Friday 29th October 1915

Billets at Estaires

As more working parties were provided for the Royal Engineers, arrangements were made for the relief of 1^st Worcesters to be undertaken the following day.

Pte. Reginald Hancock (see 13^th April), was found to be absent from his sentry duty; he was disciplined next day, being sentenced to seven days field punishment number two. This meant that he would have been restrained in irons (fetters, handcuffs or both), but not secured to any fixed object as was the case with the hated field punishment number one.

 

The War Office authorised a payment of £4 1s 3d to the father of Pte. John Robinson (see 18^th April), who had died from pneumonia whilst the Battalion had been in training in Folkestone.

 

The weekly edition of the Craven Herald published a report of the wounding of Pte. Bob Maunders (see 18^th October):

Wounded at “The Front”.
Official intimation has been received by Mr. J. Maunders of High Hill Cottages, Settle, That his son, Pte. R.H. Maunders, has been wounded in action in France. In a letter from Captain Tunstill, it appears he was shot through the face by a German sniper, and was going on nicely. Pte. Maunders is at present at the Australian Hospital at Wimereux. He joined Kitchener’s Army at the outbreak of war.

The same edition also carried a letter written by Sergt Harry Singleton, serving in France. He was the brother of Robert Singleton (see 31^st July), who had been one of Tunstill’s original volunteers, but had been discharged as unfit in January 1915.

BOLTON-BY-BOWLAND
BOWLAND SOLDIER AND THE STAY-AT-HOMES

The following is a copy of a letter received by Mr. Lambert from Sergt. H. Singleton of the 50^th Field Ambulance in France: “The parcel of cigarettes came to hand this morning in fine condition, and I should like to convey my thanks to the Committee, not only for the gift itself but also for the kind thoughts which prompted it. It is very nice indeed to know we are not forgotten by the people at home, and it cheers us up to hear from them out here. I notice on your enclosed slip of paper that the Committee thanks us for what we are doing for them and for everyone. What would you have us do? I would not be in the position of many lads for all the wealth of the Orient. Don’t thank us for doing our duty, but if you would show your appreciation of our services, send out twice as many more of the Bolton men. They are there! Waiting to be fetched I guess? I notice your reference to munitions workers, but munitions is the sphere for overage men and ineligibles, not for strong young men who ought to be carrying a gun. Others marry and contemplate marriage with never a thought of anything but their own comfort, and the making of money. Married or single they will all have to come if they intend the war to end in our favour, so why not make up their minds to 'do it now’. My two best friends out here are two young married men with families of their own, and yet they would not be anywhere else for worlds.

I wish all young men could be moved to a sense of their responsibilities. Possibly they are afraid they might get hurt! If such be the case perhaps it is best for them to stick where they are, as there is no room out here for cowards. While their schoolmates and friends are being killed and injured and captured every day they hang about their father’s farms etc, doing an old man out of a job. If they could only see the sights we get at times I am sure they would enlist tomorrow.

What would they say if they came one day and found the whole village lying in ruins, blown almost out of recognition, and the women and children gone – outcasts and refugees to a strange land; the church even burnt to the ground; the men all gone to the wall with the exception of a lucky few who ran for it. I have seen it, not once only, but many times, and I can tell you it’s no fun when one thinks of what they were before the war. The war is ruining this country and it looks like ruining England if it does not end soon. Within ten yards of me as I write this there are two Belgian farmers who had to leave all they had. Neither of them knows how his family is or where they are.

These men are working as farm labourers with the French farmer who owns the land on which we are at present. This country is capable of doing a lot, but they can do little if we don’t help them as much in the next year as in the last, and now that the Balkan business has come to a head, we shall have to move a lot from here, and their places will have to be taken by someone.