Tuesday 7th November 1916

Winnipeg Camp

Training continued, although the very heavy rain of the previous two days led to some flooding.

Pte. Frederick William Wilman (see 17^th July) reported sick; he was suffering from a corneal ulcer to his left eye. It is not clear whether he was initially treated in France or had remained at duty, but it would be three months before he was posted back to England for hospital treatment.

Lt. Paul James Sainsbury, (see 4^th November) who would later serve with 10DWR, reported for duty with 3DWR at North Shields.

Lt. Paul James Sainsbury

L.Cpl. Charles Lockton (see 11^th July), who had been wounded in July, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit due to the wounds he had suffered; he was awarded a pension of 12s. 6d. per week, to be reviewed after six months.

A payment of £4 8s. 8d. was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late Sgt. William Digby Stockdale (see 18^th August), who had been killed in the actions around Munster Alley in July. The payment would go to his father, Richard.

Sgt. William Digby Stockdale

A payment of £2 3s. 8d. was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Arthur Edward Holmes (see 29^th July 1916), who had been killed in the actions around Munster Alley in July; the payment would go to his father, Edward.

A death certificate was issued for the late Lt. Harry Harris (see 4^th November) who had been killed at Le Sars. The certificate was despatched to the Harris’ family solicitors. Messrs. Martineau & Reid, 2 Raymond Buildings, Gray’s Inn, London.

Lt. Harry Harris

An order was issued for a reduction in the amount of the pension award which had been made in respect of the late Cpl. Harry Wain (see 9^th October), who had died of wounds in March; it was ordered that the amount payable to his widow, Ethel, should be halved, to 10s. 6d. per week ‘owing to the widow’s mode of living’ and ‘bad conduct’ .

Monday 6th November 1916

Winnipeg Camp

Training continued, although the day was very wet.

Lt. Dobson, of 69^th Field Ambulance, (see 31^st October), was again temporarily attached to the Battalion  as he had been three weeks earlier; presumably this was in the absence of Battalion Medical Officer Capt. Cecil Berry (see 31^st October).

Image by kind permission of Scott Flaving

Whilst at Winnipeg Camp two new subalterns reported for duty. 2Lt. John Davis MM (see 28^th August) was twenty years old. Before the war he had worked as an assistant cashier for John Brockhouse & Co in West Bromwich. In 1912 he had joined the territorials, serving with 1^st/7^th Worcestershire Regiment. He had been mobilised on the outbreak of war and served in France from April 1915 until September 1916. During that time he had been promoted through the ranks to Sergeant and had been awarded the Military Medal. He had undertaken his officer training in France and had been formally appointed to his commission with effect from 4^th November. 2Lt. Robert Oswald Milligan, aged thirty, had been a schoolmaster before the war and had worked in South Africa, where he had also served with the Northern Transvaal Rifles. He returned to England and joined the Honourable Artillery Company in August 1915; he served in France from February 1916 and, like Davis, did his officer training in France before being formally commissioned on 5^th November 1916.

2Lt. John Davis MM

Pte. Gilbert Bell (see 8^th July), who had been posted to 2DWR after treatment for shellshock, was admitted via a Casualty Clearing Station in Corbie to hospital at Le Treport, suffering from a ‘sprained back’; the details of his treatment are unknown.

Pte. Herbert Greenwood Audsley (see 22^nd July) was transferred to 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples as being “unfit for services at the front” due to defective vision. It was now reported that, “His sight has been bad since he was five years old. At ten or twelve years old he was operated on for double cataract. Was classed A1 on enlistment, yet not examined he says”. A subsequent examination by an ophthalmic surgeon would result in him being recommended for permanent base duties.

