Thursday 26th August 1915

The advance party of 10DWR, under Major Buchanan (see 25^th August), along with other elements of 69^th Brigade, arrived at Le Havre early morning, having crossed overnight from Southampton. The party of 10DWR, along with most of the other troops, remained overnight in the rest camps in the area, though the Divisional Cyclist Company boarded a train late in the evening and proceeded to St. Omer overnight.

Pte. Tom Darwin (see 19^th August) reported for duty; he had been absent without leave for the previous seven days, having overstayed on his embarkation leave.

More men of Tunstill’s Company completed and dated their wills as they prepared for their departure (see 25^th August); among them was Pte. Tommy Cartman (see 7^th May).

The same day Tommy Cartman also sent home a signed postcard photograph of himself, with regards to his cousin Eva. It seems likely that the photograph had been taken recently and also that a photograph of his cousin, Pte. Charlie Branston, was taken at the same time. The two had enlisted together and Charlie’s postcard photograph also arrived back in Skipton.

Pte. Tommy Cartman

Pte. Charlie Branston

As per the orders of 23^rd August, the main body of 10DWR left camp at Bramshott to depart for France. The Battalion completed the short march south from Bramshott to Liphook. At Liphook, “The ladies of Liphook, led by Mrs. C.O. (ie Mrs Gladys Bartholomew, see 5^th June) had an excellent tea ready for us all, officers and other ranks, on the station”. There were also present other family members, including the parents and younger brother of Lt. Robert Stewart Skinner Ingram (see 17^th August). Half of the Battalion (C and D Companies), under Capt. Robert Harwar Gill (see 23^rd August), boarded a train at Liphook Station at 4.50pm (along with Brigade HQ) and the remainder (Battalion HQ, A and B Companies) followed on a second train forty minutes later (8^th and 9^th Battalions Yorkshire Regiment followed on subsequent trains). For these parties the journey would take them firstly to Folkestone, where a large crowd gathered along the railway embankment to give them a rousing send off. 10DWR (along with Brigade HQ and half of 8Yorks) then boarded a troopship (name unknown) and sailed from Folkestone at 9.45pm. The crossing was uneventful; Lt. Ingram told his parents that, “The crossing could not possibly have been better. Just like the proverbial mill pond. Not a cloud in the sky and a bright ¾ moon. Not a single man on the whole ship was seasick”. They arrived at Boulogne around 11.15pm and were joined about an hour later by a second ship carrying the remainder of the 8 and 9Yorks.

Immediately on arriving in France Sgt. William Edward Gibson (see 21^st August) was admitted to 2^nd General Hospital at Le Havre, suffering from an abscess to his back.

Col. George Rainier Crawford who had died four days earlier was buried in St. Peter’s Churchyard, Leckhampton, Gloucestershire.