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Key dates over July 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: 31

19th July 1916 - Battle of Fromelles. Australian and British troops suffer heavy casualties in an attack on the German line in French Flanders.

Rolling Casualty Count: 3822

At the Front:

2nd Batt: Attached to the 19th brigade to attack High Wood in the evening. Batt to push out to Martinputch and high Wood Rd and protect the left flank. Constant shelling of the road by enemy.

4th Batt: Batt marched to training ground at Louvencourt and practiced the attack. Later there was an address from Corps Commander Gen Sir A Hunter-Weston.

2/7th Batt: battery standing-to until we commenced relieving the 2/4th and 2/8th Glos reg.

10th Batt: Orders to move at 6.0pm to Millencourt and at 10.45pm proceed to a point west of Fricourt.

Yeomanry/Cavalry: During dinner with the Brigadier and General Lawrence, a message received that a large force of turks had reached El Abt. Patrols of Australian and NZ cavalry had been fighting enemy at Oghratina. Kantara became a hive of activity.

On the Home Front:

Alleged Ill-Treatment of Horse: John Copson, High Street, Worcester , and Arthur Davis, Castle Hotel, Droitwich, were charged with ill-treating a horse by beating it. William Best said that he saw the defendants with a horse and float in the Worcester Road, in Ombersley. Copson was in the float, and Davis, running alongside the animal, was beating it with a heavy stick, Copson calling, “Give it him, give it him anywhere, kill him!” Charles Dawson said the horse fell on its knees four times while they were beating it…The men refused to give their names and addresses to P.C. Beatrup. They offered him 10s. to take the horse and float away, and walked off leaving a ten shilling note on the road. Witness left the float and took the horse away, and it came quietly…The Bench imposed a fine of 10s. each.

Thousands of Gas and Tear Shells: The second offensive movement of the enemy occurred north of the Somme against the position held by the gallant British troops between Longueval and the Delville Wood. The German artillery launched thousands of asphyxiating and lachrymatory shells, and then the infantry advanced to the assault. The shock was severe, but the soldiers of General Haig were on their mettle. The fighting had not finished at eight o’clock, but the Germans had then gained no advantage.

Regimental Comforts Fund: Mrs. Day, The Vicarage, Malvern Link, has collected in the parish of Malvern Link the sum of £14 17s., which she has forwarded to Mrs. Wodehouse in aid of the Fund for helping the soldiers and prisoners of war of the Worcestershire Regiment. She has also had some useful articles of food and clothing sent her for the same object, which have been sent to the Depot in Worcester.

Boughton Park Fete: Tomorrow, at 2.30, Lord Coventry will open the fete at Boughton Park in aid of comforts for the Worcestershire men and the prisoners in Germany. There will be a special service of motor ‘buses to and from the Park. There will be a host of amusements and attractions, and during both afternoons (if the exigencies of public service permit) aeroplanes will manoeuvre over the ground.

St. Helen’s Band of Hope: The children of the above, numbering 63, spent a most enjoyable time at Malvern, under the care of the Rector, the Rev. C. Chaytor, Miss Harding (Superintendent), and her staff. At tea, the children paid Miss Harding a high compliment in presenting her with a beautiful Worcester Porcelain cup, saucer, and plate, in recognition and appreciation of her kindness to them. The Rector, on his own behalf, presented her with a silver-mounted umbrella, saying that she deserved it all. Miss Harding was too overcome to say much more than “Thank you all very much, it is such a surprise.” The St. Andrew’s Band of Hope children accompanied them, under the supervision of Miss Barnes.

Information researched by the WWW100 team.