Friday 28th July 1916

Trenches near Becourt Wood

By now the weather had become very hot, with temperatures soaring into the 80s Fahrenheit, and this was to remain the case for the next two weeks. Conditions were generally quiet and 2Lt. Bob Perks (see 25^th July) later reflected on how much conditions in the area had changed (I am greatly indebted to Janet Hudson for her kind permission to quote from Bob Perks’ report),

“July 28^th found us enjoying our third morning camped or rather bivouacced on top of what was officially called O.B. l x 20- 26 which being interpreted means the original British front line from which troops who took Fricourt started on July 1^st.  Very pleased with ourselves we were too.  We had feared we should have been in the thick of it two days earlier, and here we were with the promise of a probable 5 or 6 days stay and a willingness to stay “for the duration” as the men said.  It is true our first night had been disturbed by gas alarms due to gas shells arriving on our left but none had really come near us, and only two stray shells of the ordinary type ever visited us.  It was also very true that we were, so to speak, continually “on tap” if any large counter threatened or any energetic general coveted a piece of Bosche trench we should be called upon.  On the other hand, that was a feeling we were quite used to and soon forgot especially in this case those of us who had previously been in that part when one proceeded under shell fire over an appalling shambles and an obviously very recent battlefield.  The transformation was wonderful.  We now wandered over the Bosche trenches as if they were model dug in England, but what comforted us most was our view of water pipes being laid and an English steam roller making a road through the original German front line.  You don’t know how home-like an English steam roller can look.   My men burst into cheering when we first met it.  It was while I was watching this and wondering how far we must have advanced to make its work safe, the bolt fell. As usual when we expected a long stay, we moved at a few hours notice.”

2Lt. Bob Perks

Image by kind permission of Janet Hudson

Pte. William James Jakeway (see 15th December 1915) wrote home to his family, “I haven’t much news this time, but you will be glad to know I’m still all right and in the best of health. We are fairly giving the Hun a good smashing up, and, as far as I know, every battalion of the Duke’s has had a go at them. I expect John will be telling you all the news, how we captured the village and a few hundred prisoners. I think the Germans are proper cowards for they fight like tigers and kill as many of our fellows as they can and when they find themselves beaten they throw their arms up and say ‘Mercy Kamerad!’, but the Yorkshire lads have given them plenty of cold steel, which they don’t like. We had rather a stiff job on at one place, for we were up against the Prussian Guard; but we gave them ‘guards’ and they will never forget it”.

Image and additional information by kind permission of Andy Wade and MenofWorth

As reported by 2Lt. Perks, in the afternoon the Battalion moved forward, marching by platoon, with intervals of 200 yards between, via Round Wood, where they met their guides at 6.30pm, and Contalmaison, to positions in what had been the old German second line trenches, east of Pozieres. These movements were carried out under heavy German shelling and one men was killed on the way to the line. The death of L.Cpl. James Kettlewell (see below) was reported by Col. Hayne as he commended Pte. Enoch Wilson Rhodes (see 11th July), one of the Battalion stretcher-bearers, for his bravery. He described how, “At Contalmaison on the way to the trenches a shell killed his partner and he was thrown over a cart. Though badly shaken, he at once tied up a man who had had his hand blown off and then proceeded to the trenches”. Pte. Rhodes himself would later write to the mother of L.Cpl. Kettlewell:

“It is with deep regret that I have to inform you of the death of your son, L.Cpl. James Kettlewell. He was killed by a shell on the 28th ult. whilst going into action, but I can safely say that death was instantaneous and that he suffered no pain and was laid to rest in the British soldier's cemetery in a village where he met his death. I had not known him long only being drafted to this Battalion a few months. I was his partner and was at his side when the shell burst. He was a gallant soldier and always ready to help the wounded when called and there is no one feels the loss of so true a pal as I do. He had a good name, both from officers and men of the Regiment, and it came as a shock when I informed them of his death, but, you can always rest assured, he was a true soldier and knew no danger where duty called him. He was a stretcher-bearer and was recommended only recently for his gallant conduct and was made Lance-Corporal the night previous to going into action. The men and officers join in deepest sympathy on the loss of so worthy a pal”. 

L.Cpl. James Kettlewell had been an original member of the Battalion, having enlisted in November 1914. He was from Thornton-in-Lonsdale and had worked on the Midland Railway. He was originally buried in Contalmaison, close to where Lt. Isidore David Marks had been buried (see 10^th July), but, like Marks, his remains would be exhumed in July 1919 and re-interred at Gordon Dump Cemetery near Pozieres.

