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Key dates over November 1916

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Lives lost on this day: 9

20th November 1916 - Prisoner of War released in East Africa

Rolling casualty count: 4987

1st Batt: The Batt left the Somme Battlefield and entrained to Edge Hill Siding for the Back Area.

4th batt: Enemy artillery was heavier than usual shelling Lesboeufs, Winter and Ozone trenches. Work was carried out on the trench boards.

10th Batt: men spent time cleaning equipment and clothes. Some went to the baths. A draft of 16 men was received.

SMD RFA: The brigade formed a barrage for a raid by the 147th Infantry Brigade which was a success. Wire was found to be well cut.

Home Front:

Worcester Man’s Double Distinction: Sergt. F. Hirschfield, of the Worcestershires, son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Hirschfield, Lansdowne Road, who was awarded the D.C.M. some months ago, and has now been awarded the Military Medal. He writes home to say that in company with 50 others, he was decorated by a General a few days ago. He has also been promoted to Company-Sergt. Major. He has been mentioned in despatches yet again, and further promotion is likely.

Hot Baths for the Trenches: the King and Queen inspected, at Buckingham Palace on Saturday, two new bath caravans and a motor field operating theatre, which the Wounded Allies Relief Committee, are presenting to the Belgian Army for use at the front. It is reckoned that the bath caravans will supply baths continuously for perhaps 14 hours without cessation and may be able to deal with some 1,600 men in that time. Each van carries 12 light steel baths, nested one inside the other, and on the sides of the van are waterproof sheetings for forming tents with the aid of light spars and poles. The water will be heated by petroleum, and the caravans will be drawn by horses from place to place wherever water can be obtained from rivers and streams. It will be possible to take them quite near to the trenches.

Worcester Prisoner Released: A telegram has been received at the Foreign Office, stating that Mr. William Lock, of Comer Gardens, who has been a prisoner of war in German East Africa since August 1914, has been released.

Man’s Illness: This morning Gustavus Caesar, 22, Shrubbery Road, a civilian clerk at Norton Barracks, was found in High Street in an epileptic fit, also with an injury to his chin, caused by falling on some spikes. He was taken into Messrs. Stallard’s shop, where Clerk-Sergt. Price rendered first aid. P.C.Knight then conveyed Mr. Caesar home in a cab.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team