Saturday 19th August 1916

Reserve trenches south-west of Ploegsteert Wood

The next four days were to be spent in the reserve trenches supplying large working parties for the front line and for the communication trenches. Overnight on 19^th/20^th, German aircraft flew over and were seen to drop around fifteen bombs on the Steenwerck area but it was reported that little damage had been done. Although there were some showers, the weather remained largely good.

Pte. Arthur Baxter (see 29^th July), who had been taken prisoner on 29^th July, sent a postcard to his parents from a German prison camp at Gottingen, to where he had been transferred after initially being held at Le Cateau, “I am at present slightly wounded at the above address to which letters and parcels can be sent. I hope you have not been worried about me. This is the first chance I’ve had to write. Letter will follow at first opportunity. Remember me to all”.

The weekly edition of the Keighley News carried a report regarding Ptes. Tom Berry and Hartley Snowden, who, though not members of Tunstill’s Company, may well have been known to some of the Keighley recruits among Tunstill’s men; they had been those reported as missing in action at Contalmaison (see 10^th July). News of their fate was communicated to Berry’s family by 2Lt. Ernest George Costello (see 30^th July), who had actually only joined the Battalion three weeks after Berry and Snowden had been killed.

BELIEVED TO BE KILLED

It is believed that Pte. Tom Berry of the West Riding Regiment, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robinson Berry of Lawkholme Crescent, Keighley, who was recently reported as missing by the War Office, has made the ultimate sacrifice. The first news that he was missing was received by his parents about a week ago in a letter from Lance Corporal Thomas Henry Bradley (see below), their son’s comrade, who said that Tom was missing on 10^th July. They were going from one trench to another, and they had to cross some open ground. Tom was last seen with a pal called Snowden who came from Keighley. Continuing, Lance Corporal Bradley said there was a very good chance of his being in hospital, and concluded by saying the lads of his section sent their deepest sympathy and hoped they would soon hear their son was well. Mr. Berry then made enquiries of his son’s officer and received the following letter from Second Lieutenant E.G. Costello, who, writing for the Captain, said: “In reply to your enquiries on July 29 with regard to your son, I regret to inform you that he was reported missing, believed killed, on July 10, but we have not been able to find out definitely whether he has been killed. He was in the same trench as another man who was known to have been blown to pieces, so I think in all probability your son suffered the same sad fate. If he had been wounded and taken to hospital we should have heard before this so I am sorry to say there is little hope of his being alive. I should like to say that your son, during his time with the regiment, won the esteem of both officers and men by his gallant devotion to duty and I am sure we all feel for you in your sad bereavement”.

A further letter has been received from Lance Corporal Bradley who said he thought there was little hope of him being alive. Bradley knew he was not taken prisoner as he was just behind him when they left the trench to take the place but he never arrived there. Continuing, he said, “Your son must have been killed and I hope it will be a little comfort to you to know that he died doing his duty. He was a lad who was well liked by all of the section and I hope God in his mercy will help you to bear your great trouble”. Private Berry enlisted in the early stages of the war and was formerly employed by Messrs Summerscales Ltd, Coney Lane. He was well known in the town and district.

L.Cpl. Thomas Henry Bradley was a 24 year old textile mill worker from Settle; he had been an original member of the Battalion.