Ypres - 6th - Tues: Bttn remains in Ypres. Rfn Terry and Hawtin C Coy killed in carrying party and 6 wounded of whom Rfn Hodges and Harris subsequently died. END

TWO ALCESTER MEN KILLED - News has been received at Alcester that Riflemen Ernest Harris and Joseph Hawtin, both of the 8th battalion kings royal rifles have been killed in France. Both men lived at Alcester and volunteered soon after the beginning of the war. Rifleman Ernest Harris was a son of Mrs. Harris of Malt Mill Lane and before joining the army was employed by Mr. T. W. AVERILL, rope and twine manufacturer of Alcester, while Rifleman Joseph Hawtin who was engaged as a hook maker at Redditch was the only son of Mr. J. Hawtin of Bleachfield Street.

Writing to Mrs. Harris the captain says:- it is with the greatest regret that I have to write to you and inform you that your son Rifleman Harris was killed in action last night. He was badly wounded by a shell which exploded close to him and died without recovering consciousness except for a short time. I do not think he felt any pain after he was hit. The writer adds that he hopes that it will be a consolation to Mrs Harris to know that her son died bravely doing his duty for his King and country. He was buried by the chaplain at the hospital to which he was taken. He was a good Rifleman and he had no fault to find with him and deeply regretted his loss.

Leipzig Salient – 5th: For half min before the start time, there was an intense artillery bombardment assisted by Stokes Mortars, punctually at 7p.m. our 1st wave advanced to the attack under heavy rifle and machine gun fire. D Coy on the left under Capt R L Knubley reached their objective without heavy casualties, but D Coy on the left were badly cut up by machine gunfire and though they reached their objective were insufficient in numbers to withstand the heavy German Counter attack which followed immediately, and were compelled to withdraw temporarily. The second wave of each Coy consisting of 1 platoon had followed on the first wave at an interval of about 30-40 yards. C Coy on the right were followed by the carrying party of 1 platoon of B Coy.

After the trench had been cleared of Germans, all dugouts were bombed immediately and then took in hand the consolidation of the position gained. Barricades were erected in all the communication trenches leading to the German 3rd line and bombing parties posted. In the case of 1 Communications Trench the Germans had erected a strong barricade prior to the attack. Two blocks were also built on the left of the captured trench, the second about thirty yards behind the first as a precautionary measure in case retirement became necessary. The men in this attack were magnificent, all showing the greatest coolness and initiative. 

Approx Casualties Killed 20. Missing 22. Wounded 158. Missing believed killed 2.

Leipzig Salient – 6^th – Morning: On the extreme right of the captured trench, communication was now opened via an old CT [Communication Trench] with A Company who were holding the line behind.  

C & D Companies were relieved about 5am & went back to Tobermory Street reaching there at 7.30am. Two companies of the 3^rd Worcestershire Regiment took their place in the captured trench & carried on the work of consolidation.

In this first attack [on the 5^th] the casualties were roughly as follows:
Killed: Col. W.S. Brown Capt A.H Hales
Missing: Lt Starkey
Wounded: Lt Holman; 2/Lt Holman; 2/Lt Taylor JR; 2/Lt Stockbridge; Lt Pewa?; 2/Lt Troughton

Throughout the day the enemy carried on with intermittent bombing; trench mortars & rifle grenades. Shelling was continuous the whole day but was not of the same intense nature as during the attack.

In the evening C & D Companies were again brought up into the Leipzig Salient, C Coy taking over from the line they had captured on the night of 5^th July. A Company were placed in the Quarries to relieve the other Company of 3^rd Worcestershire Regt. D Company taking the place of  A Coy in Support. The 2 Companies of the 3^rd Worcestershire Regt relieved returned to Reserve in the 2^nd line of old British Trenches.

Stratford Herald Friday September 8th 1916

Shipston-on-Stour

ANOTHER SHIPSTON SOLIDER KILLED - Mr Charles Sturch of Watery Lane, Shipston has just received news of the death of his nephew Pte Albert Sturch (fiddler) who was killed by a bayonet charge in the fighting on the Somme on July 6th. He joined the army on the outbreak of war. He had been in the thickest of the fighting and had been previously wounded 4 times. He was once invalided home suffering from shell shock after being buried by a shell near Ypres. On that occasion he wandered about between the opposing lines for 6 days before he ran into one of our patrols and was brought in with his reason for the time completely gone.  He had only rejoined his Regiment after being discharged from hospital 2 or 3 days before he met his death.  Pte Sturch was a native of Shipston and a grandson of the late Mr Harry Sturch, a fiddler, with a very wide reputation. He was in the regimental string band during his previous service in the army.