L.Cpl. James Kettlewell

Over the previous days British and ANZAC forces had made significant gains in and around Pozieres, though at enormous cost, and were in occupation of sections of what had been the German second line defences along the crest of Pozieres Ridge. Australian troops were now established in Pozieres after days of fierce fighting and, though still under regular and severe German artillery bombardments, had secured much of the village and also some parts of the double line of trenches, known as O.G. (Old German) 1 and 2 which ran from north-west to south-east in rear of the village. It was in a section of these trenches, east of Pozieres, that the Battalion was to be positioned.

Col. Hayne had been instructed to ensure that “a supply of flares, rockets, green Very lights and ordinary Very lights” were taken up to the front line.  Also, a party of two officers and 50 men from 11^th West Yorks was attached to 10DWR to assist in carrying bombs and ammunition up to the front line. These measures were part of the prepartions for attacks to be launched by the Battalion, which was to be part of a larger assault made by the Australians to the left. Orders had been received for the Battalion, in the early hours of the following day, to make a bombing attack to proceed as far as possible up Munster Alley, which had been a communication trench leading to the old German second line switch line of trenches. Col. Hayne entrusted the task to ‘D’ Company, with the attacking party to be led by Lt. Frederick Hird (see 16^th February). Hird had originally served with Tunstill’s Company but had also spent some time attached to 69^th Brigade Trench Mortar Battery before returning to the Battalion. He was to be accompanied also by other former ‘A’ Company men, including CSM Albert Edgar Palmer (see 15^th July) and Sgt. William Jones (see 6^th April 1915). These men had apparently been transferred to ‘D’ Company to bolster it after the Company had suffered considerable casualties in the actions around Contalmaison earlier in the month.

However, ahead of the bombing attack, a party from the Battalion was despatched to secure the point at the junction of Munster Alley and O.G.2 (known as Point 41) from which the attack was to be launched. This task was instructed to 2Lt. Perks and he gave a vivid description;

“What happened to the rest of the Battalion and the rest of B Coy (this was Perks’ Company) I don’t really know as I was in charge of a special little party on my own.  They were all somewhere near but such was the state of the trenches – bits of trench and lots of shell holes that I never got into touch with any but one Company, not my own (this was ‘D’ Company).  I was detailed to take a party of 25 including two Lewis Gun teams and two snipers to hold the end of a communication trench which was held by the Bosche further up.  I heard a good deal about this post and the number of times it had been lost and regained before I started, but it exceeded expectations and I have heard since my guide took me to the wrong place!  I may say here I was near Pozieres and an Australian I have met since told me I must have gone near the village to get to my post.  On my rejoining that I never saw it, he assured me there was nothing left to attract my notice.

To return to Munster Alley, the name of my communication trench, so called I imagine because the Munsters first held it.  Within half an hour of my taking over the position it was dark so that my idea of how the land lay was very slight, but I thought it prudent to continue as I had begun sorting out the extraordinary half-buried muddle of rifles, bombs, ammunition etc, - the debris of many attacks and retreats but also my only arsenal.  After about another half hour, I turned my attention rather to some disturbing facts.  During my first hour, three Australian officers, from the troops on my left and in support, had come up one after the other and all told me the same tale and each made my knees more shaky.  They all agreed that the Bosche had three times driven us out of that place, nightly for the last three nights in fact, and twice driven attacking parties starting from my barrier back further than they had started from.  The first explained they, the Australians, had three times to help the English and as the last occasion was a five hours business and more than finished off their bombers would I introduce a new programme tonight?  A little later the second came along and pointed out that the trench on my right hardly existed and was not held.  He assured me it was the Bosche habit, and very easy too, to work round in the dark and attack on my right and in my rear.  This is better understood by looking at my diagram.

Disregarding for the moment the dotted lines on the left, the diagram shows Munster Alley with the two barricades and my position with dotted lines on my right where I imagine the continuation of my trench once might have been.  There were support trenches of course somewhere behind me, but obviously for night surprise bomb attacks, I was open on three sides.  This became of increasing interest when my third Australian visitor had had his say.  He told me that the Australians were going to attack that night and try to take up a position about where my left hand dotted lines are.  He pointed out that a successful Bosche assault on my corner then would tend to cut them off and suggested that the enemy knowing this and expecting our troops to be concentrated on the left for our attack would make a determined assault on me and my 25 men.

From then onwards, the tension and state of nervous excitement got steadily worse.  At length our guns began their bombardment chiefly on the left and our excitement reached an awful pitch when some of the little garrison including myself saw outlined by the light of shells behind them gigantic Germans standing in a row on their parapet on our left front.  While I was trying to get machine guns and rifles to bear on these fitful apparitions and generally “clear for action” the guns redoubled their efforts and the Germans lit up the scene with Very lights.  I afterwards learned that the Australians had gone over at this point and met perfectly prepared Bosche standing on his parapet, but at the time we quite thought he was going to visit us.”

