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Key dates over November 1916

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Lives lost on this day: 8

14th November 1916 - Theft of bicycle

Rolling casualty count: 4909

4th Batt: GOC 88th Brigade inspected the billets and was very pleased with the improvements made by the Batt, especially the cots for the men, (over 600,) the latrines and the incinerators.

SMD RFA: It was misty early am. Battery fired 500 rounds of special smoke shells and formed a screen about 500 yards long. Batty fired all day on trenches and roads.

Yeomanry/Cavalry: Mounted troops, horse batteries and the Camel Corps were formed into the Desert Column under Gen Sir Philip Chetwode and this was to become a formidable striking force.

Home Front:

Eligible Irishmen: A White Paper was issued on Monday night giving statistics compiled by the Irish Registrar General regarding the men of military age in Ireland, with an estimate of the number of men available for military service…the figures show that 161,239 men are estimated to be at present available for military service.

Sportsmanship among Aviators: Amsterdam, Tuesday: According to a Berlin official telegram an enemy airman on Nov. 11 dropped behind the German lines on the Somme front a wreath to which was affixed a dedication and a letter. The dedication said: “In memory of Captain Boelcke, our brave and chivalrous enemy. The Royal British Flying Corps.” The letter was as follows: “ To the officers of the German Flying Corps at this front. We hope you will find this wreath. We regret that it comes so late, but the weather prevented us from sending it earlier. We mourn with his relatives and friends. We all acknowledge his bravery. Please remember the Morane squadron to Captain Evans and Lieut. Long.” The German Superior Command has sent the wreath with the dedication and letter to the parents of Captain Boelcke.

Theft of a Bicycle: Gerald Arthur Smith (13), was charged with the theft of a bicycle, value £2, the property of Robert Whiting, a farmer. Defendant pleaded guilty, and was ordered to be sent to a reformatory for three years. The boy had been previously convicted and had received the birch rod.

More Complaints about Tarred Roads: With regard to the complaint of the members at the previous meeting of the dangerous state of the tarred roads for horse traffic, the Chairman said that the Highways and Bridges Committee of the County Council considered the matter sympathetically, and instructed the Surveyor to make more frequent application of grit. He asked about the liability of the Council in case of accident, and Mr. Willis Bund expressed the opinion that, as the Road Board encouraged and assisted to pay for the tar macadam, which was the only system that would be recognised in future, the onus for accidents did not rest with the Council. Mr. Bund added that the authorities had laid it down clearly that the remedy was in the hands of the horse owners, who should adopt a proper method of shoeing. With the enormously increased traffic it was impossible to go back to the old water-bound roads…The Chairman and other members remarked that there had been a considerable improvement on the county roads of late, and the London Road had been gritted more frequently. Several members spoke of the dangerous state of the New Road and that in Lowesmoor, there had been two incidents of people being thrown out of their traps recently. It was decided to again approach the City Council on the matter.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team