A final statement was taken regarding the death in action of 2Lt. Henry Herbert Owen Stafford (see 26^th October); the informant was Pte. Daniel Callaghan (see below) of 14 Platoon, ‘D’ Company; he was currently in hospital at Boulogne. Callaghan reported that, “2^nd Lt. Stafford was my Platoon Officer (XIV), and was killed at Le Sars on Oct. 4^th. He was on my left at the time and I did not actually see him killed, but some of my mates saw him drop – hit in the chest or stomach. He fell and lay there in front of the German trench. We had to fall back that night into our own trenches, but the objective was taken the next day, and Mr. Stafford was brought in by some of another Company. His servant, Harold Bray (Pte. Harold Walker Bray, see 7^th October), said everything was found in his pockets as it should be. He was a very good man. A good soldier and we were very sorry to lose him.”

Daniel Callaghan would be subsequently transferred to the East Yorkshire Regiment and discharged to the Army Reserve at the end of the war.

Pte. Samuel Williams (13552) (see 11^th July) was admitted to Keighley War Hospital whilst on leave from hospital in Bournemouth; he had been under treatment in England since July having been evacuated with severe wounds.

Pte. Samuel Williams

Image by kind permission of Andy Wade and 'Men Of Worth'

Pte. Patrick Sweeney (see 27^th October), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was once more in trouble, as he had been on many previous occasions; he was found to have been absent from tattoo and was sentenced to be confined to barracks for seven days.

Sunday 5th November 1916

Winnipeg Camp

The Brigade War Diary described Winnipeg Camp, and the others in the area where the Brigade was based as being, “in very bad condition”. Over the next five days, in the words of the Battalion War Diary, “The Battalion was exercised in Physical training, Arms drill, Bayonet fighting and Box respirator drill”.

Pte. William Grimes (see 8^th October) was re-admitted to 2^nd General Hospital at Le Havre; he had been treated there for ten days having been wounded in October, but was now found still to have a ‘foreign body’ (most likely a shrapnel fragment) in his left hand.

Acting CSM Frederick Griggs (see 23^rd October), who had been one of Tunstill’s original Company but was now serving with 2DWR, reverted to the rank of Sergeant. 

Cpl. John Stewart (see 29^th October), suffering from suspected dysentery, was transferred from no.10 Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Sidings, Lijssenthoek to no.14 Stationery Hospital at Wimereux.

Pte. John Henshall (see 28^th September) who had been in England since having been wounded in July, was discharged from the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, following treatment for ‘neurasthenia’ and was posted to 3DWR at North Shields.

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Saturday 4th November 1916

Barracks in Ypres

At 5pm the Battalion left its billets, which were handed over to 8KOYLI, and marched to Ypres station to board a train for Vlamertinghe, leaving at 8 pm. On arrival they completed the short march of a mile south to Winnipeg Camp, where they were to spend the next five days in Corps Reserve.

L.Cpl. Albert Bradley (see 3^rd November) was admitted via 70^th Field Ambulance to 17^th Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Sidings; he was suffering from influenza. 

Sgt. Arthur Manks (see 1^st September) was transferred from 3DWR at North Shields to 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion based nearby in Gateshead.

Cpl. Robert Hunter (see 1^st September), serving with 15^th Training Reserve Battalion at Brocton Camp, was transferred to 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion based at Gateshead.

Following some discussion over what should be accepted as the appropriate date, the War Office concluded that 4^th October should be the date of death recorded on the death certificate the late Lt. Harry Harris (see 2^nd November) who had been killed at Le Sars.

Lt. Harry Harris

Lt. Paul James Sainsbury, (see 9^th October) who would later serve with 10DWR, appeared before a further Medical Board convened at Caxton Hall Hospital, London. The Board found, “He is considerably better and is now fit for general service at home”. As a consequence he was instructed to join 3DWR at Tynemouth.

Lt. Paul James Sainsbury

L.Sgt. Mark Allan Stanley Wood, (see 4^th  July) who had been serving with 16^th West Yorkshires, but had been in England, suffering from nephritis (inflammation of the kidney) since July, was discharged from hospital. The medical discharge note recorded, “Slow recovery, still an occasional trace of albumen”, but he was instructed to report to West Yorks. Regimental Depot in York. He would later be commissioned and serve with 10DWR.

