Tuesday 12th October 1915

Bois Grenier Line trenches

The weather remained fine and conditions in the sector very quiet.

One of Tunstill’s fellow officers, Capt. Adrian O’Donnell Pereira of ‘D’ Company was taken ill; a subsequent medical report recorded that, “his illness began on 12^th October while in the trenches with diarrhoea and severe vomiting; he could not keep anything in his stomach for several days. He had headaches and a temperature of 102 degrees”. However, in the short term he remained with his Company.

Capt. Adrian O'Donnell Pereira

Pte. William Knox (see 10^th October) wrote to his wife, Ethel. (I am most grateful to Rachael Broadhead and family for allowing me access to William’s letters).

“... Well Dear I have not been in trenches as yet but expect going any moment now. We are in reserve. We are billeted at a pub so we are all right when we run dry (I don’t think). It is a very nice part where we are staying but they say the lower end of the town is simply a mass of ruins. We could hear the shells bursting over us yesterday and what gets over me the people seem as unconcerned as though nothing was happening. They seem as happy as if it was peace time. We seem to have got some very nice officers. In fact we are as much at home in this Battalion as we were in our own. Everyone seems as though they want to help us. Jim McMath (Pte. James McMath, see 7^th October) is in the trenches; been in since Sunday. I expect we shall go and relieve them before many more days. It seems a little bit quieter here just now but on Sunday it was one continual rumble all day long. We see many an airship flying about. We’ve seen six in the air at once and could see the German shells bursting all about them but they did not touch them. My address is Pte. W. Knox, no.14186, A Company, 10^th Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, BEF. I have got a very nice pal, L.Cpl. Gregan (L.Cpl. Owen Gregan, see 7^th October), one from our own Battalion; he used to be the Doctor’s orderly. I came across Sgt. Fricker’s son (Pte. George Wallace Fricker, see 16^th April 1915) last Sunday, but he is not in my Company. When you write let me know whether you received those things I left at Lichfield when we came away. It is a job to understand the people here and the money takes some reckoning up. It is the Francs that is equal to 10d. in our own money. You ought to see us in a morning. We have to cook our own breakfast. … Do not forget to send me a new razor as the one I have got will not shave me at all. You will think it was a rotten little letter I sent you and it was all about things I wanted. You will be thinking that I am always in wants. …. Do not forget to send me a Green Un (this was the nickname for the local Sheffield Saturday evening sports newspaper) to look at as it will pass the time on. We can get English papers every here every morning but it is all war and we shall see plenty of that without reading about it. … My word it is different over here to what it was in England. You see no young men strolling about the streets. It is a shame the young men at home who are slackers. It is about time something was done to make them all enlist. If they had only gone through half what the poor devils out here have done they would do their little bit for the dear old country. I am glad I listed, as when this war is all over and what is left of us we shall be able to say that we did our little share to save the Motherland from a brutal enemy. …

PS You can send me some more of that oatmeal soap as I have only 1 pot left and it is very dear out here. You have to pay pretty dear for everything”.

Cpl. William Johnson Simpson (see 11^th September), serving in France with 12^th West Yorks, was promoted Corporal; he would later be commissioned and serve with 10DWR.

Monday 11th October 1915

Bois Grenier Line trenches

The War Diary recorded simply, “Nothing to report. Weather fine. Heavy fighting South, in direction of La Bassee”.

Pte. Charles Davey was posted back to England (reason unknown). He was one of the Keighley recruits who had been attached to Tunstill’s Company in September 1914; he was 19 years old and had been working as a motor engineer.

Sunday 10th October 1915

Jesus Farm, Erquinghem

Orders were received for the Battalion to move into the Bois Grenier Line to relieve 8^th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment. This relief was duly completed in the evening and the Battalion occupied trenches either side of Ferme Desplanques, in support of the front line section north-east of Rue du Bois.

Prior to the move Pte. William Knox (see 7^th October) wrote to his wife, Ethel. His letter gives an indication, just days after his arrival in France, as to his concern about his personal hygiene, commenting, as he does, about his washing arrangements and requesting a range of creams and ointments to, as he would explain in a subsequent letter, “make some ointment to prevent me getting scabies again and the Harrison Pomade is to keep me clear from getting chatty (meaning infested with lice) as there is such a lot like that here”. (I am most grateful to Rachael Broadhead and family for allowing me access to William’s letters).

“Well Dear we are expecting going into action for the first time tonight, Sunday, so we must trust to God to bring us through safely. We have done a lot of travelling since we started from home. When you write to me will you please send me a new razor. Get Jimmie to get one for me, about 2/6 or 3/-, one of Rogers. Also ½ dozen handkerchiefs. Also 2 ozs. Unguentum, 2 ozs. Amanon, 2 ozs. Unguentum Sulphur, a 4½ d. tin of Harrison Pomade.

My address is Pte. W. Knox, no.14186, A Company, 4^th Platoon, 10^th Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, BEF.

… We can hear the guns going off where we are now. You would have laughed at us this morning getting washed as we only had a biscuit tin to wash in and had to get the water out of a canal. We had a very good send off. Sgts. Maj. Booth and Rollinson and nearly all the Sergeants came and shook hands with me and wished me good luck”.

