14th September 1917 - Squire Found Shot

Rolling casualty count: 7503

War Front:

2nd Batt: Range A was allotted to the Batt. All Coys fired one individual and one rapid firing practice.

2/7th Batt; Batt proceeded by motor buses to Valley Camp-Watou. Capt WE Boucher and 2nd Lt PD Hitchin rejoined Batt from 61st Divisional Depot.

2/8th Batt: Batt moved at 7.30am to No 3 Watou Area. 2 other ranks to CCS.

Home Front:

Powick Typhoid Outbreak: A meeting of the Upton-on-Severn Rural District Council was held on Thursday. The Medical Officer (Dr. Cowley) reported that there had been no notifications of ordinary infectious disease during the month, but there were six cases of measles at Upton-on-Severn and Severn Stoke (two each) and Guarlford and Ripple (one each). As 32 days had elapsed since the last case of typhoid was reported at Powick he hoped that the outbreak was now checked. Mr. Cubbeley said that everything possible was being done in this matter. They would all regret that a very near relative of Mr. Hill, who visited the case, had taken the disease and had died. The drainage in all the cases was exceedingly bad. The Secretary of the Worcester Infirmary reported that two of the cases had removed to that Institution, and asked that the Council should pay £1-11s.-6d. each per week.

One of the Mons Men: Mrs. E. Roberts, 34, Carden Street, has received official news that her husband, Cpl. T.W. Roberts, has been killed. He has been missing since May 21. He went out with the Worcestershires at the outbreak of war. He had been in France ever since. He had 17 years’ service to his credit. If he had lived till June of this year he would have finished his time. He had four other brothers serving abroad and Mrs. Roberts had four brothers serving also. Two of them have been killed in action. Cpl. Roberts was well known in Worcester. He was a chimney sweeper and was aged 33 years. He leaves a wife and four young children.

Squire Found Shot: Mr. A.J. Taylor, owner of the Strensham Court Estate, who has resided for many years at the Moat Farm, Strensham, was found shot dead on Thursday morning. He was found in the early morning by his cowman. He was attired in his dressing gown and bed slippers. The top of his head was blown away. The gun was lying near. There have been previous tragic events in deceased’s family. Mr. Taylor was a large farmer and took a keen interest in the work. He had recently been shooting over the estate. He was a Magistrate for Worcestershire and was the Chairman of the Pershore Bench. He presided there on Tuesday, when he appeared to be in his usual health. His wife died some years ago. The inquest will be held at 6 o’clock tonight.

No Name: Edward Charles Atkins, 11, Netherton Place, The Butts, was fined 2s. 6d. for being the owner of a dog found straying and not wearing the prescribed collar. P.C. Drinkwater said that the dog was running about High Street. It had a chain attached and was a danger to bicycles. Defendant’s wife said that the name had been on the collar but had worn off.

Cricket Match for Infirmary’s Benefit: The final of a series of matches arranged by Mr. Stocker and Mr. Wheal will take place on Saturday at the County Ground at 2 o’clock, when several well-known Worcestershire and Warwickshire cricketers will take part. The winners will be presented with a silver cup and a very keen and interesting game is anticipated. The proceeds will be given to the Worcester Infirmary.

Police Woman “Ducks” Her Inspector: A scene occurred between two women police engaged in a Government munitions factory on Thursday, when a difference of opinion arose between a woman constable and her inspector. In her anger, the constable, a powerfully-built woman, caught up the inspector in her arms and threw her into an adjacent stream. There was more mud than water in the stream and when extricated the inspector was in a strange plight, though uninjured. Officers of the regular police staff were called and under their escort the woman constable left the factory while the inspector received the attentions of subordinates.

Ladies’ Football for War Charity: On Saturday, on the City’s Ground at Barbourne, there will be a six-a-side football contest for ladies. There will be at least four ladies’ teams competing for prizes offered by the Worcester Buffaloes, who have also arranged for a football match- Royal Engineers v. Heenan and Froude’s F.C. - to take place the same afternoon. All the players are giving their services to aid benevolent objects of the R.A.O.B. and both events should provide some hours of interesting and exciting football.

Soldiers’ Armour: Experiments are still being made with the object of finding effective body armour for troops. The difficulty, however, is to find armour which will stop high-velocity projectiles and at the same time is not burdensome to the wearer. In certain cases armour is worn by bombing parties, but its use is not general apparently even with them.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team