Pte. Herbert Edwin James Biggs was posted to begin his officer training course; having completed the course he would be commissioned and posted to join 10DWR. Biggs was 21 years old (born 16^th July 1895) and an imposing figue, standing over six feet tall. He was the eldest of four children of Herbert James and Florence Henrietta Biggs; the family had lived in Enfield where Herbert snr. worked as Chief Clerk for the Great Eastern Railway Company. Herbert jnr. had also worked as a clerk for G.E.R. before enlisting on 14^th September 1914 and had joined 7^th Battalion, London Regiment. He had arrived in France on 17^th March 1915 and had suffered wounds to his head and leg in May which had seen him in hospital in Rouen for ten weeks before re-joining his Battalion in August 1915. He had then been invalided back to England on 26^th December 1915, initially suffering from impetigo, and had remained in England ever since.

Pte. Herbert Edwin James Biggs

Friday 3rd November 1916

Barracks in Ypres

Working parties continued to be provided; otherwise conditions were quiet.

Sgt. John William Wardman (see 14^th October) departed for England on ten days’ leave.

Pte. Albert Bradley (see 2^nd October) was appointed (unpaid) Lance Corporal.

L.Cpl. Willie Marsden (see 9^th July) was admitted to 70^th Field Ambulance for dental treatment; he would be discharged to duty on 6^th November.

Pte. Harry Gordon Binns (see 5^th July), who had been in England since having been wounded in July, was transferred from 83^rd Training Reserve Battalion to 3DWR at North Shields.  

2Lt. George Henry Roberts (see 19^th October), who had been in hospital in Southampton for the previous two weeks being treated for “trench fever and slight debility”, appeared before a Medical Board. The Board found him unfit for duty and ordered that he be re-examined in another month.

Capt. Gilbert Tunstill (see 20^th October) who had been granted a month’s sick leave from 16^th October, following the injury he had sustained in September, now wrote to the War Office requesting that his next Medical Board be convened at either York or Leeds. Tunstill was currently staying with Mr. T.B. Ecroyd, at Low House, Armathwaite, Cumberland.

Capt. Gilbert Tunstill

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

Following her recent application for a pension, the War Office wrote to Mrs. Marian Carpenter, mother of the late Capt. Herbert Montagu Soames Carpenter (see 20^th October), who had been killed in action on 5^th July. Having considered her application, she was told that, “In reply to your application for pension as the mother of Capt. HMS Carpenter, I am directed to inform you that, in view of the fact that your husband is not incapacitated by age or infirmity, you are not eligible, under the regulations, for a grant of pension from Army funds”.

Capt. H.M.S. Carpenter

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

A payment of £10 17s. 4d. was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Tommy Cartman (see 12^th October) who had died of wounds following the action at Contalmaison in July; the amount would be paid to his mother, Mrs. Ellen Rishworth, in accordance with the terms of Tommy’s will, even though he had lived almost all of his life with his maternal aunt and her family.

Pte. Tommy Cartman

A series of articles appeared in the weekly edition of the Craven Herald with news regarding casualties among members of Tunstill’s Company.

PAYTHORNE FARMER'S SON KILLED

Mrs. J. T. Lofthouse, of Paa Farm, Paythorne, has received information that his son, Pte. Anthony Lofthouse (see 30^th October), of the West Riding Regiment, has been killed in action.

Pte. Lofthouse, who was an only son, and 23 years of age, enlisted in Capt. Tunstill's troop in September, 1914, going out to France a year later. He will be much missed in the neighbourhood, for he was of a happy and genial disposition.

