Tuesday 8th June 1915

Service rifles at last having been issued to the Battalion (see 7^th June), the pace of training now quickened further and the author of the 10^th Battalion Memoir later recalled that, “half the Battalion at a time went to Longmoor to fire the Musketry course and, until the middle of August, we were very busy with musketry and final divisional field days”.

Monday 7th June 1915

Service rifles were issued to the rest of the Battalion (see 6^th June), as noted in a further letter to his Mother written by 2Lt. Robert Stewart Skinner Ingram (see 6^th June):

7^th June 1915

(Regimental headed notepaper)

Bramshott Camp
Hampshire

My darling Mother

Wonder if you would please ask Janet to send me in a cardboard box,
1 pair clean white flannel trousers
1 clean white flannel shirt
1 pair white tennis socks
1 pair white tennis shoes
My Old Harrovian blazer and my yellow and blue striped boxing scarf.

There is a prospect of some cricket and tennis here. Quite like more peaceful days. The local club are lending us all necessaries. The bike Lilian is sending has not come yet, but am expecting it any day now. Lilian tells me Tommy celebrated his arrival at the Priory by spilling a bottle of wine. According to present news we are here till about August 1^st.

The rifles were all issued today and shooting begins on Monday next for the right half Bn.

Much love to Father and the rest of the family, your ever loving son
Robert


(‘Lilian’ refers to Ingram’s sister-in-law, wife of his elder brother ‘Tommy’, currently serving with the RAMC, see 6^th June).

John Bradley, younger brother of Tunstill’s Man, Pte. Willie Bradley (see 16^th September 1914) volunteered in Skipton. His story, and that of his brothers was reported in the Craven Herald edition on 11^th June;

Patriotic Cowling Youths

On Monday another recruit from Cowling enlisted in the Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment (Territorials) stationed at Skipton, in the person of John Bradley, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Bradley, of Keighley Road, Cowling. Mr. and Mrs. Bradley have now three sons in training (all who are eligible). At the outbreak of the war all the sons enlisted in Kitchener’s Army at a recruitment meeting held in Cowling. The eldest, Willie, is now at Bramshott Camp, near Aldershot, where he, along with a number of Cowling boys, are completing their training, and in a few weeks expect to be sent to the Front. Johnny, the next was rejected on account of insufficient chest measurement, but after a course of physical culture this has been remedied and he has enlisted as stated above. Archie, the youngest of the three, was rejected on account of height, being just under the regulation standard. This was a great disappointment to him, and he journeyed to various recruiting offices to endeavour to join his brothers and the other Cowling boys Company, but without avail. Ultimately, he was accepted in the Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment (Territorials) and is now stationed at Derby.

Sunday 6th June 1915

Tunstill's Company remained in training at Bramshott.

After the usual Church parade had been held, half the Battalion was finally issued with new service rifles (see 24^th May), as noted in a letter to his Mother written by 2Lt. Robert Stewart Skinner Ingram (see 24^th May):

6^th June 1915

(Regimental headed notepaper)

Bramshott Camp

Hampshire

My own darling Ma

Thank you so much for your letter which came this morning. I was most awfully sorry to hear our Nell was again ill. No doubt the good Dr. Hadin will put her to rights again.

Is there anything more from Tom or Mabel? There’s no news here at all. Working very hard indeed. Five long days a week, 3 lectures a week, and night operations 3 times a week. Our new C.O., Lt. Col. Bartholomew, D.S.O., (see 4^th May) is an excellent soldier. 

The Battalion is just as good as, or better than, when our old C.O. had to retire. Very soon the 10^th Dooks (sic) will be quite the most efficient Battalion in the whole 23^rd Division. Half the Battalion was issued with new service rifles this morning after church parade, so range work should be beginning soon.

My letter to Miss Roberts has done its work well. She showed my letter to the Mayoress of Brighton apparently and between them they have already let me have 120 pairs of socks. I wish now I’d asked for 250 pairs. I must now write to thank the good ladies. How does one address a Mayoress? I propose to write thus,

The Mayoress of Brighton

Dear Madam

Is that alright?

Love to Father and all the family, your ever loving son

Robert

(The references to ‘Nell’ and ‘Mabel’ are to two of Ingram’s older sisters; his elder brother, Tom, was serving with the RAMC, see 5^th February).

Saturday 5th June 1915

A letter from Gladys Bartholomew and Geraldine Tunstill appealing for support for 10^th Battalion (see 3^rd June) was published in the Yorkshire Post.

Priestley sent a postcard home to his family in which he described conditions at Bramshott as, “not, dusty and uncomfortable – as usual!”.

Friday 4th June 1915

Tunstill's Company remained in training at Bramshott.

Thursday 3rd June 1915

Gladys Bartholomew and Geraldine Tunstill (see 25^th May) wrote to the editor of the Yorkshire Post appealing for his readers to support the 10^th Battalion; their appeal further illustrates the fact that the equipping of so many men was continuing to be a major logistical problem, and that they were still reliant on voluntary donation to support their official Army issue. The letter was published two days later:

“Sir – May we, through your columns, appeal on behalf of the men of the 10th Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment? They are in urgent need of socks and shirts, and as they cannot at present be obtained in sufficient quantities from other sources, it is possible that your readers may be willing and glad to help one of the county regiments (which consists entirely of Yorkshiremen).

We need urgently 2,000 pairs of socks and the same number of shirts, which will be most gratefully received and acknowledged by yours etc.
GLADYS BARTHOLOMEW (wife of Lt. Col. H.J. Bartholomew, DSO, commanding 10th Duke of Wellington’s)

GERALDINE TUNSTILL (wife of Capt. H.G. Tunstill, 10th Duke of Wellington’s)

Royal Anchor Hotel, Liphook, Hants

3rd June 1915.”

 

Wednesday 2nd June 1915

Tunstill's Company remained in training at Bramshott.

Pte. Fred Atkinson (see 25^th April) was reported by Sgt. Arthur Manks (see 25th April) as “absent off pass”; he would remain absent until “reporting himself to the Orderly Sergeant about 8am on 4^th June”. On the orders of Lt. Col. Hugh John Bartholomew (see 25^th May), he would be admonished and forfeit three days’ pay.

Pte. William Turner was also reported ‘absent off pass’; he would not return until 8^th June and would then be ordered to forfeit seven days’ pay. He was a 24 year-old labourer from Bradford.

Pte. Herbert Walker (12315) was reported absent; he would not return until 8^th June and would then be ordered to forfeit seven days’ pay. He was a 20 year-old warehouseman from Bradford.