Friday 18th September 1914

Tunstill held the last of his recruitment meetings, in Waddington at 7.30pm. No specific details are recorded but at least five men came forward to join the Company. It may be that Waddington was chosen as the location for the final meeting because the Vicar of Waddington, Rev. Francis Ambrose Neville Parker, was the uncle of Gilbert Tunstill's wife, Geraldine. He had conducted part of the service at their wedding in 1906. (Rev. Parker remained Vicar of Waddington until his death in 1922).

• Joseph Barrett Hartley; was the second son of Luke and Mary Hartley; Luke Hartley ran a successful ironmongers business in Earby. Joseph was a former pupil of Ermysted's Grammar School, Skipton. Although he attested as being 19 years and 1 month in September, he was actually born 21st December 1895, and was thus only 18 when he volunteered.
• Albert Herd; was 20 years old and came from a family which was at the heart of the Waddington village community. His father, John, ran a grocers and corn dealers business and was a leading member of the local Church. Albert worked in the family business.
• Thomas Rigby; was the second of seven children of Thomas and Ellen Rigby, who farmed at Lawson's House, Sawley. He was 24 years old and had been working on the family farm.
• William Watson; aged 23, he had been working as a general labourer. His father, John Watson, worked in the local limestone quarry. The family lived in West Bradford.
• Harry Smith; as yet, I have been unable to make a positive identification of this man.

The attestation signed by Joseph Barrett Hartley.
Though damaged, it clearly shows that he gave his age as 19 years and 1 month

Second Lieutenant Charles Bathurst was promoted Lieutenant and posted to serve as one of the officers of the newly-formed 10^th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment. He was to become one of the key officers in the new Battalion and would work closely with Gilbert Tunstill.

As yet, I know little of Bathurst’s background, other than that he was a serving Army officer and was the son of one Lancelot Bathurst.

Lieutenant and Quartermaster Daniel William Paris Foster arrived at the Regimental Depot in Halifax to take up his duties with 10^th Battalion.  

Company Sergeant Major Harry Dewhirst (see 10^th September) was posted to serve as CSM with ‘A’ Company (Tunstill’s Men).

Col.Sgt. William Clarke (see 8^th September) was promoted Company Sergeant Major. 

While these appointments were being made, planning for the larger organisation of 23rd Division, of which Tunstill's Men would become a tiny part (see 16th September) continued with the arrival at Frensham, where the Division was being assembled, of its commanding officer. Colonel (Hon. Major General) James Melville Babington, C.B, C.M.G., was a veteran of more than 40 years in the Army. He was 60 years old but regarded as being, "more active than many men ten years his junior". Babington would command 23rd Division until October 1918.

One of Babington's senior staff officers was Major Hugh John Bartholomew, D.S.O., who would later command 10th Battalion.

Divisional HQ was first established at the Pond Hotel in Frensham, but soon went ‘under canvas’. The difficulties of staffing and provisioning a Division from scratch soon became apparent and there was an acute shortage of clerks, cooks and other specialist trades. There was also a considerable issue over the supply of sufficient and appropriate uniform and kit and Babington gained permission to spend £17,000 on clothing. Two officers with experience of the clothing trade were duly packed off to Yorkshire to buy 20,000 suits of underclothing and boots. For quite a time no boards were available to provide floors for the tents, but fortunately the weather remained good.