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Key dates over August 1916

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Lives lost on this day: 5

8th August 1916 - Medically discharged soldier charged with wilful damage to prison cell after arrest for vagrancy

At the Front:

2nd Batt: At midnight a trench was started about 100 yards in front of our wire by A Coy on the left.2nd Lt Worster was wounded while laying out tape on the right.

4th Batt: At 10.0am the gas horns were sounded by the 4th Division front. Batt HQ and X Coy in Reserve got it. Helmets were worn immediately until gas cleared at 11.45 am.

SMD RFA: The Brigadier assumed command of Right Group RA 49th Division.

On the Home Front:

Discharged Soldier Tramp – At the City Police Court today, Frederick Howard 45, of no fixed abode, was charged with doing wilful damage to the roof of a casual cell at the Workhouse, to the extent of 10s., and he pleaded guilty. Mr R Robert, Master, said that he found slates of the roof smashed. The Labour Master said that the prisoner refused to work in the garden, so he was put into a cell. He broke through the roof and absconded. The prisoner said that he told the Master that he could not wheel a barrow of ashes because of his bad leg. Witness denied this and said that he deliberately tipped the ashes onto the garden. After he had been locked in the cell he had suffered fits. Prisoner told the Bench that the Labour Master and the Tramp Master flung him on a heap of stones in the cell and he fainted. He then asked for some cold water, but as no one came, he broke through the roof. Prisoner added that he served in France for 80 days, being medically discharged as being unfit. In view of his good character on his Army papers, he would be sentenced to one day’s imprisonment, which meant his immediate discharge.

Brave Rescuer Honoured – Boy Saved from the Severn At the meeting of Worcester Tribunal, the Mayor presented the Royal Humane Society’s Certificate to William Hewston, 18 Bush Walk, Worcester, for rescuing a boy who was in imminent danger of drowning in the Severn on June 7th last. The Chief Magistrate said that it was very gratifying to present the award and that in a city like Worcester with the river running through, there were many drowning cases and he was glad that Hewston had done something to shorten that list. He heartily congratulated the recipient.

Information researched by the WWW100 team.