The Battalion remained in billets, finding large working
parties each evening to assist the Royal Engineers.
Pte. William Seymour Budd disembarked in France. He had been one of the Keighley men attached to Tunstill’s original recruits and had initially trained with the Battalion. He had been 34 years-old when he enlisted in September 1914. He had been born and brought up in Keighley and, in June 1910, had married Sarah Jane Kingham. The couple had one child, Louisa, and had been living in Bengal Street, Keighley, with William working as a fitter in an agricultural machine factory. The reason for his delayed departure from England is unclear but it seems that he arrived as part of a draft of 60 NCO’s and men from 11th (Reserve) Battalion who were due to reinforce 10th Battalion. Also among this draft was L.Cpl. Harry Clark (see 7th September), whose departure had been delayed due to treatment for syphilis. Among the men transferred from 11DWR was Sgt. Edward George John Cooke; he was a 30 year-old engineer from Peckham and was married with two children. He had served eight years (1901-09) with the 1DWR and 2DWR and a further four years on the Reserve. He had re-enlisted in September 1914 and had been appointed Corporal in November 1914 and promoted Sergeant on being posted to France. Cpl. Wilfred Fletcher was a 21 year-old plumber from Halifax and had been married for just two months. L.Cpl. Owen Gregan was a 23 year-old weaver from Halifax. L.Cpl. George Holmes (10794) was a 28 year-old fitter from Bradford. Pte. Harry Ambler was a 40 year-old painter, originally from Brighouse, he had lived for many years in Middleton, Lancs.; he was married with five children. He had enlisted in Bury in July. Pte. Harry Braithwaite was a 32 year-old window cleaning contractor from Bradford; he was married, with four children (2 other children had died). Pte. John Edward Dolan had enlisted in June 1915, aged 29; he was married with two children and had been working as a gas engineer in Armley. Pte. Harry Duthoit; in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of this man. Pte. William Haste; in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of this man. Pte. Rennie Hirst was a 20 year-old ‘piecer’ from Huddersfield; he was married with one son and his wife was heavily pregnant with their second child who would be born on 16th October. Pte. Jonas Jowett; in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of this man. Pte. William Kershaw (12689) (see 11th September 1914). Pte. William Knox, was 25 and from Ketton, Rutland, but had been working in Sheffield as a milkman for the Attercliffe Co-Op in Sheffield when he enlisted in 1914. Whilst in training in the Spring of 1915 he had married Ethel Thomas. Pte. Thomas Lloyd was a 32 year-old oil distiller from Huddersfield; he was originally from Derby but had been adopted by Mrs. Bottomley of Slaithwaite and was known in the family as ‘Jack’. He had enlisted on 9th August 1914 and had trained with 11DWR. Pte. Fred Lockwood was a 24 year-old shop assistant from Halifax. Pte. Charles William Long was a 31 year-old stone dresser from Idle, Bradford; he had married whilst in training in May. Pte. James McMath was a 25 year-old cloth finisher. He was originally from Derbyshire, but had been living in Holmfirth; he was married with one son and his wife, Eva, was pregnant with their second child. Pte. Albert Henry Nutter (see 26th September). Pte. Cornelius Thomas William Rigby was a 42 year-old veterinary medicine dealer; though originally from Staffordshire, he had lived for many years in Denby Dale, Huddersfield. Pte. John Shone; in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of this man. Pte. Lewis Sykes had originally volunteered on 1st September 1914, having married only three weeks previously, and had been posted to 9DWR. However, after eight weeks he had been discharged as medically unfit. In July 1915 he had enlisted again and had now completed three months’ training. Pte. Fred Wainman was also a member of this draft, but, in the absence of a surviving service record, I am unable to make a positive identification of this man. Pte. George Edward Western was a 19 year-old driller from Bradford.
Pte. William Seymour Budd disembarked in France. He had been one of the Keighley men attached to Tunstill’s original recruits and had initially trained with the Battalion. He had been 34 years-old when he enlisted in September 1914. He had been born and brought up in Keighley and, in June 1910, had married Sarah Jane Kingham. The couple had one child, Louisa, and had been living in Bengal Street, Keighley, with William working as a fitter in an agricultural machine factory. The reason for his delayed departure from England is unclear but it seems that he arrived as part of a draft of 60 NCO’s and men from 11th (Reserve) Battalion who were due to reinforce 10th Battalion. Also among this draft was L.Cpl. Harry Clark (see 7th September), whose departure had been delayed due to treatment for syphilis. Among the men transferred from 11DWR was Sgt. Edward George John Cooke; he was a 30 year-old engineer from Peckham and was married with two children. He had served eight years (1901-09) with the 1DWR and 2DWR and a further four years on the Reserve. He had re-enlisted in September 1914 and had been appointed Corporal in November 1914 and promoted Sergeant on being posted to France. Cpl. Wilfred Fletcher was a 21 year-old plumber from Halifax and had been married for just two months. L.Cpl. Owen Gregan was a 23 year-old weaver from Halifax. L.Cpl. George Holmes (10794) was a 28 year-old fitter from Bradford. Pte. Harry Ambler was a 40 year-old painter, originally from Brighouse, he had lived for many years in Middleton, Lancs.; he was married with five children. He had enlisted in Bury in July. Pte. Harry Braithwaite was a 32 year-old window cleaning contractor from Bradford; he was married, with four children (2 other children had died). Pte. John Edward Dolan had enlisted in June 1915, aged 29; he was married with two children and had been working as a gas engineer in Armley. Pte. Harry Duthoit; in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of this man. Pte. William Haste; in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of this man. Pte. Rennie Hirst was a 20 year-old ‘piecer’ from Huddersfield; he was married with one son and his wife was heavily pregnant with their second child who would be born on 16th October. Pte. Jonas Jowett; in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of this man. Pte. William Kershaw (12689) (see 11th September 1914). Pte. William Knox, was 25 and from Ketton, Rutland, but had been working in Sheffield as a milkman for the Attercliffe Co-Op in Sheffield when he enlisted in 1914. Whilst in training in the Spring of 1915 he had married Ethel Thomas. Pte. Thomas Lloyd was a 32 year-old oil distiller from Huddersfield; he was originally from Derby but had been adopted by Mrs. Bottomley of Slaithwaite and was known in the family as ‘Jack’. He had enlisted on 9th August 1914 and had trained with 11DWR. Pte. Fred Lockwood was a 24 year-old shop assistant from Halifax. Pte. Charles William Long was a 31 year-old stone dresser from Idle, Bradford; he had married whilst in training in May. Pte. James McMath was a 25 year-old cloth finisher. He was originally from Derbyshire, but had been living in Holmfirth; he was married with one son and his wife, Eva, was pregnant with their second child. Pte. Albert Henry Nutter (see 26th September). Pte. Cornelius Thomas William Rigby was a 42 year-old veterinary medicine dealer; though originally from Staffordshire, he had lived for many years in Denby Dale, Huddersfield. Pte. John Shone; in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of this man. Pte. Lewis Sykes had originally volunteered on 1st September 1914, having married only three weeks previously, and had been posted to 9DWR. However, after eight weeks he had been discharged as medically unfit. In July 1915 he had enlisted again and had now completed three months’ training. Pte. Fred Wainman was also a member of this draft, but, in the absence of a surviving service record, I am unable to make a positive identification of this man. Pte. George Edward Western was a 19 year-old driller from Bradford.
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| Pte. James McMath |
“Just a postcard to let you know that I am still keeping very well. Hope you are the same. Will write you a letter when we get to our destination. We are at a resting camp and we are expecting to go up to the base any time now. It is lovely weather here but expect it will get hotter later on”.
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