Pte. Harry Siddall (see 10^th July), who had been wounded on 10^th July, was evacuated to England from 24^th general Hospital at Etaples; he would travel onboard the Hospital Ship Newhaven. And on arrival in England would be admitted to 2^nd Northern General Hospital at Beckett Park in Leeds.

The impact of the recent fierce fighting on the Somme involving local men must have become even more apparent to readers of the local newspapers as they carried ever more reports of casualties and there were several references to men from Tunstill’s Company.

SUTTON - PRIVATE HENRY TAYLOR KILLED

Mrs. Taylor, of Sutton Lodge, has received a letter from Company Quartermaster Frank Stephenson as follows:-"I am very sorry to inform you that your son, Private Taylor (see 5^th July), was killed in action on the 5th inst. If it is any consolation to you, I might say that your son was killed whilst heroically attacking the German trenches, and his regiment covered itself with glory. Although he was not in my Company, coming from the same district, and knowing him personally, I though it best to write you, as it might be a few weeks before you are officially notified through the War Office. Wishing you all sympathy in your sudden and sad bereavement, Yours truly, (signed) C.Q.M. Stephenson, A. Company, 10th West Riding Regiment."

Pte. Henry Taylor

SKIPTON'S ROLL OF HONOUR - PTE. CLIFFORD GEORGE UNWIN

News of the death from wounds of Pte. Clifford George Unwin (see 11^th July), son of Mr. Samuel Unwin, formerly of Skipton, but now of Keighley, was received last weekend. Before joining the Army on his 22nd birthday in September, 1914, deceased was a twister and loomer at Messrs. Rose, Hewitt, & Co., and lived with his married sister, Mrs. McEnnerney, in Dawson Street, Skipton. He joined the 10th Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment and had been at the front several months. His death is referred to by another Skipton soldier, Pte. John William Atkinson (see 21st July), who in a letter to his wife at 29, Cavendish Street, Skipton, says:- "We have a Skipton lad out of our battalion who has died from wounds. I am sorry to say his name is Clifford Unwin. I expect you will know him."

Pte. Atkinson is a stretcher bearer attached to the 29th Division, 69th Brigade, and in the same letter he says:- "We are still out of the trenches and we can do with staying out a bit after the work we have had. We have received some splendid congratulations on our work. Our troops are still advancing all along the line, so I don't think the war will last much longer."

Pte. Clifford George Unwin

Mr and Mrs James H. Bradley, 105 Keighley Road, Cowling have been informed that their eldest son, Willie Bradley, 10^th Battalion West Riding Regiment, has received a flesh wound by shrapnel in the arm above the elbow and a bullet wound in the arm below the elbow, which fortunately missed the bone. Pte. Bradley enlisted in September 1914 and went to France in August last. While in training he joined the Military Band, having been a member of the Cowling Brass Band. Since going to France he has acted as a stretcher bearer. He has two brothers serving in France.

Pte. Willie Bradley

KIRKBY MALHAMDALE AND THE WAR

We regret to have to report that Mrs. Earnshaw, of Airton, has been informed by the War Office that her son, Pte. Farrand Earnshaw (see 1^st July), had been missing since July 1st. Pte. Earnshaw was the youngest brother of Sergt Kayley Earnshaw, D.C.M., whose death was reported in June. He was living with his mother up to the time of joining the army in March last. Great sympathy is felt throughout the dale for the family, and especially for the mother.

Pte. Farrand Earnshaw

Sgt. Kayley Earnshaw DCM

Image by kind permission of Sue Lugton

BOLTON-BY-BOWLAND - The Stricken Brave

Private Richard D. Ellison (see 8^th July), who joined Captain Tunstill's men, is another name which has unfortunately to be added to our list of killed whilst in action. Pte. Ellison had been in France in the fighting line for many months, and was employed as a gardener at Bolton Hall for a short time prior to the war breaking out. His home was at Rawtenstall in Lancashire.

DENT - Special Services

A memorial service was held in Dent Parish Church on Sunday evening, in memory of the soldiers who have fallen in the war. There was a very large congregation and an impressive service opened with the voluntary 'O rest in the Lord' (Mendelssohn). The Rev. E.S. Curwen, vicar, preached the sermon and made special reference to Signalman John Bruce Davidson (see 14^th July), of the 10th West Ridings, Duke of Wellington's, who died in Hospital in France on the 14th inst. He had been a member of the church choir both as a boy and as adult, and had been highly respected for his willing and obliging manners. The hymns chosen for the occasion were 'Lead, Kindly Light,' 'Now the Labourers task is o'er,' and 'On the Resurrection Morn.' Special sermons were preached on Sunday afternoon and evening last in the Wesleyan Chapel, Dent, by Mr. Stephen Harris, of Over Kellet. There were good attendances.

