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Key dates over July 1917

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Lives lost on this day: 4

21st July 1917 - Fisherman’s Offence

Rolling casualty count: 6781

War Front:

1st Batt: Batt moved out at 2pm by buses to the Reninghelst area and bivouacked in a field.

3rd Batt: 2nd Lt AR Ping and 2 privates, who formed part of the patrol into enemy trenches near the Hooge Crater, lost their way and fell into enemy hands.

2/7th Batt: 2nd Lt JA Cumberland re-joined from hospital. 2nd Lt GWB Wheeler reported for duty. Two other ranks re-joined from hospital and another man joined from Base.

Home Front:

Worcester Tribunals: Mr. Hodson, horse slaughterer, of Astwood Bank, appealed for his son John. Mr. G. W. Hobson represented the appellant, who said he collected carcasses of horses from a very large area. Two of his sons were already in the Army. He was the only horse slaughterman in an area of 17 miles and there now no veterinary surgeon at Alcester, Redditch or Bromsgrove. He met with a serious accident in November and was unable to carry on the business and if this son went the business would have to close down. The Chairman suggested that the horse flesh was sent to Holland to make sausages for the German soldiers (Laughter). Appellant said his son was 27, married, with two children and passed for general service Mr. Hobson asked for a substitution order. Substitution order, with leave to go to the Central Tribunal.

Angling: We have had heavy rain during the week, but not sufficient to make any appreciable difference in the condition of our rivers, which are low. Sport is not brisk; still some fair catches have been had by some of the many anglers who have been out. The maggot has proved successful with the dace and trout, but paste and stewed wheat with the roach, some good catches of which have been had in the Severn opposite Hallow, Camp, Horse Boat and upwards. The “Working Men’s” Club have their first contest at the Ketch tomorrow morning. There are a lot of prizes to fish for.

Hair Clippers Wanted: Pte. H. Bowkett (99074), 166, Labour Company, 3 Platoon, 10 Section, B.E.F., France, whose home is at Blackfriars, Worcester, writes asking if anyone has a pair of hair clippers to spare. He says there are a number of Worcester boys in his Company, and as they have little time to spare, a pair of hair clippers would be very useful. He says that they have one pair, kindly sent by a Worcester lady, but “what is one among so many?”

Fisherman’s Offence: John Sidney Jones, 15, Southfield Street, was summoned for using a night line without a license. Defendant pleaded not guilty. The Water Bailiff, Henry Burnham, said that defendant and a companion were fishing with a rod and line below Diglis Weir. He saw defendant go to the night line and witness took possession of it. Defendant said that when he bought the license he folded it up and put it in his pocket. He did not read it. He borrowed the line and did not think he was doing any harm by using it. He had no intention of breaking the law. He was fined £1.

Worcester College Regatta: On Friday the Worcester College for the Blind held their annual regatta. The weather was rather stormy and many of the races were rowed in a heavy downpour. There was a small attendance. The rowing was of a very excellent character and the trainers are to be congratulated on the pains they have taken in getting the boys into such excellent form.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team