LOCAL CASUALTIES:  5
Privates Ernest Griffin & James Priest and Lance Corporal William Russell - First Battalion. Privates Herbert Hargreaves & Frank Tugwell - Second Battalion.

ROLLING CASUALTY COUNT: 613

First Battalion ‘B’ Lines: Trenches. No unusual occurrences, companies engaged in consolidating breastworks and endeavouring to dig their trenches.

Second Battalion heavily shelled from 7.30am to 1pm, both in Village and ground behind it. Enemy artillery evidently searching for Batteries. Enemy attacked Third Brigade on our right and seized part of Givenchy village including the Church. Intermittent shelling continued during the remainder of the day and night.  A Draft of 40 NCOs and men arrived.

Third Battalion in billets at Locre.

Alleged Burglary in Worcester – By Newly-enlisted Soldier: House and Chapel Broken into: At the City Police Court, this morning, before Messrs W K Kay, J Mayglothling, and WGR Stone, Harry Williams (37), a private in the Worcestershire Regiment, at Norton Barracks, was charged with breaking into Cemetery House, Astwood, on Saturday morning, and stealing three silver vases, a silver butter dish, a silver-plated candlestick, a silver cruet, two plated serviette rings, a gunmetal watch, a pair of boots, and a bronze ornament. The total value of the articles, which are the property of John Lewis Brierley, is £4.

Territorial Inspection: Lord Salisbury, the Officer commanding the South Midland (Reserve) Division, who last week inspected the Reserve of Artillery in Worcester, visited Worcester again today, and went to Lyppard Grange, to see the trench-digging operations. He also inspected the other work by the Eighth Battalion. Subsequently he complimented Colonel Dixon on the physique of the men, and expressed his satisfaction with their work. Lord Salisbury also inspected the Seventh Battalion at Kidderminster. The parade took place in the borough, and the men, 1,000 in number, marched to Lea Castle Park, Wolverley, where the inspection took place.

The gross receipts at the agricultural jumble sale, arranged by the Worcester Branch of the National Farmers’ Union, were approximately £328. The entrance tickets sold at the Corn  Exchange totalled 1,100, and about 400 people paid for teas. The weight of the sheep in the guessing competition was 73 1/4 lbs, and it may be of interest to state that the guesses ranged from 56lbs to 103lbs. Five entrants gave the exact weight and they divide two prizes.  The pig weighted 84 1/2lbs, and here the guesses ranged from 58lbs to 121lbs with four entrants guessing the exact weight.
 
Librarian’s Report: The Librarian’s report showed that 2,619 volumes had been consulted in the Reference Library, compared with 2,612 for the corresponding period of last year. The estimated number of visitors to the New Rooms was 2,400, and 12,928 volumes issued from the Lending Department, against 14,199. The Curator reported the presentation of the egg of an emu by Mr E P  Popert, 49, Britannia Square, Worcester.

Information researched by Sue Redding.