Pte. John Bruce Davidson

SAWLEY - FIRST SOLDIER FATALITY

The death occurred on Friday afternoon at Frensham Hospital, Surrey, of Private Thomas Rigby (see 21^st July), of Sawley, as a result of wounds received in the 'big push' in France. He was 26 years of age, and the third son of Mr. Thos. Rigby, of Lawson's House Farm. One of the first in the district to join Mr. Tunstill's party, he became attached to the Duke of Wellington's and became a stretcher-bearer. After serving many months in that capacity he was invalided home suffering from poisoning as a result of drinking bad water. After spending eleven weeks in the hospital he returned to France and, along with two other comrades, was removing wounded soldiers on the battlefield when all were struck with shrapnel. Rigby was struck in the arm, but what became of the others he was not able to relate. Singularly his injured limb was dressed at the base hospital by his sister-in-law's brother, formerly a schoolmaster at Langcliffe. On being brought to Frensham hospital he was visited by his parents, who found him in capital spirits, in spite of the fact that he had undergone a couple of operations. He was anxious to get to a hospital nearer home, and as his parents left, he expressed his thanks that he had escaped so fortunately. Later on Thursday, however, other symptoms set in, and as a result he died on Friday noon. He was a young man of fine physique. His loss is greatly deplored by his relations and many friends.

Pte. Thomas Rigby

COWLING SOLDIER'S HEROIC FATE

Last week Mrs. Benson of Crag View, Cowling, received a private letter from Quartermaster Sergeant Frank Stephenson, informing her that her only son, Pte. Fred Benson (see 11^th July), of the 10th Battalion Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment, had been killed in action on Tuesday, July 11th in the great offensive in France.

Another Cowling man, Corp. John Hartley, has since forwarded to Mrs. Benson full details in the following letter:- "Dear Mrs. Benson, - I have a sorrowful duty to discharge, to give you details of the circumstances under which your son met his death. On Monday afternoon a part of our brigade attacked a village for which there had previously been heavy fighting by other brigades. We were in support, and as dusk fell we moved out through a heavy barrage of fire to reinforce and to consolidate the position. That night and next day passed quietly. During the evening Fred and another lad went on listening post duty a little in front of the trench where we had dug ourselves in. A little later they gave the alarm and turned round to get back into the trench, but before they had gone a yard they were both hit by the Germans. A small enemy patrol had crept up within a short distance unobserved till quite close. Both staggered back somehow into the trench. A minute or two later when the alarm was over, I and two others got them out and did what we could, but it was to no avail, for he must have been bleeding internally. He was in some pain for a minute or two during which he said four times "Take me", he then drifted into unconsciousness and a few minutes later passed quietly and gently away. He was hit in the back just above the left hipbone and the bullet passed through and out at the right groin. I was supporting his head when he died. We were relieved a few minutes later and had reluctantly to leave him there with his waterproof sheet over him. We went to get a stretcher to carry him out, but none were available. He will probably have been buried by now by the salvage Corp. We were all so upset. All the boys in the platoon wish me to convey to you their sincere sympathy in your loss, which is also in a less degree ours, for he was a cheerful, willing comrade. We shall all miss him very much. He was in great spirits, as were we all because of our successes of the past few days. We were all much affected by his and the other chap's death. Again, assuring you of our sincere sympathy. Yours in sorrow, John Hartley."

Pte. Benson enlisted in Kitchener's Army along with 17 other Cowling young men in August 1914, and after the usual period of training went to France in September. Before enlisting, Pte. Benson was employed as a weaver at Messrs. J. Binns & Sons, Ltd., Carr Mills.

A memorial service was held at the United Methodist Church on Sunday morning, and was conducted by the Rev. C. E. Penrose, pastor, Pte. Benson, having passed through the Sunday School as a scholar. The choir sang the anthem 'The Homeland' and Miss Whitaker, the organist, played Beethoven's 'Funeral March' and 'O rest in the Lord.' A memorial service was also held at the Parish Church, conducted by the Vicar. A similar service was held on Sunday evening at the Ickornshaw Wesleyan Church, conducted by Mr. Ward, of Nelson.

Pte. Fred Benson

CQMS Frank Stephenson

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

Cpl. John Hartley

SKIPTON MEN WOUNDED

Pte. Charlie Branston (see 5^th July) , of the West Ridings, son of Mrs. Branston, of 27, Brook Street, Skipton, has received a gunshot wound in the knee and is being nursed in the Australian General Hospital in France. Before enlisting, he was employed at Messrs. Lipton's Ltd., Skipton.

