Friday 9th October 1914

Around the second week in October Tunstill's Men, along with the rest of the Battalion, at last received their first issue of uniform. However, the men were disappointed to find that rather than the khaki they had been expecting they were instead issued with the blue serge uniforms which were widely issued to Battalions in training at the time, due to the shortage of 'normal' uniform.

The 'Kitchener Blues' as they became known were widely unpopular. Priestley wrote home of them in very disparaging terms; “We have all got our ‘Kitchener’s Army Uniform’ on now; it is made of fine blue serge and is absolutely without any decoration whatever; not even a simple stripe down the trousers! We also wear the old-style service caps. We look like convicts. It is a great blow to our vanity!”.

The author of the Battalion History noted that, "we were issued with a blue serge uniform with a back-to-front cap and a white armband stating ‘Kitchener’s Man’. We looked like a lot of warders!”.

Tunstill's Men in their blue serge uniforms, Autumn 1914 at Frensham (note the bell tents in the background). Two of the Settle recruits have been identified; Bob Maunders left of front row and Thomas Laytham, third left front row.

Another group of Tunstill's Men, again taken at Frensham in Autumn 1914. The man indicated right of front row is Johnny Smith of Addingham.