The Rector,
Rev. J.C. Garnett, recalled that Walter was given “as far as we could, a
military funeral, and the many who attended it did so out of real sympathy...
many wreaths were sent”. He remembered Walter as, “a fine lad and a
member of my Men’s Bible Class … always bright and cheerful and we are poorer
in his death. We can ill afford to lose such. To his loved ones and friends we
offer our very deep sympathy. May God bless them and comfort them in their sad
hour”.
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| The grave of Walter Isherwood, St Andrew's Church, Slaidburn |
Robert Clement Perks,
who would subsequently be commissioned and serve with 10DWR wrote to his
sister, Joy, with news of his progress in the Officer Training Corps (OTC) at
Merton College, Oxford. Perks was the second son of Mr. T.P. Perks, of Leeds,
barrister-at-law, who lived at The Green House, Hebden, near Skipton He was
born on 2nd January 1895 and had been educated at Heath Grammar
School, Halifax, and was in his second year at Merton. His elder brother,
Martin Thomas Perks, of Wadham College, Oxford, would also subsequently apply
for a commission, but would be rejected on account of his eyesight.
Merton College, Oxford
31/10/14
My dear Joy
I expect a letter this week.
Martin has arrived now and I hear he secured preferential treatment by
unwarranted extravagances in chocolates.
I am still getting up at unearthly hours and going at all
other hours to an OTC parade and rowing when possible.
As to rowing I am getting on much better than last year (I
ought to of course) and hope I am getting on quite well but I don’t really
know. I am getting very sore and very
enthusiastic but I think the OTC will stop me sooner or later.
As to the OTC, we peg along and have lectures on the
wonderful things we shall have to do if we get a commission, I am quite
frightened at the idea of getting (sic.).
This afternoon we suddenly started rushing about in open air – run and chuck
yourself down and repeat ad infinitum sort of thing. I finally spoilt my last grey trousers by
ploughing up the ground and carrying it off on me and I also broke all the
buttons off. The subsequent two hours drill in front of lady spectators was
rather trying. My hands were by no means
in their proper position.
I say getting up at unearthly hours but my rollers are miles
behind. I find it terrifically hard to
get up nowadays and have to resort to the dressing gown roller which is not
really very sure. One has to go out
arranged as for the bath (this may be done up to 7.54) and ask returning
roll-makers (mostly dirty rollers) if “Dicky” is in. If they say yes one steers for the baths in
disappointment; if the answer is “No” forthwith, without more ado a dash is
made to the room and with luck one does not meet Dicky Brook on one’s return. If one does it is a pity (one’s roller goes
bang) but it is always worth risking and it gives one 4 mins more bed even than
the dirty roller. As for the clean one –
I made attempts at it in a fit of virtue at first but I soon lapsed.
It is awfully cold here especially OTC-ing and it frequently
pours on us.
Cheerio
Bob
(I am greatly indebted
to Janet Hudson for her kind permission to quote from Bob Perks’ correspondence.
It is my pleasure also to credit Janet for her excellent research in helping to
clarify Bob Perks’ rather arcane comments about ‘’rollers”. It appears that he
was referring to his roll-call for the OTC and his reference to “Dicky Brook”
relates to Richard Brook, a tutor at Merton and later a Church of England
bishop; see http://www.edwardianpromenade.com/education/an-american-at-oxford-everyday-life/).
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The Perks brothers (Bob on the left), pictured whilst at Oxford
Image by kind permission of Janet Hudson
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