Pte. Charlie Branston

GRASSINGTON'S ROLL OF HONOUR

As the war drags its slow length along, the local 'Roll of Honour' grows, and this week another brave name has to be added. This is that of Sergeant John Thomas Limmer (see 10^th July), who was killed in action in the great advance. The information has been sent by his brother, Pte. Walter Limmer. Sergeant Limmer was in his 33rd year, and was in the A Company of the 8th Yorkshire Regiment. The death has not been officially confirmed, but in the letter referred to, which was received last week but is undated, his brother says:- "I have been talking to the two Sergeants out of the same company as Tom, and they both told me that he was quite well and cheerful up to the time he was killed, and that he did not suffer at all; he was killed outright, the bullet going right through his heart."

Sergeant Limmer was born at Lazonby, in Cleveland, and came to Grassington 13 years ago; he leaves a wife, child and widowed mother for whom there is great public sympathy.

Sgt. Tom Limmer

Pte. Walter Limmer

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

Thursday 27th July 1916

Trenches near Becourt Wood

There was some German shelling overnight on 26^th/27^th and the threat of gas shells, but there were no great alarms for the Battalion and conditions were generally quiet. Orders were received for the Battalion to move, next day, through Contalmaison and into the front line trenches east of Pozieres.

Pte. Patrick Conley (see 15^th July), who had been wounded on 11^th July, was discharged from Middlesex General Hospital where had spent the previous 11 days.

The funeral took place, at St. Ambrose’s, Grindleton, of Pte. Thomas Rigby (see 21^st July) who had died at Frensham Hospital, whilst being treated for wounds suffered in the advance on Contalmaison. It was reported that, “The local mills stopped for a time and almost all the local operatives attended the Churchyard. The scenes were impressive. The Grindleton Band played suitable music, inside and outside the Church, and after the body had been lowered to its last resting place the Last Post was sounded by a bugler. The last rites were performed by the Vicar (Rev. F.G. Ackerley) and the Rector of Slaidburn (Rev. J.C. Garnett)”.

Pte. Thomas Rigby

The surviving personal effects of the late Lt. Leonard Hammond (see 14^th July), who had been killed in action on 5^th July, were despatched to his family. They comprised of, “Cigarette case, plated flask, note case with photos, cheque book, gold medal”.

A similar return of personal effects was recorded (but not dated) for Capt. Herbert Montagu Soames Carpenter (see 20^th July), who had been killed the same day. In his case, his effects were itemised as, “Letter case with photos, fountain pen, Holy Bible, cheque book, Colt 45 automatic pistol with 4 spare magazines and cleaning rod, cardboard pocket book, Morocco pocket book, pair of field glasses, diary”.

For Lt. Adolph Keith Lavarack (see 6^th July), also killed on 5^th July, his effects were recorded as having been, “Metal cigarette case, note book with photos, note case (empty), letter case with keys, cheque book, small pocket book, fountain pen, identity disc, charm, tie-pin”.

The family of the fourth officer killed on 5^th July, 2Lt. Walter Douglas Taylor (see 18^th July), also received his personal effects: “Silver case, match box and stamps, note case containing photographs, gun metal watch, photo, fountain pen, cheque book, officers’ advance book, ring”.

Lt. Leonard Hammond

Capt. Herbert Montagu Soames Carpenter

Lt. Adolph Keith Lavarack

2Lt. John Redington who had left the Battalion three weeks earlier (see 6^th July), was transferred back to England, aboard the hospital ship HMS Newhaven from Calais to Dover, for further medical treatment. It was reported that, “This officer has been suffering from extreme weakness for the past six months in France. He was unable to march without pain, which was chiefly located in the left inguinal region. The pain is attributed to adhesions in the appendicular region.” 

Edward Smitham, the eldest son of Sgt. George Edward Smitham (see 24^th June), attested for service, claiming to be aged 18 (he was in fact only 17). He was posted to 3^rd (Reserve) Battalion DWR.

Wednesday 26th July 1916

Bivouac at Millencourt

The men were up early, with tents struck and ready to be loaded by 6 am and officers instructed to see their kit ready for loading by 7.30. The men were ordered to wear their steel helmets and carry their caps in their packs. At 8.20 the Battalion moved off, marching by Company, headed by Tunstill’s Men, and with one minute between companies as far as Albert. From Albert to the chateau at Becourt, where they were due to arrive at 11 am, the men marched by platoons. At Becourt Chateau they were met by their guides who directed them to their positions in trenches north-west of Becourt Wood, in what had been the area of the British front line on 1^st July.

Around this time (though the exact date has not been established) Pte. Leonard Fox (see 13^th January 1915) was permanently transferred from the Battalion to join 255^th Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers.


Cpl. Fred Hopkinson (see 20^th December 1914) was admitted, sick (details unknown), to Keighley War Hospital; in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to establish when, or under what circumstances, he had returned to England having been posted to France with 10DWR in August 1915.

