Saturday 27th November 1915

Jesus Farm, Erquinghem

As training continued, so too did the extreme cold of recent days.

2Lt. John Clarence William Redington (see 11^th April) reported for duty with 10^th Battalion. He was the younger brother of Frank Hubert Caudwell Redington who was already serving as one of Tunstill’s fellow officers.

Sgt. Arthur Manks (see 23^rd October) was transferred from hospital in Boscombe, Hants. to the convalescent hospital at Woodcote Park, Epsom.

The weekly edition of the Keighley News published news of the death of Pte. Barker Stott (see 13^th November).

LOCAL CASUALTIES

News was received yesterday of the death in France of Private Barker Stott (20), of 14 Gladstone Street, Keighley. He died from lockjaw as a result of getting a rusty nail into his hand. He enlisted in the 10^th West Riding Regiment in September 1914 and went out to France with that regiment two or three months ago. His mother has died since his enlistment.

Pte. Barker Stott

Farrand and John Kayley enlisted, in Skipton, in response to the ‘Derby Scheme’, with 1st/6th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s. They were brothers of Job and James Kayley, who had been among Tunstill’s original recruits (see 9th and 14^th September 1914). Farrand and John were among a group of six Long Preston men who volunteered together. One of the six, Arthur ‘Snippy’ Throupe,  was originally rejected because of his height (he was only five feet two inches tall) but when the others refused to join unless they were all allowed, ‘Snippy’ was signed up. One of the six, Edgar Mellin Kayley (no direct relation) was transferred first to the Machine Gun Corps and later to the Military Foot Police, but the other five were all were posted to France in March 1916. Of the five, one, William Metcalfe, would be killed and three, John Kayley, ‘Snippy’ Throupe and Bob Slater, were wounded in action. The fifth surviving Kayley brother, Harry, had attested for service by the end of the year and later served in the Royal Garrison Artillery.

I am most grateful to the late Robert Slater who provided me with much information on the Long Preston volunteers and was a source, not only of information, but also of great encouragement.