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Key dates over April 1916

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Lives lost on this day: 6

30th April 1916 - St Paul's Parishioners receive letter from Rev Studdart-Kennedy

Rolling Casualty Count: 3101

At the Front:

2nd Batt: Relieved by 1/6 Scottish Rifles and moved to advanced billets in Annequin.

8th Batt: Heavy bombardment opened to our right by another Division. The enemy opposite replied with light shrapnel and shelling in quick succession, which fell near the HQ Telephone Station. Lt GJL Slater, who had just answered a Brigade call, was struck in the side by a large piece of shell and died within half an hour. The door of the Telephone station was stove in and the entrance blocked but telephones continued to send messages though the men could have escaped through a small hole.

Fighting strength of Batt is 33 officers and 816 other ranks.

On the Home Front:

Worcestershire Musical Competition Choirs – Fine Performance Of “Samson” By Massed Choirs – The war has put an end for the time being to the Worcestershire Musical Competition in its usual form. But the useful work for which it stands still goes on, and instead of holding a three days’ meeting in one or other of the towns in the county, the choirs which generally compete undertake the rehearsal of some well-known oratorio, which is given by the massed competition choirs at the Cathedral. This year’s performance took place on Saturday at the Cathedral, when selections from Handel’s “Samson” were rendered by combined choirs numbering 500. (Both Worcs Herald)

Worcester Chaplain At The Base - Spiritual Work Among The Troops – The Reverend Studdert Kennedy, Vicar of St Paul’s, Worcester, who is acting as a chaplain among the troops in France, has sent home a long letter to his Parishioners, in which he says: My dear People, It is a long time now since I wrote to you, and I am afraid you will think that I have neglected you. Last time I wrote you will remember that I was about to begin a series of lectures at the base. These lectures were the best chance I have been given up to then, and you can guess that I did my very best with them. The result was wonderful. We started with a hall fairly full, and the number grew until we were crammed to suffocation, with men standing up the gangway and sitting on the steps of the platform. The whole object of the lectures was to put the challenge of Christ before the men, and make them hear it. It is wonderful the change that war has already worked in the souls of many, and the difference of spirit that they display in listening to His message. Thousands who never saw any need for religion at all before are now groping after the Truth.

Information researched by the WWW100 team.