Skip to navigation | Skip to content | Skip to footer

Key dates over July 1917

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 31

Lives lost on this day: 2

30th July 1917 - Airmen flying over Worcester

Rolling casualty count: 6846

War Front:

1st Batt: Batt formed up at night near Kingsway as support for the attack. Batt HQ moved to Bin cross-roads dug-outs at 3 pm. C and D Coys to attack and capture Ignorance and Menorance Reserve. A and B Coys to pass through to James Trench and form a Blue line on Bellewarde Ridge.

2nd Batt: There was a sniping demonstration. The Medical Officer lectured officers and NCOs in First Aid in the evening.

2/8th Batt: Seventy other ranks went for a course at 5th Army Musketry School. A bombing course started at Brigade HQ.

Home Front:

To the Editor: Worcesters at Gheluvelt: Sir, - Referring to your issue of the 28th inst. re “The Worcesters at Gheluvelt,” I have no desire to decry the credit due to anyone, but in justice to one who has made the supreme sacrifice, I feel bound to express at once that, if the evidence of men of the Worcestershire Regiment is to be relied upon, the officer who, acting on his own initiative, gave the order on which the Worcesters advanced and thus by their indomitable courage saved Calais, was Captain Phillip G. Wainman, of the Worcestershire Regiment. Yours faithfully, Spencer A. Snatt, Battenhall.

Gifts for Wounded Soldiers: The Matron of the Infirmary (Miss Watson) has received a number of towels, dusters and pillow cases from Mr. Bridgman, Secretary of Malvern Girls’ Club. The articles were made by the girls and were sent for the soldiers’ wards.

Airmen and Pitchcroft: During the last month or two an increasing number of airmen have been passing over Worcester going north; apparently they follow the line of the Severn until they reach Worcester and then they turned sharply eastwards for an aerodrome some miles away. Many machines have descended on Pitchcroft, which being long and wide and flat, is peculiarly suitable. One machine on Saturday morning, while trying to avoid some sheep as it descended, ran into part of the railing which marks out the racecourse and broke its propeller. Another propeller was furnished by night time and the aviator flew away at about 8 o’clock.

To the Editor: Fruit Canning: An Offer: Sir, -Having been asked by Mr. Allsebrook, Board of Agriculture Commissioner, to find out if those citizens with gardens would like to can their choice surplus fruit, I should be glad if you will grant me space to ask them to look round their gardens and send me word at once, as first come first served. The canning plan will be ready for delivery after Bank Holiday, so those desiring the use of it should make haste to reply to L. Francis, 220, Henwick Road.

Obstruction: George Thompson, 12, Shambles, fishmonger, was charged with causing an obstruction on the footway in the Shambles. P.C. Corbett said defendant had a barrel on the footway for 35 minutes. Defendant denied that he had the barrel there so long. He said he had sold out his barrel of herrings in less than that time. They were cheap that day and the people were rushing for them. Defendant proceeded to abuse the police, saying that he wished he had an easy job. He was admonished by the Bench, but continued to be rude. He was fined 10s.

Absentee: Frank Comley (22), 1, Elm Row, Hylton Road, who admitted being an absentee from the Army Veterinary Corps, was remanded to await an escort.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team