Pte. Fred Dyson (see 24^th July), who had been at 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples for the previous week, awaiting posting to 2DWR, was promoted Acting Lance Corporal and attached instead to 23^rd Northumberland Fusiliers. This Battalion (widely known as 4^th Tyneside Scottish) had been devastated during their attack on the village of La Boiselle on 1^st July; the Battalion War Diary reported that, on 2^nd July, “roll call was taken and only about 100 men answered their names”. The Battalion was in now in process of being rebuilt and Dyson was one of more than 300 men who joined the Battalion in late July. He would later be commissioned and serve with 10DWR.

Capt. William Norman Town, who would later serve with 10DWR, was admitted to St. Andrew’s Hospital, Malta, having suffered an attack of malaria. He was then attached to 12^th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment. Town was 39 years old. He had first been commissioned into 3^rd (Territorial) Battalion West Ridings in 1894 and had served nine years before resigning his commission in 1903, by which time he was a Captain and Instructor of Musketry. Prior to the outbreak of war he had been running a paper manufacturing business in Keighley; he was unmarried. Following the outbreak of war he was commissioned Captain with 9DWR in September 1914. He had gone to the Dardanelles in July 1915 as a Staff Captain with 32^nd Infantry Brigade, but had been invalided home in September 1915, having contracted dysentery at Suvla Bay. After recovering, he served with 11DWR in England until March 1916 when he was considered fit for a return to active service and was posted to Salonika; whilst there he had suffered two bouts of diarrhoea before contracting malaria.

Tuesday 25th July 1916

Bivouac at Millencourt

In the evening new orders were received for the Battalion to move the following morning. The move had been anticipated by 2Lt. Bob Perks (see 24^th July) in a letter to his father (I am greatly indebted to Janet Hudson for her kind permission to quote from Bob Perks’ letter),

Dear Dad

Thanks so much for a parcel (July 21) which I recognised as yours before I opened it.  The razor blades were particularly welcome as I was shorter than I thought and the crisis came this morning when I had to borrow someone else’s safety!   The envelopes too were becoming very necessary though the crisis in that case was overcome for the time being by a small enclosure in Mother’s letter and a very small supply we managed to buy locally.  The magazines are in great demand in this sitting down game and I am becoming quite a lending library outside the company.

Our stay here originally thought to be a night or so seems to be lengthening into quite a pleasant little sojourn.  There is great probability of a move tomorrow but I think  even then we are not destined to go right into it just yet. 

I have been re-reading Mother’s letter today and feel very glad if as she says, she can’t realise all the horrors.  I am beginning to wonder if I did not dwell too much on them but it does me good sometimes to tell you all about it and to know you know.  I expect too if I did not tell you all about it you would want to know.

We are having quite a cheery time here.  One regiment in our Brigade held very good sports yesterday.  There were some very amusing races like a mule race etc.  I saw the Jennings twins there.  One of them is with the corps signals now.  He told me all the Jennings were going strong.  I am afraid Foster Greenwood was killed on the 15^th but I am not quite sure.  Martin’s college contemporary of our battalion died of wounds.  He was a good chap (This refers to 2Lt. Christopher Snell, see 18^th July, who, on 15^th July, had died of wounds received in action on 5^th July; like Bob’s brother, Martin Perks, Snell had been a graduate of Wadham College, Oxford).

I was feeling the effects of something I had eaten yesterday, (we are feeding very well now much too well for the exercise we take) but am quite alright today apart from now very occasional memories caused by a completely strange mess. 

Much love to both,

Bob

2Lt. Bob Perks

(Image by kind permission of Janet Hudosn)

2Lt. Christopher Snell

Ptes. Arthur Gill (14980) (see 11^th July), Rennie Hirst (see 3^rd May), Edward Isger (see 23^rd June) and George Mitchell (see 7^th June) were appointed Lance Corporal. Ptes. William Duffy (see 17^th June 1915), John Matthewson Richard Grieves (see 2^nd January) and William Hutchinson (see 5^th July) were appointed (unpaid) Lance Corporal.

Walter Morrison, who had played such a prominent role alongside Gilbert Tunstill in the original recruitment campaign and who had continued his financial support for the Company via the Craven Comforts Fund, wrote to Geraldine Tunstill. His letter was clearly in response to news he had received from her, about the recent actions in which the Company had been engaged.

