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Key dates over September 1916

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Lives lost on this day: 19

18th September 1916 - Sir Ernest Shackleton cables penguins caught ashore Elephant Island.

2nd Batt: C.Commander reconnoitred the Left Sector of the front Line preparatory to relieving the !st Queens Reg.

4th Batt: There was a suspected german attack so platoons were moved to Railway Farm, Duck Walk and Muddy Lane. Much damaged was sustained and the ground was full of craters and shell holes. In Muddy lane the trench was flattened and impassable for 60 yds. Ten men were killed, 11 wounded and 1 man missing.

10th Batt:Back to billets. Total casualties for 5 days in the trenches was 1 man killed and 8 men wounded.

2/7th Batt: One man was killed in the trenches. Lt Goodwin returned from a course and took over B Coy.

SMRFA: Batt returned to Hedauville. D Coy was preparing a position on the railway at Pozieres.

Red Cross Depot, Nicholas Street, Worcester: On Thursday, September 21st, a Garden Fete will be held at Red Hill, by kind permission of Mrs. Price-Hughes, from 2.30 to 6.30, in aid of the above.

Economy in War time is like economy in time of peace. It is not so much that we are to refrain from spending as that we should buy necessaries and choose them well. Hats and Clothes will last longer, health will be better, and you will feel more comfortable beneath durable Umbrellas from Howarths, The Experts, 84, High Street, Worcester. Re-covers from 2s.

New Regulations: Much of the danger attendant on the handling of explosives, especially of the poisonous varieties, will be obviated by the new regulations issued by the Ministry of Munitions, which regulations will be enforced in all factories where explosives are manipulated. The regulations provide for the isolation from other operations of workers engaged in filling T.N.T. bags, and that wherever practicable no worker shall be engaged in any place where exploder bags are filled, or blocks are pressed, for more than a fortnight without a corresponding period of work not involving contact with T.N.T., or other poisonous dusts. Every worker is to be provided with a suitable costume, which must be washed and chemically purified at least once a week. Washing accommodation for the workers must also be provided; and canteens must be available where hot meals can be obtained, and where the occupier of the factory must supply daily one pint of milk or cocoa made with milk to every worker.

H.R.H. the Prince Albert (who is nearly 21 years old) has been invalided home owing to an acute abdominal trouble. An abscess has formed which has been evacuated. The Prince is doing well, but a considerable time must elapse before he will be able to return to any duty.

Rescue from the Canal: About 1 o’clock on Sunday a boy living in Vauxhall Street stood on the edge of the canal near Bilford Lock, gazing into the water. Suddenly he toppled over and fell into deep water. His cry for help was half choked. Mr. Thomas Wheeler, of 52, Northwick Road, passing by, rushed to the scene, and rescued the boy with the aid of his walking stick – a task of some difficulty. The boy seemed none the worse for his fright and his ducking.

Penguins: In an interview with Sir Ernest Shackleton, Frank Wild, the special correspondent of the “Daily Chronicle” was given some interesting particulars of the life of the men marooned on Elephant Island. He cables: The following was described to me as the course of a typical winter’s day, after the blubber supply had been assured. When dawn broke, at eight o’clock, the cook set to work to prepare breakfast, a task that, with the primitive cooking arrangements at his disposal, took two hours. It consisted generally merely of penguin fried in blubber, with a drink of water. Breakfast over, snow drifts were cleared and penguins were caught ashore.

Content researched by the Worcestershire World War 100 project team.