Pte. B. Butler (see 10^th October), writing to Mr. Lofthouse, says:- "I am extremely sorry to have to break the news to you. Anthony got killed by a shell in a bombing expedition on October 5th. I feel very much upset about him. We were good pals, and he was greatly respected by all the lads in the company. I shall miss him very much. I saw him buried and got some of his belongings, so I will see you get them. We have had a rough time of it lately, but are out of the trenches now for a rest."

PAYTHORNE - Cr. J. T. Lofthouse's Loss

At the monthly meeting of Bowland Rural Council on Monday a vote of condolence was passed with Mr. J. T. Lofthouse, Paythorne, in the loss of his only son who was killed in France a few weeks ago. In moving the resolution, the Chairman said that if there was any consolation for Mr. Lofthouse, it was the knowledge that his son died in the service of his King and Country. The resolution was seconded by Mr. Gill, and the members signified their approval by standing.

Pte. Anthony Lofthouse

RALPH - In loving memory of Private Christopher Ralph (see 27^th October) of the 10th Duke of Wellington's (W.R.) Regiment, of Hellifield, who was killed in action in France on October 6th 1916.

No mother's care did him attend,

Nor o'er him did a father bend;

No sister there to shed a tear,

No brother by, his words to hear.

Sick, dying, in a foreign land,

No father there to take his hand,

No mother near to close his eyes

Far from his native land he lies.

From Sisters and Brothers, Haw Grove, Hellifield

Pte. Kit Ralph

EARBY MAN MISSING

Pte. Percy Wharton, Duke of Wellington's (7070), has been officially reported missing since September 3rd. Any news of him will be gratefully received by his parents, 8, George Street, Earby. Mr. and Mrs. Wharton have three other sons in the Army - Sergt. Allan Wharton (see 13^th October), in the 10th Duke of Wellington's, and Lance-Corporal Richard Wharton, in the 9th, and another on home service. The two first mentioned have been in France during the greater part of the conflict. A son-in-law, Gunner Frank Whitehead, is serving in India

SKIPTON'S ROLL OF HONOUR - PTE. CHARLIE BRANSTON KILLED

Another fine young Skipton soldier has made the supreme sacrifice - Pte. Charlie Branston (see 12^th October), of the Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment, and son of Mrs. Branston, of 27, Brook Street, Skipton. This is Mrs. Branston's second bereavement, her nephew, Pte. T. B. Cartman (see above), who lived with her for many years, having died from wounds in July last. The sad news respecting her son was received on Saturday morning, an official intimation from the War Office stating that he had been killed in action on October 12th. Deceased, who was only 20 years of age, was a fine specimen of manhood, and was nearly six feet in height. Formerly employed at Messrs. Lipton's Ltd., he enlisted with Captain Tunstill's men in September 1914, and went out to France thirteen months ago. He was wounded in July last, but had never been granted a leave since he went to the Front. Deceased and his cousin, Pte. Cartman, were both employed at Messrs. Lipton's Ltd. They enlisted together, did their training together, and were both wounded on July 10th.

Pte. Branston was a member of the Skipton Branch of the National Amalgamated Union of Shop Assistants, Warehousemen and Clerks, and in a letter to his mother, Mr. George L. Haigh, secretary of the local Branch, writes:- "It is with the regret of myself and all the members of the above Branch that I offer you my deepest sympathy in the loss of your gallant son in action. It seems hard lines that after being so long in France he should meet the same fate as Tom, but I sincerely hope you will bear up in your loss. He was one of the best of men to work with either at business or for the Union. To this I can testify. I can hardly realise it yet, the news coming to me as a great surprise, although I could not understand not hearing from him for over three weeks."

Pte. Charlie Branston

SEDBERGH - MEMORIAL SERVICE

There was a large congregation at St. Andrew's Church on Wednesday week, when a service was held in memory of Sergeant Harry Lyddington Mason (see 25^th October) and Private Harry Clemmett, who have fallen in the war. The Vicar (Rev. A. H. Walker) took the major portion of the service, and the lesson was read by Rev. H. F. Donaldson Selby. The special hymns were 'The Son of God goes forth to war', 'Lead Kindly Light', and 'Peace, prefect peace'. At the conclusion of the service the organist, Mr. A.E. Thorne, played the 'Dead March'.

