Friday 6th November 1914

News of the deaths of both Pte. Walter Isherwood (see 27^th October) and Pte. Joshua Crossley (see 3^rd November) was reported in the weekly edition of the Craven Herald:

THE SETTLE COMPANY - Two Deaths

“We regret to record that the Settle Company of Lord Kitchener's Army (formed by Mr. H.G. Tunstill) has lost two good men in Pte. Walter Isherwood, of Newton-in-Bowland, and Pte. Joshua Crossley, of Bolton-by-Bowland. Both were in No. 1. platoon of the 'A' Company of the 10th Service Battalion, and none were more appreciated or will be remembered with more pride. They have sacrificed their lives for their country's good just as much as if they had fallen in the fighting line. They died of pneumonia and measles. There have unfortunately been four cases of measles in the Settle Company, but with the exception of two men in hospital suffering from this disease, the health and spirits of the men are excellent. It is almost inevitable that in a body of men some will succumb to the disease, and the unfortunate result named above is much regretted. With these exceptions the Settle Company has had a wonderfully good bill of health. The Company is still at Frensham Camp, Farnham”.

 

The other two men reported to be still in hospital were Harold Greenhow and Carl Parrington Branthwaite. Greenhow had volunteered at Bolton-by-Bowland (see 14^th September) and Branthwaite had also been among the earliest recruits to the Company, enlisting at the meeting held at Hellifield (see 8^th September). 

On the same day the Craven Herald also carried news of a consignment of socks and mufflers delivered by Geraldine Tunstill to the recruits at Frensham. This would be just the first example of an on-going fund-raising and support effort which was to be co-ordinated by Geraldine and a group of local supporters and would continue to provide a range of ‘comforts’ to the men over the following months.

GIFTS FOR THE SETTLE LADS

Mrs. H.G. Tunstill has taken down for distribution to the O.C. West Riding Regiment at Frensham Camp nearly 300 beautifully made socks and knitted scarves. The men were most grateful and greatly appreciated not only the articles, but the kindness of those who had made them for their use. The gifts included – Settle War Relief Fund, 100 pairs of socks; Miss Atkinson (pupils at Technical School, Settle) 25 mufflers; Mrs. Abbott, Settle 4 pairs of socks; From Otterburn (per Mrs. H.G. Tunstill) 11 pairs of socks and 53 mufflers; from Hanlith and Kirby Malham (per Mrs. Illingworth) 38 pairs of socks and 22 mufflers; from Slaidburn (per Mrs. King Wilkinson) 18 mufflers; Arncliffe and Littondale (per Miss Hammond) 8 pairs of socks and 8 mufflers; Hellifield (per Miss Russell) 5 mufflers; total 161 pairs of socks and 131 mufflers.