LOCAL CASUALTIES: 5
Private Alfred Brierley - Second Battalion. Privates Francis Carter, John Lavelle, Thomas Mitchell & Walter Packman - Third Battalion.

ROLLING CASUALTY COUNT: 1,622

First Battalion in Divisional billets at Sailly. Working parties on support lines.
Second Battalion in billets at Beuvry.
Third Battalion in Trenches ‘T’ Sector of St. Eloi. German mine exploded on our Right Front. Took over Trenches on our Left Front from 2/R.J.R. R&F 2 wounded; Royal Field Artillery: Third Battery preparing position immediately South of Hebuterne. Training remainder.

A Kidderminster VC: The King has been graciously pleased to award the Victoria Cross to Captain Eustace Jotham, 51st Sikhs (Frontier Force) for most conspicuous bravery at Spina Khaisora. Captain Jotham was the son of Mr FC Jotham, of Linden House, Kidderminster, and was educated at Bromsgrove School. During operations against the Kbostwai tribesmen, Captain Jotham, who was commanding a party of about a dozen of the North Waziristan Militia, was attacked in a nullah and almost surrounded by an overwhelming force of some 1,500 tribesmen. He gave the order to retire, and could have himself escaped, but most gallantly sacrificed his own life by attempting to effect the rescue of one of his men who had lost his horse.

Worcs Regiments Comfort Fund: Sir, We desire to ask the courtesy of your columns to bring to the notice of the people of Worcestershire the claims of the Comforts Fund of the Worcestershire Regiments. This fund was organised by Mrs Wodehouse and other ladies of the Regiment, and has already sent “comforts” to our County Regiments with the Expeditionary Forces as stated: Sept 7 – Nov 5, to two Battalions; Nov 5 – Apr 1, to three Battalions; Apr. – Apr 16, to four Battalions; Apr 16 – June 29, to five Battalions. From June 29, seven Battalions and South Midland Brigade RFA. Each unit receives every week 4,500 cigarettes, two 11lb parcels of comforts, and one or two 56 lb cases. Altogether, from Sept. 5, 1914 to June 30, 1915, 260 of 56lb each of mixed comforts, 130 boxes of cigarettes (4,500 in each), and 3,336 parcels have been packed and forwarded. In addition to this the names and addressees of 146 prisoners of war in Germany have been obtained, and 20 parcels are sent to them every week. The comforts sent to the troops consist of shirts, socks, sweets, cigarettes, and cigarette papers, stationery and pencils, candles, bootlaces, handkerchiefs, Vaseline, boracic powder, lemonade powder, matches, chocolate, condensed milk, braces, soap and brushes. Those sent to the prisoners of war consist of shirts, socks, tinned meat, tea, bacon, soap and cigarettes.

To Help Wounded: A successful whist drive was held on Saturday afternoon at the works of Mr Collins, Barbourne, to raise funds to assist the wounded soldiers at Norton Barracks. Except for the inclement weather it would have taken place in the picturesque ground at the Bungalow, Kepax…Several guessing competitions and the efforts of Mr Collins’ dog “Scot,” with a collecting box, augmented the funds.  

Information researched by Sue Redding.