Malham Tarn

Langcliffe
Settle

25th July 1916

Dear Mrs. Tunstill

A splendid letter on a splendid theme. I found it here on my arrival from London after post time. It is a glorious record and you and he may well be proud and so may the district in which his company was raised. But the national character has shown itself nearly everywhere and amongst all classes except the conscientious objectors and a few pro-Germans. Our average soldiers are as good as the Elizabethans and the Yorkshires have come out grandly like the rest. We may well be proud of our local brigade and you will be proud of the locals who were raised by your husband and yourself in your singularly modest and efficient way of doing your bit in recruiting.

But it must be a time of terrible anxiety though I hope that the worst of the war is over.

Tennyson talks of drinking delight of battle with your peers and your husband explains it to effete people like myself who have never felt it; but I fancy that the feeling is not uncommon among the allies. We are a warlike people by nature and not like the Germans by kind; the raw recruits, fresh from England, as the men who have been under discipline in the war zone for a year.

I wonder what the Kaiser thinks now of our contemptible little army? He and Haldane have done us a gigantic service; they have restored our self-respect, and further, the army will prove to be unconscious (word unclear) of a higher moral tone in all departments of English life as unconscious modest heroes. Pray use the enclosed cheque £100 for repairing damages among the heroes in whom you take a special interest; damages in health, damages to clothing; I hope the canteen flourishes.

Yours truly

W. Morrison

Pte. Edward Wood of 10DWR, though not of Tunstill’s Company died of wounds (presumably suffered at some point in the actions of the previous three weeks) at no.8 General Hospital. He was buried at Bois-Guillaume Communal Cemetery, Rouen.

Six new subalterns arrived in France, en route to join 10DWR as replacements for the officers lost in the recent engagements.

2Lt. Ernest George Costello was 32 years old (born 16^th June 1884). Before the war he had been working as a chartered accountant and had also served four years (1909-13) in the territorial army, with the Honourable Artillery Company. He had attested in December 1915, having previously been “recommended for a commission in the ASC by the President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants”; having heard nothing further on this he had formally applied for a commission and, having completed his officer training, had been posted to 11^th (Reserve) Battalion DWR, based at Brocton Camp, Staffs. On 6^th May at the Parish Church, Streatham, he had married Margaret Charlotte Curtis.

2Lt. Stanley Currington, was 24 years old (born 2^nd November 1891). He was the eldest son of John Thomas Currington who ran a decoraring business in Tottenham; before the war Stanley had been working as a solicitor’s clerk. He had been commissioned Second Lieutenant on 29^th June 1915.

2Lt. David Lewis Evans was 22 years old (born 14^th August 1893), the son of a Welsh non-conformist minister and a graduate of University College of Wales, Aberystwyth.

2Lt. Howard Thurston Hodgkinson was 25 years old (born 19^th October 1890). Before the war he had been a farmer growing hops near Evesham, Worcestershire. In October 1912 he had joined the territorial army, serving with the 8^th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment. On the outbreak of war he had been called up for service and promoted Lance Corporal. He had served with the 2/8^th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, in England, until November 1915 when he was granted a commission.

2Lt. Frederick William Millward was 19 years old (born 21^st November 1896). Shortly after the outbreak of war he had enlisted with King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and had been promoted Lance Corporal in December 1914. In July 1915 he had applied for a commission and was posted to 11DWR with effect from 7^th August. However, on hearing about Millward’s application, his old Headmaster, Charles Brittain, Normanton Grammar School, had written to the War Office, questioning Millward’s suitability for appointment to a commission. Writing on 21^st August 1915, Brittain wrote:

Dear Sir

I understand that F.W. Millward, who joined 2^nd/4^th KOYLI in December last as a Private either has received or is about to receive a Commission in His Majesty’s Army.

I protest against the appointment. Millward left school in December last in extremely suspicious circumstances, which I have since reported to his C.O. (Col. Hird). I also informed Colonel Hird that in the opinion of the staff of this school, Millward was quite unfit in any way to become an officer. I myself flatly declined to sign his application form, as I had told Colonel Hird I should. In spite of this, to my great surprise, he is apparently to be appointed.

I am perfectly willing to be quite open about the circumstances of his leaving school if requested and I feel most strongly that my letter to Colonel Hird ought not to have been ignored.

Having received such a strongly-word letter, the War Office wrote to Mr. Brittain asking for details of his objection. In response, writing on 28^th August 1915 and marking his letter as ‘private and confidential’, Brittain wrote:

Dear Sir

Millward passed matriculation in July 1914 and returned to this school in September last as a scholarship pupil. Early in the term rumours kept coming to me that he was the father of an illegitimate child. Knowing how lying tales are spread, I at first ignored these stories, but after being several times pointedly asked why I did not take action to protect the reputation of the school, I asked Mr. R.C. Williamson, of Green and Williamson, Solicitors, Wakefield, to look into the matter. This he did, and found that there had been a child born to a girl who had lived in Millward’s father’s house. The father is a lower-grade railway man, who is apparently more often than not “on the club”. He had “befriended” the girl and given her a home – on his wage, a small one.

