Monday 7th June 1915

Service rifles were issued to the rest of the Battalion (see 6^th June), as noted in a further letter to his Mother written by 2Lt. Robert Stewart Skinner Ingram (see 6^th June):

7^th June 1915

(Regimental headed notepaper)

Bramshott Camp
Hampshire

My darling Mother

Wonder if you would please ask Janet to send me in a cardboard box,
1 pair clean white flannel trousers
1 clean white flannel shirt
1 pair white tennis socks
1 pair white tennis shoes
My Old Harrovian blazer and my yellow and blue striped boxing scarf.

There is a prospect of some cricket and tennis here. Quite like more peaceful days. The local club are lending us all necessaries. The bike Lilian is sending has not come yet, but am expecting it any day now. Lilian tells me Tommy celebrated his arrival at the Priory by spilling a bottle of wine. According to present news we are here till about August 1^st.

The rifles were all issued today and shooting begins on Monday next for the right half Bn.

Much love to Father and the rest of the family, your ever loving son
Robert


(‘Lilian’ refers to Ingram’s sister-in-law, wife of his elder brother ‘Tommy’, currently serving with the RAMC, see 6^th June).

John Bradley, younger brother of Tunstill’s Man, Pte. Willie Bradley (see 16^th September 1914) volunteered in Skipton. His story, and that of his brothers was reported in the Craven Herald edition on 11^th June;

Patriotic Cowling Youths

On Monday another recruit from Cowling enlisted in the Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment (Territorials) stationed at Skipton, in the person of John Bradley, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Bradley, of Keighley Road, Cowling. Mr. and Mrs. Bradley have now three sons in training (all who are eligible). At the outbreak of the war all the sons enlisted in Kitchener’s Army at a recruitment meeting held in Cowling. The eldest, Willie, is now at Bramshott Camp, near Aldershot, where he, along with a number of Cowling boys, are completing their training, and in a few weeks expect to be sent to the Front. Johnny, the next was rejected on account of insufficient chest measurement, but after a course of physical culture this has been remedied and he has enlisted as stated above. Archie, the youngest of the three, was rejected on account of height, being just under the regulation standard. This was a great disappointment to him, and he journeyed to various recruiting offices to endeavour to join his brothers and the other Cowling boys Company, but without avail. Ultimately, he was accepted in the Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment (Territorials) and is now stationed at Derby.