Sgt. Harry Lyddington Mason

There was also news of other men of the Company.

AUSTWICK

Home on Leave

Cpl. Fred Swale (see 23^rd October) of the 10^th service battalion Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment reached home on Sunday morning on six days’ leave. Cpl. Swale enlisted in September 1914, being one of Captain Tunstill’s hundred, and was in training in the south of England for eleven months. In August 1915, along with his Battalion, he left for France. He has seen fourteen months hard fighting, and has been in many stiff encounters, but is in the best of health and very bright and cheerful.

Cpl. Fred Swale

ADDINGHAM - NEWS FROM SOLDIERS

Private William Dixon (see 13th October), writing from No. 2 Convalescent Camp, Rouen, says:- "I was sorry to hear about W. Waggitt's death (see 27^th October) ; R. Smith (see 13^th October) told me about him; they were both together when he got killed and Smith got wounded. I was wounded the day before. I don't think the war will last much longer, and the sooner it is over the better. We go down to Rouen nearly every day to the football matches or the pictures. We have a very good football team."

L.Cpl. Willie Waggitt

Pte. Reuben Smith

Thursday 2nd November 1916

Barracks in Ypres

Working parties continued to be provided; otherwise conditions were quiet.

Pte. Tom Lister Ellison (see 13^th June) left the Battalion to go to Abbeville for a cold-shoeing course.

Ex-Tunstill’s Man, Dvr. Arthur Overend (see 4^th September), now serving with the ASC at Blackdown Camp, was found guilty on a charge of, two days earlier, “leaving barracks improperly dressed and galloping HD horse”. He was sentenced to be confined to barracks for six days.

Samuel H. Harris, father of the late Lt. Harry Harris (see 31^st October) who had been killed at Le Sars completed a form of declaration requesting that any effects of his late son should be sent to him, and confirming that he would settle any outstanding debts due from his son’s estate.

Lt. Harry Harris

Wednesday 1st November 1916

Barracks in Ypres

Working parties of 200 men each night, and smaller parties during the day, were provided each day for the next three days. There was also further training in the use of the new box respirators and “All Officers and men had them tested with lacrymosal gas”.

Pte. James Thomas Sagar (see 11^th September 1915) was posted back to England, where he would be admitted to Shorncliffe Military Hospital; it is not clear whether had been wounded or taken ill.

Pte. Vernon Barker (see 23^rd October), after being treated for a week for myalgia, was now diagnosed as suffering from influenza and was transferred from 23^rd Division Rest Station, via 10^th Casualty Clearing Station, to one of the hospitals in Wimereux.

Pte. Edwin Baldwin (see 26^th May), was transferred to the Motor Transport Section of the Army Service Corps.

Pte. George Henry Hansford (see 2^nd August), serving in France with 2DWR, was appointed (unpaid) Lance Corporal.

Cpl. Albert Joseph Acarnley (see 14^th August), who would later serve as a commissioned officer with 10DWR, was promoted Sergeant while serving with 2^nd Royal Berkshires.

A payment of £69 7s. 6d. was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late 2Lt. Geoffrey Raymond Palmer (see 29^th July), who had been killed in the actions around Munster Alley in July.

2Lt. Geoffrey Raymond Palmer

Rev. Hugh Wilfrid Todd, chaplain, arrived in France, although with which unit has not been established; he would subsequently serve as chaplain with 10DWR. Todd was 28 years old (born 7^th October 1888) and the youngest of three surviving children of Thomas and Emma Todd. Thomas Todd was a schoolmaster and his elder son, Arthur, had worked as a bank clerk but Hugh had qualified as a theology student.

Image by kind permission of Scott Flaving