptions would be gladly welcomed.

Affiliation Case: Walter Davies (16), Blakefield Road, ironworker, was summoned by Beatrice Veale in respect of her illegitimate child. Mr. Tree appeared for Veale, and said the couple had been going together for some time. Intimacy took place, and the girl alleged that when defendant knew of her condition he would have nothing more to do with her. When she went to see him he told her he had another girl. Mrs. Dixon, complainant’s sister, said she heard defendant say that complainant could “take it through Court.” This evidence was corroborated. The Bench made an order for defendant to pay 3s. 6d. per week towards the support of the child, and the costs.

Widow’s Theft: Mary Ann James (40), widow, Little Holywell Hill, was charged with stealing 2s. belonging to Charles Pratt, Crown and Anchor Inn, Hylton Road. She pleaded guilty. Mr. Pratt said prisoner came into the house and asked for some gin. She was served and he went out of the room. He heard the till open and went back and found prisoner with her hand in the till. In her hand were two shillings. Prisoner said that she did not know what made her do it. The Chief Constable said prisoner was sentenced to a month in January for stealing £6 from the inn. He thought her trouble was the drink. She was sent to prison for six weeks.

Information researched by the WWW100 team.