Sunday 7th May 1916

Billets at Pernes

The weather became cooler and showery and the day was generally quiet. At Pernes, “there was a football ground and a platoon competition was held which was won by No.14, captained by 2Lt. G.S. Hulburd”.

2Lt. George Stuart Hulburd (see 16th September 1915) was born 3^rd July 1896, the eldest of the four children of George Richard Hulburd and his wife Lucy; his father owned a grocer and draper’s business in Sittingbourne, Kent. George was educated at Faversham Grammar School and on the outbreak of war he was already a member of the Territorial Forces, having enlisted in the Kent Cyclist’ Battalion on 15^th May 1914. He joined his unit on 5^th August and remained with them until 5^th December 1914, when he was discharged to a commission with 10DWR.

2Lt. George Stuart Hulburd (seated front row second from right)

Image by kind permission of Paddy Ireland

Pte. Harry Hartley was admitted to 70^th Field Ambulance, having been taken ill (details unknown). He had been one of the contingent raised in Keighley who had been added to Tunstill’s original volunteers in September 1914. He was only 16 when he enlisted (born 8th February 1898), originally from Earby and was one of twelve children (two of whom died in infancy) of John and Ellen Hartley. His father had died in 1908 and three years later all ten children were still living at home, in Langroyd Road, Earby, and all those of working age, including Harry, employed in the local cotton mills.