Tuesday 20th July 1915

Tunstill's Company remained in training at Bramshott.

Lt. Robert Stewart Skinner Ingram (see 18^th July) wrote to his Mother with news about leave and the Battalion’s future:

20^th July 1915

Longmoor Camp

Hants.

My Darling Mother

A Divisional Order came here last night that all Officers are to be given leave for a week and lists are in hand of the Officers of each Battalion away at a time. There is no choice, one has just got to it take when given or not at all. My leave is from 29^th up till the evening of August 4^th, the first anniversary of the Declaration of War. But I can almost certainly get away the evening before my leave starts, so I hope to be home some time on Wednesday night, July 28^th. Very much looking forward to being back. It will probably be for the last leave we can reasonably expect, except an odd night perhaps. General Babington, GOC, 23^rd Division now knows the date when we shall proceed overseas, though, as yet, the date is not public property. I do hope we are for Flanders and not Gallipoli. But most of our officers want to get to the Mediterranean. All leave is to be over by August 19^th. Our CO expects we shall be starting during the third week in August. Whether he has any certain information or whether it’s only his personal opinion, I don’t know.

Nothing further of Jack, and no news here. The rain has poured down for the last two or three days, which is not very pleasant in tents.

With much love

Your ever loving son

Robert

Home on Wednesday for seven whole days. What a glorious prospect.

Ingram’s comments about ‘Jack’ refer to to a friend of his from Harrow, 2Lt. Laurence Cecil Wilson, who had been severely wounded in action on 7^th July, while serving with 1^st Battalion Norfolk Regiment near Hill 60, south-east of Ypres.

L.Cpl. Alvin Edmond Tolley, home on leave from training with 10DWR, was married, at Christ Church, Sowerby Bridge, to Sarah Elizabeth Thorp. L.Cpl. Tolley was 33 years old; he had been born in Devon but had lived for a number of years in Sowerby Bridge. He had three brothers serving with 1^st/4^th DWR.