Captain Willans [X550/1/82]
Sunday 4th
February 1917 from our correspondent in
the field
We have heard
today that yesterday the United States of America broke off diplomatic
relations with Germany following Germany’s declaration of unrestricted
submarine warfare on Thursday. This news is something of a tonic for the boys
at the front as it is seen as a prelude to an declaration of war, with all that
entails for new armies on the Western Front.
Today in the
theatre at Béthune Sir R B Haking, commander-in-chief of XI Corps presented
awards to a number of officers including Military Crosses for Captain H
Willans, Captain O A R Beale and Second Lieutenant H S Everett of the 1st
Bedfords.
Meanwhile the
4th Battalion, in the front line north of the River Ancre has suffered more
casualties. Four men have been killed, one has died of wounds and fifteen have
been wounded. Remarkably this is the same “butcher’s bill” as that suffered on
31st January.
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