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Key dates over November 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

Lives lost on this day: 15

15th November 1916 - Conscientious objector trial

Rolling casualty count: 4924

4th Batt: Batt left Ville at 9am and marched via Meaulte to Sardats Camp. It was an intensely cold day.

2/7th Batt: Batt marched to Antheau (10 miles,) to new billets.

2/8th Batt: batt marched to new billets at Meilland.

SMD FRA: The 3rd Army inspected the horses of the Brigade. At 3pm the Brigade came under orders of CRA for tactical purposes.

Home Front:

Conscientious Objectors on Trial: A District Court Martial was held at Norton Barracks on Tuesday, when four conscientious objectors were placed on trial for refusing to obey orders. The prisoners, all Bristol men, were Ernest Rudman, Frank Pope, Henry Herbert Baker, and Albert Edward Chappell, all privates in the 5th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment. It was stated that the men were apprehended under the Military Service Act, sent from Bristol to Worcester, and allocated to the 5th Battalion. The charge was that they failed to don the uniform when ordered to do so. To prove that he was a conscientious objector, one of the prisoners stated that he was the first man in Bristol to call a meeting to protest against the Military Service Act. All the men pleaded not guilty. After evidence had been taken, the Court found them guilty. Sentence will be promulgated in due course. [see 18th November]

Caught with a “Jack Jumper:” Charles Hammond and Sydney Clare, errand boys, West Malvern, were summoned for discharging fireworks. Sergt. Cale said that at 9.10 pm on November 4th, he heard a loud report and saw a number of youths running. He followed the defendants, and each dropped a small cracker. When he got near the establishment of Messrs. Georges Ltd., Hammonds had a match ready to light a “Jack Jumper,” which Clare was holding. Dr. Dixey said the Bench would deal leniently with the defendants, but they must understand that discharging fireworks was a very serious offence at the present time. They would be let off with a caution. If, however, anything of the sort happened again, the offenders would be seriously dealt with.

The Barrack Square at Norton today was the scene of an interesting presentation, when the Officer Commanding (Col. C.M. Edwards), in the presence of the troops stationed at the Barracks, pinned on the breast of Sergt. Yarnold, the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. This decoration is given only after 18 years’ service, but Sergt. Yarnold has 21 years’ service to his credit. His is the son of an old soldier, who served for 18 years in India, Mr. Samuel Yarnold, of Barbourne, who died a month ago. Sergt. Yarnold, who has been with the 1st and 3rd Battalions and served in South Africa and Ireland, was a member of the Regimental Shooting Eight who, for three years in succession, won the Queen Victoria Cup, the blue ribbon of the British Army at home. He has been Band Sergt. for nine years, and has held N.C.O. rank for 14.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team