Friday 7th August 1914

British Expeditionary Force (BEF) arrived in France.

Arthur Metcalfe reported for duty at Aldershot, to join his Battalion (2^nd Royal Munster Fusiliers); he had served eight years as a bandsman in the army from 1904 and had since been on the army reserve, whilst working in the Bradford fire service and, more recently, as a policeman in Bradford. Arthur’s younger brother, Albert Mawer Metcalfe, would be one of eighteen men from Cowling who would enlist in September and become ‘adopted’ members of Tunstill’s Men. The third brother, Jim (b.1899) would serve in the Royal Navy.

Albert Mawer Metcalfe was born on 14^th December 1895; the fourth of five children born to Thomas and Elizabeth Metcalfe. Thomas was originally from Embsay, near Skipton, and his wife from Grassington and the family had lived originally in Embsay and then in Bradford before settling in Cowling in the mid 1890’s. Thomas worked as an overlooker in a local weaving shed; Albert and his two sisters, Linda and Ann, also worked in the mills. Albert’s older brother, Arthur, had joined the army aged 17 in 1904.

Jim (far left) and Albert Metcalfe (far right) pictured with other young men from Cowling before a trip to Morecambe c.1909? (Photo: Joan Tindale; Cowling Web)

Thursday 6th August 1914

Austro-Hungary declared war on Russia; Serbia declared war on Germany.

Norman Roberts

Norman Roberts celebrated his twenty-fourth birthday, on the same day that his younger brother, Duncan, was called up for active service with his territorial army battalion. Norman himself was to volunteer to serve with Gilbert Tunstill’s Company and later wrote a number of letters home which, having been published in the Craven Herald, shed much light on the story of the Company.

Norman Roberts was born and brought up in Skipton by his parents Edwin (b.1855) and Alice (b.1865). His father had worked for some time as a baker for his brother-in-law, Charles Hales, but later took work in the cotton mills, as a warp dresser. Norman was the couple’s eldest surviving child (following the early death of his elder sister Ada, who died aged 4 in 1892) and had a younger brother, Duncan (b.1896). Norman’s mother died in the winter of 1907-08, at the age of just 43. Following his wife’s death Edwin Roberts and his younger son, Duncan, moved in with Edwin’s widowed mother, Annie (b.1829), at 35 Pembroke Street, Skipton. In 1911, Norman, meanwhile, was one of four men lodging with Mr. & Mrs. Chisholm at their home at 12 Cavendish Street, Skipton, and worked in the cotton mills as a warp dresser, for the firm of Mr. W.R.G Farey, at Firth Shed, Skipton. He soon left his job and became a policeman in the West Riding Constabulary, based in Hellifield.

Duncan, who worked for his uncle, Charles Hales, was in the territorials and, following the declaration of war, joined the 1/6^th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment for active service on 6^th August 1914. 

Wednesday 5th August 1914

John Edward Emmott reported for duty at the Halifax Depot of the Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment; two of his brothers, William Hartley Emmott and Tom Emmott, would both volunteer in September and would serve with Gilbert Tunstill’s Company.

The Emmott family had lived in Burley-in-Wharfedale for more than thirty years. William (snr.) and his wife Annie had for a number of years run a grocery and confectioners business from 106 Main Street but following Annie’s death in 1895 William (snr.) had worked as a woolsorter. The couple had five sons.

John Edward Emmott had joined the army in November 1904 and had served more than eight years, including seven years in India with Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment. He had returned to England in December 1912 and had been transferred to the army reserve.  Following the outbreak of war John Edward Emmott was recalled to the army and reported at the Regimental Barracks at Halifax.

Tuesday 4th August 1914

Britain declared war on Germany.

The local Settle territorial company of the 1st/6th Battalion Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment received orders to mobilize on the outbreak of hostilities between England and Germany.

Monday 3rd August 1914

Germany declared war on France.

Gilbert Tunstill celebrated his 33rd birthday whilst in St Petersburg.

Sunday 2nd August 1914

Germany invaded Luxembourg.

Saturday 1st August 1914

Germany declared war on Russia.

Gilbert and Geraldine Tusntill were in St Petersburg and witnessed the response of the Russians. Gilbert later told the Craven Herald that,

"The enthusiasm of Russia is beyond verbal expression ... you must see it and live amongst it to grasp its significance. The Russians are in deep and deadly earnest – they regard the war as a holy war, and the spectacle of the Czar, from the steps of his palace, giving his troops the command to press forward and resist the treacherous designs of Germany, and the response of the men, as they knelt in the palace square to receive their Sovereign’s blessing ... all animated with the one determination to bring Germany to her knees for her stupendous and criminal folly of upsetting the peace of Europe ... is one that can never be forgotten".

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