Tuesday 31st August 1915

Nort-Leulinghem

Pte. John Henshall (see 6^th July) was ordered to undergo 21 days’ Field Punishment no.2; the nature of his offence is unknown. 

Pte. Sam Tinkler (see below) was reported, by CQMS Frank Stephenson (see 12^th June), as absent when due to draw rations at Nort-Leulingham at 3pm; he was confined to camp for two days on the orders of Major Hildyard.

Sam Tinkler was born in Bradford on 26^th February 1891, and baptized on 9^th April at Holy Trinity Church in the city. He was the youngest of seven children of Edward (b.1847) and Ellen Tinkler (b.1857). Since their marriage, at Holmfirth in 1873, the couple had moved regularly through a variety of Yorkshire towns. By the time Sam was born they were lodging with Ellen’s widowed mother, Hannah Bramwell, at 56 Birstall Lane, Bradford. Edward worked as an engine driver.

Sam’s mother died in 1895, aged just 38 and the family was broken up. In 1901, Sam’s sister, Sarah, aged 16, was in domestic service in Malton and her younger sister Annie (aged 11) was lodging with a family in the town; his brother Thomas (aged 13) was an inmate at ‘St Mark’s Home for Waifs and Strays’ at Natland in Westmorland; while Sam himself (aged 10) was living with his elder sister, Emma, and her husband, Thomas Haigh, in Keighley. Ten years later Sam was working as a woolcomber at Botany Mills, Keighley and lodging with Tom Charnock Young and his wife, Emily, at Thwaites House, Thwaites Croft, Keighley.

On 19^th September 1914 Sam had been one of thirteen local men who enlisted in Keighley and were posted to join Tunstill’s Company. Standing just five feet three and three quarter inches, he was only just tall enough to sign up. He gave his occupation at the time as ‘labourer’ and named his married sister, Sarah Carris, as his next of kin. It was Sarah who received the army allowance of 3/6d. per week while Sam was serving.

Pte. Sam Tinkler