Thursday 7th October 1915

Jesus Farm, Erquinghem

The Battalion remained in billets, finding large working parties each evening to assist the Royal Engineers.

A draft of 60 NCO’s and men, mostly from from 11^th (Reserve) Battalion, who were due to reinforce 10DWR disembarked in France. The majority of this draft have been identified.

Among the men posted from 11DWR was Pte. Harry Ambler. He was a 40 year-old painter, originally from Brighouse but had lived for many years in Middleton, Lancs.; he was married with five children. He had enlisted in Bury in July. L.Cpl. Joseph Baxter (see 29^th September) had originally served with 10DWR but had not proceeded overseas in August. Pte. Thomas William Binks was a 27 year-old labourer from Usworth, County Durham; he had originally served with 8DWR and had been wounded before being transferred to 10DWR. L.Cpl. James William Booth was a 22 year-old farm labourer from Bradford. 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. James Broadbent was a 38 year-old labourer from Oldham. Pte. George Brown (17287); in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of this man. Pte. William Seymour Budd 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. Pte. William Bulmer was a 40 year-old coal miner from Castleford; he was married, with four children. Pte. Irvine Clark (see 14^th September 1914); his departure for France may have been delayed on account of his age as he had only turned 19 on 14^th September, after the main body of the Battalion had embarked. L.Cpl. Harry Clark (see 7^th September) his departure had been delayed due to treatment for syphilis.  Sgt. Edward George John Cooke was a 30 year-old engineer from Peckham and was married with two children. He had served eight years (1901-09) with 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. 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. L.Cpl. Edwin Dracup (see 27^th September). Pte. Harry Duthoit was a 40 year-old weaver, originally from Wakefield, but had been living in Colne; he was married, with five surviving children (six other children had died). 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. Pte. John William Harrison was 18 years old and from Bradford. He would be wounded twice and would be transferred firstly to 9DWR and then to 2DWR. In the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to establish any details as to the dates or circumstances of his having been wounded. 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 16^th October. Pte. Ernest Holland was a 23 year-old labourer from Littleborough; he was married but had no children. L.Cpl. George Holmes (10794) was a 28 year-old fitter from Bradford. Pte. Joseph Holmes was a 34 year-old wood sawyer from Bradford; he was married but had no children. 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) was a 21 year-old dyers’ labourer from Rastrick. Pte. John Knox; in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of this man. 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 9^th 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. John Edwin Lumb was a 22 year-old weaver from Golcar; he had enlisted in June. Pte. James McMath IMAGE 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. Daniel Nevison was a 28 year-old cotton weaver from Barnoldswick; he was married, with two children. The details of his service with the Battalion are unknown but he would be subsequently transferred and would serve with 9DWR, 2^nd/5^th DWR and finally 5DWR. Pte. Albert Henry Nutter (see 26^th September). Pte. Ernest Parkin was a 37 year-old stone dresser from Huddersfield; he was married, with one daughter. Pte. Thomas Richardson was a 22 year-old iron turner from Leeds; he had served three years with 3^rd (reserve) Battalion DWR and had been embodied on 8^th August 1914 and transferred to 11DWR on 16^th November 1914.  Pte. Herbert Ridley was 22 years old and from Fulham; he was married with one son and his wife, Helen, was pregnant with their second child. He had enlisted in April 1915 and had been in training with 3DWR at Tynemouth. 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. Michael Henry Rourke was 33 years old and from Huddersfield; he had enlisted in July 1915 and had trained with 11DWR at Brocton Camp. Pte. Charles Rushworth was a 34 year-old dyers’ labourer from Bradford; he was married, with two children. Pte. John Shone was a 23 year-old textile worker originally from Huyton but had been living in Steeton; he was married but had no children. Pte. Harry Siddall was a 34 year-old labourer from Sheffield. Pte. Joseph Smyth was a 22 year-old tinner from Leeds; he was married, but had no children. Pte. Lewis Sykes had originally volunteered on 1^st 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. George Tate was a 25 year-old carter from Leeds. Pte. John Thomas Waddington was a 33 year-old foundry labourer from Keighley; he was married, with four children (six other children had died in infancy). Pte. Fred Wainman; in the absence of a surviving service record, I am unable to make a positive identification of this man. Pte. Thomas Ward was a 21 year-old labourer from Huddersfield; he had had just two months’ training with 11DWR before being posted to France. Pte. George Edward Western was a 19 year-old driller from Bradford. Pte. Norman Wilson was 21 and from Halifax where he had worked in the grocery department of the Halifax Industrial Society.

Pte. James McMath

Having arrived in France doubtless many of the men would have despatched postcards and letters to their loved ones. One such postcard survives among a remarkable collection of correspondence written by Pte. William Knox (see above). (I am most grateful to Rachael Broadhead and family for allowing me access to William’s letters).

“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”.