Monday 14th August 1916

On train from Pont-Remy to Bailleul

The 75 mile train journey took almost nine hours to complete and it was 5.30am when the train arrived at Bailleul. The men were disembarked and marched five miles to billets in Metrien, arriving at 10 am.

Lt. George Reginald Charles Heale MC (see 5^th August) who had first reported sick ten days earlier, but had remained at duty, now reported that his condition had worsened; it was said that the boils on his neck had now, “formed one large, suppurating sore in the nature of a carbuncle”. However, for the time being, he remained at duty.

Lt. George Reginald Charles Heale MC

Pte. John Overend (see 6^th June) was admitted to 110^th Field Ambulance, suffering from flatulence; he would be discharged to duty after one week.

Pte. Patrick Conley (see 27^th July), who had been discharged from Middlesex General Hospital two weeks previously, was posted to the Regimental Depot at Halifax.

An Army Medical Board considered the case of Pte. Carl Parrington Branthwaite (see 24^th March), one of Tunstill’s recruits who had been taken ill during training in the Autumn of 1914. His case was summarised as follows:

Originated November 1914 at Frensham.

Admitted Thornhill Isolation Hospital with measles.

Developed pneumonia and empyema (collection of pus in any body cavity).

Operated on February 22^nd 1915.

Sinus in right axillary region (armpit) still discharging pus.

TB basilli found in discharge from wound.

Evidence of considerable collapse of right lung with consolidation.

Tuberculous infiltration of right lung.

Not result of, but aggravated by, ordinary military service.

Permanent disability.

Totally prevents any service for 6 months and then re-examine.

By this point, Branthwaite was living at Parker’s Farm, Bank Newton, near Gargrave.

Pte. Joseph Bell (see 12^th June), serving with 51^st Battalion, A.I.F., was reported missing in action in the fierce fighting around Pozieres; he would later be regarded as having been killed in action at some point between 14^th and 16^th August. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Villers-Bretoneux Memorial. He was the elder brother of original Tunstill recruit Pte. William Irving Bell.

L.Cpl. Albert Joseph Acarnley (see 4^th August), who would later serve as a commissioned officer with 10DWR, was promoted Corporal while serving with 2^nd Royal Berkshires.

The Yorkshire Post published news of the death of Lt. Frederick Hird (see 12^th August);

Captain (sic.) Frederick Hird, West Riding Regiment, youngest surviving son of the late James Hird, R.N. of Low Moor, is announced to have been killed in action on July 29. He received his commission in January 1915 and in May of this year was transferred to the Trench Mortar Battalion.