Thursday 15th April 1915

There was a further round of promotions involving several of Tunstill’s Men (see 7^th April). At least four of the original recruits (there may also have been others for whom details do not survive) were appointed as acting, unpaid Lance Corporals; they were Ptes. John Beckwith (see 11^th September 1914); Christopher John Kelly (see 24^th December 1914); William Proctor (see 9^th September 1914) and Billy Rawlinson (see 15^th September 1914). There were also promotions for two others who had been attached to Tunstill’s original recruits. 

Pte. Richard Cleasby Chorley was promoted acting, unpaid Lance Corporal. Chorley had enlisted (aged 24) in Keighley on 19^th September and had been one of the many Keighley recruits who had been combined with Tunstill’s original volunteers to form ‘A’ Company. His younger brother, Charles Leonard Chorley, had also signed up at around the same time and was also serving with 10^th West Ridings, though with a different Company. The brothers were sons of Leonard Chorley, who was originally from Gorton, Manchester, and had initially worked as a solicitor’s clerk. However, in his early twenties he had taken over as licensee of his first public house and since then his business had prospered. For some years he had been licensee of the Bowling Green Inn, Kendal but in 1914 he had been running the Black Bull Inn, Sedbergh for more than 15 years. He had done well enough to send both his sons to attend St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Boarding School in Dumfries. After leaving school Charles had worked in the family business while Richard had joined the Civil Service in 1906 and had worked as a clerk in the Labour Exchanges and Unemployment Insurance Branch. Richard had also served just under a year in the Territorial Force, with 1/15^th Battalion London Regiment (Prince of Wales’ Own Civil Service Rifles). At the time of his enlistment he was working in Keighley and lodging with a Mrs. Bowker in Ash Street. It was most likely Richard’s higher standard of education and his clerical experience which were behind his promotion, and it seems likely that he was part of the Company administrative organisation.

Pte. James Wilson was also appointed acting, unpaid Lance Corporal. He had enlisted in Menston on 18^th September and joined Tunstill’s Company on their departure for training. James Wilson was 22 years old and originally from Grasmere, where his father, John, worked as a builder. James himself  had been working as a chauffeur and gardener for his father before enlisting.

After spending a month in hospital having dislocated his elbow, Pte. Ernest Wilson (11751) (see 18^th March) was transferred from Thorncliffe Hospital to a convalescent hospital in Deal.