Thursday 4th May 1916

Billets at Hersin

The day was described as being ‘hot and stuffy’. Conditions were again quiet and more training continued, alongside the provision of working parties. In the evening orders were received that the Battalion would move next day, by train, back to Pernes. The orders stated that the Battalion would march either to the station at Hersin or Barlin “according to whether the former is being shelled or otherwise”.

L.Cpl. Christopher Longstaff (see 7^th April 1915) found himself on a charge for, ‘not complying with an order and making an improper reply to an NCO’, as witnessed by Sgt. William Eley (see 21^st August 1915) and L. Cpl James Walker (see 19^th October 1914).

J.B. Priestley wrote home to his family, “Just received your letter with 10s. enclosed (see his earlier letter, dated 16^th April when he had requested money from home). The money will be useful here – we are in a town – to augment the slender and not over palatable fare provided by His Majesty. It is Summer now and as hot – or possibly hotter than it is at any time in Bradford … If you have read my previous letters carefully, and read the newspapers you will know the district we are in. Remember, we took it over from the French troops. You see the names of these trenches in the paper every day”.  

Following a month’s treatment for influenza, Pte. Albert John Start (see 6^th April) was posted from a convalescent hospital at Le Havre to 23^rd Infantry Base Depot at Etaples, prior to returning to active service.

L. Cpl. Wilson Pritchard (see 31^st March), who had been one of Tunstill’s original recruits but had been transferred to serve with the cyclist unit attached to 41^st Division, embarked for France to go on active service for the first time.

Pte. William Hissett (see 25^th April), serving with 11DWR at Brocton Camp, Staffs., was posted back to France and would join 9DWR.

Pte. Edwin Everingham Ison (see 19^th April), joined 1^st Battalion West Yorkshires on active service in France; he would later be commissioned and serve with 10DWR.

Edward Everingham Ison, pictured while serving with 10DWR
(Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton)

Pte. Conrad Anderson arrived in France with his Battalion, 26^th Royal Fusiliers; he would later be commissioned and serve with 10DWR. Conrad Anderson was the youngest of five children of William and Annie Anderson; his father was a solicitor in Sunderland. Conrad had been educated at Argyle House School, Sunderland and had then worked as a bank clerk. He enlisted in the 26^th Royal Fusiliers (the ‘Bankers Battalion’) on 10^th December 1915 in London and had spent an eight-day period in hospital in January 1916, suffering from bronchitis.

Pte. Cecil Stanley Pitblado (see 19^th March), who had been wounded in March, was transferred from Stoke-upon-Trent War Hospital to Sandon Red Cross Auxiliary Hospital in Stafford.

.