LOCAL CASUALTIES: 3
Private John Parkes - Second Battalion. Private George Parsons and Corporal Joseph Smith - Third Battalion.

ROLLING CASUALTY COUNT: 1,302

First Battalion in billets.
Second Battalion Brigade ordered to take over the trenches held by the 48th French Division, East Vermelles-Mazingarbe. The Battalion marched to Mazingarbe leaving Ecquedecques at 4.15pm arriving Mazingarbe at midnight, where it went into billets in Brigade Reserve.
Third Battalion in trenches East Vierstraat.

Died Like a Hero: Mrs E. Jones, of 79, The Moors, Worcester, has received an official notification that her brother, Private Walter Smith, of A Company, First Worcesters, was killed in action on the 9th instant. He had a long record of military service, spending eight years in India. When he left the regiment he came to live in Worcester, with his sister, and stayed here for three years. He was employed at Messrs Ward’s leather works. A t the outbreak of war he rejoined the Army. A letter from his chum says that Private Smith “died like a hero.”

Charwoman’s Lapse Through Drink: Mrs Elizabeth Burman (43), of 20 Gilam Street, was charged with stealing from rooms at the Imperial Hotel, 35, St Nicholas Street, two dozen table knives, a dozen desert knives, a dozen dessert forks, and five twill sheets, the property of her master, William Piff, the landlord. The total value of the goods was £2 17s. 6d. Mrs Piff said that the prisoner had been in her employ as a charwoman since about the middle of February. Soon after she had been in her employ witness began to miss some sheets. She asked prisoner about them, but got no answer…Prisoner pleaded guilty, DC Handley said he knew the prisoner well, and her downfall was due to drink. Her husband was an entirely respectable man, employed by a Railway Company. He had quite a shock to find over 40 pawn tickets under a sideboard in his front room. The Bench decided to bind the prisoner over for six months, provided that she would take the pledge.

Private R Gattward, known to Worcester audiences as “Rex, Illusionist,” who joined the RAMC a few months ago, has left England for active service. He was formerly on the staff of Berrow’s Worcester Journal.

Information researched by Sue Redding.