Friday 9th April 1915

One of Tunstill’s original recruits, 19 year-old Pte. John Robinson (see 15^th September 1914) died in his billet at 4 Broadmead Road, Folkestone. At 6.30 am, another member of Tunstill’s Company, Pte. Gordon Dale (see below)  had discovered Robinson, unconscious, and had immediately called for help from Quartermaster Sergeant George Reginald Percy (see 21^st December 1914) What followed was described later in an article in the Folkestone, Hythe, Sandgate and Cheriton Herald,

John Robinson

“Dale said, “Robinson is in a fit. What is to be done with him?” Witness (Percy) replied, “Open his neck and sprinkle him with water”. Witness found Robinson sitting in a chair, unconscious. He went for Dr. Linington who told him they must get their regimental doctor. Immediately, with assistance, he moved him to a couch, and performed artificial respiration, meanwhile waiting for Dr. Charles Matthews, their regimental doctor. On his arrival deceased was dead.”

News of John Robinson’s death was passed that afternoon by telegram to his family in Gisburn. They were doubtless shocked by the news, especially as (reported in the Clitheroe Times), “On several mornings last week letters were received from him by several of his friends, enclosing an excellent photograph of himself, and containing the news that he was well, though suffering slight inconvenience from his arm, natural to vaccination a few days before”.

Gordon Dale had enlisted at the age of just 16 and had been one of the volunteers who had become ‘adopted’ members of Tunstill’s Company after joining them in September 1914. He had been born in Darlington but his father, John William Dale, who worked as a domestic gardener, had moved his family first to Harrogate and latterly to Bingley, from where Gordon volunteered. Gordon’s only brother, Laurence William Franklin Dale, had joined the Royal Marines in May 1913.