Wednesday 7th April 1915

A number of men were promoted. Ptes. Harry Waddington and William Murphy (see below) were appointed (paid) Lance Corporal. Harry Waddington had enlisted in Bradford in September 1914 and, although aged only 17 at the time, had given his age as 19. He had enlisted along with his cousin, Herbert Waddington; Herbert had been 19 when enlisting and was the youngest of nine children of James and Hannah Waddington. James had died when Herbert was just eight years old; thereafter he had been brought up by his widowed mother. Both men had been working as apprentice etchers. Herbert was a friend of J.B. Priestley. William Murphy was 21 years old and was a dyer’s labourer (working at Armitage’s dyeworks) from Bradford; he was also an associate of Priestley. Ptes. Christopher Longstaff (see 2^nd September 1914), Henry Markham (see below), Archibald Louis Norris (see below) and Fred Swale (see 8^th September 1914) were all appointed (unpaid) Lance Corporal. Henry Markham was 30 years old and had enlisted in Halifax on 12^th September 1914, having previously worked as a labourer.Archibald Louis Norris was a 27 year-old labourer, originally from Holbeach, but now married and living in Huddersfield. 

Seventeen year-old Pte. Horace Dunn, who had enlisted underage in Keighley and been posted to serve with Tunstill’s Company (see 8^th January) was confined to barracks for four days having been found to have absent off pass from 11.55 pm on 5^th April to 10 pm the following day; his offence was reported by Sgt. Alfred Lodge (see 17^th September 1914).


One of Tunstill’s original recruits, Pte. William Henry Scott (see 7^th September 1914) was married at St. John the Baptist’s Church, Folkestone. The Church was in the heart of the area in which the Company was billeted and Scott himself was recorded as resident at Park Farm Cottage, Park Road, Folkestone. Scott’s bride was Susannah Driver, from Skipton. One of the witnesses to the ceremony was Scott’s fellow recruit, Sgt. William Edward Gibson (see 21^st September 1914); the second witness was Pte. William Brymar Stancer, also of 10^th Battalion, but not one of Tunstill’s Company.

2Lt. Robert Stewart Skinner Ingram (see 5^th April) wrote to his parents with news of his routine at Folkestone:

7^th Apl. 1915
(Regimental headed notepaper)
2 Julian Road

Folkestone

My Darling Mother and Father

I got back here last Monday night about 9.30 pm, some time before the train was due to get down at Charing Cross. I happened to pick up two of ours returning from their 8 days Passover leave, and we came down together.

I can’t remember ever having enjoyed 4 days holiday more than the 4 days ending 5/4/15. Usually after a long-looked-forward-to event or period one has an unsatisfied feeling that perhaps, after all, anticipation was superior to realisation. But on this occasion I came back absolutely satisfied in every way.

And so life goes on. We don’t expect to be out before July. Today, from one cause or another, I’ve had the Company on my hands all day. Tomorrow I’m for a day on the ranges at Hythe, having for a day Range Officer’s Duty. And so on.

In the top left or right drawer of the dressing table I left a cheque for £8 15s. made out to me by Jim. I wonder if somebody would be kind enough to forward it to me?

Much love to all, your ever loving son.

Robert

(One of the two Jewish officers with whom Ingram travelled would most likely be 2Lt. Harry Harris (see 19^th November 1914); ‘Jim’ would be Ingram’s younger brother, James Skinner Ingram).