My solicitor told me he had enough evidence to secure the girl a verdict in any police court if she prosecuted Millward junior, but all of them denied that Millward was father of the child. Nevertheless when the Governors of this school suggested to Millward senior that it would perhaps be as well if the son left the school, he at once withdrew him and the boy enlisted. He was thus not expelled from school and we could not formally prove his guilt.

At the same time I consider him by no means a fit person to be an Officer, in spite of considerable intellectual gifts. I have no animus against him, but I do feel that his appointment is derogatory to the dignity and importance of Commissioned Rank and prejudicial to recruiting in this area where his unsavoury antecedents are notorious.

The whole staff of the school agree. We have over 100 Old Boys in the Army (over 30% of the whole) and Millward is the last in our opinion who should have received a Commission. I do not know who signed him up for “moral conduct”, but I fear it was someone who did not know him very well.

Having considered the circumstances and noted that Millward’s “moral conduct” had been certified by Mr. John F. Sanderson, J.P., a War Office official noted on file that, “The case is one of suspicion only; nothing is proved or has been. I do not propose to take any action in this case”. This decision was then communicated to Brittain in a letter dated 11^th September.

2Lt. John Keighley Snowden was aged 24 (born 16^th January 1892). He was the third child of the novelist and journalist James Keighley Snowden and his wife Agnes. He had applied for and been granted a commission in August 1915.

Pte. Andrew Aaron Jackson, who would later be commissioned and serve with 10DWR (see 6^th June), serving with 27^th Battalion Royal Fusiliers at Portobello, near Edinburgh, was admitted to 2^nd Scottish General Hospital, Craigleath, with a puncture wound to the armpit, suffered as a result of an accident.

Monday 24th July 1916

Bivouac at Millencourt

The Battalion remained under instruction to be ready to move at short notice.

The men were at least able to enjoy some light relief in taking part in sports events organised by 8^th Yorkshires.  There were foot-races, boxing, throwing the cricket ball and other games, and a race for the transport mules. In a letter home, 2Lt. Bob Perks (see 16^th July) told his Dad, “We are having quite a cheery time here” (I am greatly indebted to Janet Hudson for her kind permission to quote from Bob Perks’ letter).

 

2Lt. Bob Perks

(Image by kind permission of Janet Hudson)

Fierce fighting continued in and around the village of Pozieres; Australian troops who had occupied the village came under an intense German artillery bombardment.

Pte. Fred Dyson (see 18^th July), who had arrived at 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples six days earlier, competed his will, leaving all his estate to his fiancée, Edith Wilkinson. He would later be commissioned and serve with 10DWR.

Sgt. Henry Herbert Calvert (see 1^st July), serving with 11DWR at Brocton Camp, Staffs., was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service on account of shellshock; he would be awarded the Silver War Badge and an Army pension (details unknown).

Sunday 23rd July 1916

Bivouac at Millencourt

The Battalion was ordered to be ready to move off at short notice. This need for a possible move at short notice was in case they were required to support renewed British operations in what became known as the Battle of Pozieres Ridge, which marked a renewed phase in British operations on the Somme. As part of the attacks, the village of Pozieres itself was attacked and occupied by Australian troops.

A memorial service to remember local men killed in the war was held in Dent Parish Church during which special mention was made of Pte. John Bruce Davidson (see 14^th July), who had died of wounds sustained during the advance on Contalmaison. There was a very large congregation in attendance and the service was described as “impressive” The sermon was preached by Rev. E.S. Curwen, vicar, who remembered Davidson as, “a member of the church choir both as a boy and as adult, and highly respected for his willing and obliging manners”. The hymns chosen for the occasion were 'Lead, Kindly Light,' 'Now the Labourers task is o'er,' and 'On the Resurrection Morn.' Special sermons were also preached in the Wesleyan Chapel, Dent, by Mr. Stephen Harris, of Over Kellet.

Pte. John Bruce Davidson

Similar memorial services, remembering Pte. Fred Benson (see 11^th July) were held at the United Methodist Church, Cowling; the Parish Church; and at the Ickornshaw Wesleyan Church. Benson had been a member of the Sunday School at the Methodist Church, where the service was taken by the Rev. C.E. Penrose.

Pte. Fred Benson

Pte. Edwin Everingham Ison (see 29^th June), who had re-joined his unit, 1^st Battalion, West Yorkshires, less than a month earlier was again taken ill. He was admitted to 17^th Field Ambulance, suffering from “pyrexia, NYD”, ie pyrexia, or raised temperature, ‘not yet diagnosed’.

Edward Everingham Ison, pictured after being commissioned with 10DWR

(Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton)