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Key dates over July 1917

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Lives lost on this day: 7

4th July 1917 - Inquest held at the Workhouse

Rolling casualty count: 6704

War Front:

1st Batt: One other rank was killed and 10 wounded by shell fire.

2nd Batt: Batt marched to Pierrogot in heavy rain and 3 men fell out.

1/8th Batt: Batt marched to Monchy.

Home Front:

At a meeting of the Worcestershire Food Production Executive today, Mr. Lawson Walker and Mr. W.J. Dorrell referred to rumours that the Government were contemplating commandeering livestock, cattle etc. from the farmers at a certain price and the Chairman Mr. E.V.V. Wheeler, said that if they wanted to reduce the price of meat they should begin at the other end and limit the price at the shop. On the proposition of the Chairman, it was decided to inform the Government that they heard that action was contemplated and that they should have been consulted before any action was taken. It was pointed out that that resolution would find out whether there was any truth in the rumours.

An inquest was held at the Workhouse concerning the death of Thomas Nevitt aged 80, a fitter, formerly employed at the Vulcan Works. Mr. Roberts, the Master of the Workhouse, said that Nevitt was admitted on 7th October 1912, from his home in Regent Street. On Thursday 21st June at 6am, a witness was called to the sick ward. He found Nevitt on the floor, bleeding from two wounds in the throat. He telephoned for Dr. Legge, who attended. Witness had asked Nevitt why he had cut his throat, but could get no reply. He produced a knife which the nurse gave him at the time, saying it had been taken away from him. Nevitt was alright mentally and was in the sick ward for ulcers in the leg and for heart disease. Witness stated that the wound did not touch any vital organs. Although the wounds had quite healed Nevitt became rapidly worse, developing hypostatic pneumonia and consequent cardiac failure. The pneumonia was due to confinement to bed and the shock of the injury. Death was due to it; the wounds were the indirect cause of death, as they involved the confinement to bed.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team