2nd July 1917 - A Droitwich girl named Jessie Simpson......

Rolling casualty count: 6696

War Front:

1st Batt: Batt remained in the dug-outs but shelling less heavy today.

1/8th Batt: There was unusual aerial activity by the enemy.

2/8th Batt: Batt competitions and training.

10th Batt: Batt moved into the line at Oostaverns and took part in a successful operation.

Yeomanry/Cavalry: Useful training in riding, bombing, bayonet fighting and gas drill.

Home Front:

To the Editor: Sir, - The Army Canteen Committee are anxious to obtain a large quantity of bottled fruit for the use of the troops next winter. The Women’s Legion has been asked to help with this and has secured a supply of 7lb glass bottles fitted with caps for sterilising. These will be sent free to anyone who will undertake to fill them for the Army. The Legion will pay for the fruit and for the cost of fuel. It is proposed to open a centre in Worcester, where sterilising will be done, and volunteers are wanted to offer their services at once for one or two days a week to prepare and sterilise the fruit…Many gooseberries will be wasted unless, women come forward to bottle them. For all particulars and instructions please apply to the Secretary, Agatha Hindlip.

Presentations to Worcester Scout: In the playground of St. Barnabas Boys’ School on Sunday morning, the Mayor of Worcester (Ald. Arthur Carlton) made presentations to Patrol Leader John Hughes, a King’s Scout, of the St. Barnabas Troop, in recognition of his gallantry in saving the life of Mr. Dennis Wright, at Stourport, on Good Friday. The gifts comprised the Silver Cross for Life-Saving and a framed certificate awarded by Headquarters in London, a gold watch from Mr. Wright and a silver watch chain from his comrades in the Troop. A surprise presentation of a Thanks Badge was made to Mr. H.W. Spreckley, the District Commissioner, by the Scoutmasters and others associated with the movement in Worcester.

A Droitwich girl, named Jessie Simpson, on Sunday drank poison in the form of wasp-killer, and died almost immediately. She was in service with Mr. J. Bint, at Pope’s Hole, Hadley and told people she had a bad dream about her father, mother and sister having had their throats cut. The sudden death is reported also of a man named Anslow, who fell down dead when walking along the Holt Fleet road on Sunday. He came with a party of jewellers from Birmingham on Saturday.

Our Busy King: Since the war began the King has made over 150 inspections of troops. He has seen nearly every division before it went to the front. He has visited upwards of 250 hospitals. He has been three times to the fighting front and three times to the Grand Fleet, to say nothing of numerous visits to naval ports, shipyards, docks, and bases. He has presented with his own hands over 10,000 decorations. He has inspected Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders and South Africans. He has received fighting men from America. He has discussed the war with illustrious men representing all our Allies. All this, as may be imagined, leaves him little time for recreation. He rides at Windsor and at Aldershot and he has dug potato plots at Frogmore, for he takes a keen interest in the increased production of food. When in London the main diversion he permits himself is stamp-collecting. His collection of British stamps is probably the best in the world.

Strayed: Fred Allington, Brockend Farm, Kempsey, the owner of three horses and 11 cows found straying in Diglis Lane, was summoned, and P.C. Timson said that he found the cows in another farmer’s field of mowing grass. It was pleaded by a representative of the defendant that the gate was broken down. Defendant was fined 10s.

Mrs. Hammond, St. John’s, Worcester, has been notified that her husband, Driver George Hammond, R.F.A. has been killed. A big shell burst in the lines about 150 yards from him. Nothing touched him and he was not wounded in any way, but the shock of the explosion re-acted upon his heart. He became unconscious, and despite prompt medical attention, died about an hour later. Previously to joining up in 1914 Driver Hammond was a driver on the Worcester Tramways.

This week is National Baby Week. The chief purpose of Baby Week is to stir mothers and fathers and corporate bodies to a sense of responsibility and to inform them how to save infants and having saved them, how to make the most of them. Worcester has a very interesting programme. Properly, that will begin tomorrow, when a mothercraft and patriotic economy exhibition will be opened at the Public Hall.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team