In actual fact Pte. Knox would not be sent into the trenches as he would be among the men left in reserve in the village of Bois Grenier.

Sgt. Mark Flockhart (see 23^rd April) was posted back to England. He had been admitted to 24^th General Hospital in Etaples suffering from ‘old injuries to his left foot’ and on arrival in England he would be admitted to The Grange VAD Hospital in Deal.

L.Cpl. William Murphy (see 25^th September), who had been severely wounded on 25^th September, was evacuated to England from 13^th General Hospital in Boulogne. On arrival in England he would be admitted to The King George Hospital, Stamford Street, London, where it would be noted on admission, ‘General condition good; mentally quite clear’.

Saturday 9th October 1915

Jesus Farm, Erquinghem

The Battalion remained in billets, finding large working parties each evening to assist the Royal Engineers.

In a letter to his family, J.B. Priestley reflected, with some bitterness, on the time he had spent at Jesus Farm and the rigour of the working parties; “The ‘rest’ we are supposed to get when relieved from the trenches is a ghastly fraud; I never grafted and sweated so much in all my life. We were ‘supernavvies’ for a week. And that’s the rest”.

A/Sgt. Frank Shackleton (see 23^rd August) reverted to the rank of (Acting) Corporal.

The Battalion was reinforced by a draft of 60 NCO’s and men from the 11^th (Reserve) Battalion (see 7^th October). They were mainly veterans of service with either 2^nd Battalion in Flanders or 8^th Battalion at Gallipoli. These were fit and experienced soldiers and they brought the Battalion up to a total strength of 29 officers and 982 other ranks.

Some of the members of this draft who had not previously seen active service have been identified. Pte. Joseph Holmes was a 34 year-old wood sawyer from Bradford; he was married but had no children. Pte. Herbert Ridley was 22 years old and from Fulham; he was married with one son and his wife, Helen, was pregnant with their second child. He had enlisted in April 1915 and had been in training with 3DWR at Tynemouth. Pte. Michael Henry Rourke was 33 years old and from Huddersfield; he had enlisted in July 1915 and had trained with 11DWR at Brocton Camp. Pte. Thomas Ward was a 21 year-old labourer from Huddersfield; he had had just two months’ training with 11DWR before being posted to France.

Pte. Robert William John Morris (see 28th September), who had been reduced to the ranks just three weeks previously, was re-appointed Lance Corporal.

Friday 8th October 1915

Jesus Farm, Erquinghem

The Battalion remained in billets, finding large working parties each evening to assist the Royal Engineers.

The weekly edition of The Craven Herald carried much news about Tunstill’s Company, including an account of continued support for Geraldine Tunstill in providing ‘comforts’ for the men:

THE “COMFORTS FUND”

10^th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment “Comforts Fund”

Mrs. H.G. Tunstill acknowledges with most grateful thanks the following donations: Mr. Walter Morrison, £50; Mr. Harry Tunstill (Aysgarth), £5; Mr. J. Brigg, £1; the Stationmaster at Newsholme, 5s.; Mr. W. Farrer (Carnforth), £1 and Mrs. Goulderr (Rheims), £2; proceeds of entertainment arranged by Mrs. and Miss W. Procter at Otterburn, £2 5s.; Mrs. H.G. Tunstill, £2; Mrs. Dudley Illingworth, £1; Mr. Hudson (Hellifield), £1. She despatched the following “comforts” to Captain Tunstill for distribution to the men last week: six shirts, 12 pairs of socks and six mufflers from the Slaidburn and District Working Party, per Mrs. King-Wilkinson; six pairs of socks from Miss Hammond, Arncliffe; five pairs of socks from Miss M. Parker, Stainforth; 5,000 cigarettes; 150 handkerchiefs; 80 pipes; 80 tins of sweets; 90 tablets of soap; 12 doz. safety matches; 4 doz. pencils; 60 writing pads; 50 pairs of leather bootlaces and 80 packets of cocoa.

The same edition also published confirmation of the death of Pte. Willie Burley (see 30^th September) and the recent letters from Ptes. Harry Horner (see 27^th September) and Johnny Smith (see 25^th September):

GRASSINGTON ROLL OF HONOUR

Information is to hand that Private Willie Burley, of Skirethorns, who was wounded on the same day as Private A. Stubbs, as stated in last week's issue, has succumbed. The young hero was well-known and respected in the district, and much public regret has been expressed at his early death. The flag at the maypole, which is utilised as the flag-staff, was immediately put at half-mast on receipt of the news.

News from the Boys.

J.W. Smith writes: “Thanks very much for the parcel. We came out of the trenches on Sunday night for a rest after being in the firing line for twelve days. We had two very fierce bombardments, the worst on Saturday morning. They started about 4.30 and kept at it until after 11 o’clock, and there were thousands of shells fired, but our chaps fired a lot more than they did, and did a lot more damage, hitting their trenches nearly every time and blew them to blazes. It seemed like one mass of fire all along the line. We had to hold our trenches while those on the right advanced, which was a great success. We did not get off scot free. They dropped a lot of shells all about the trenches, and we had some casualties, but were lucky not to have more. The artillery chaps told us it was the hottest they had had. We lost one man the first day by sniper; they are clever at that job – firing all day on the off-chance of hitting you. The other day they got to know where we got our water from and they were not long before they were shelling it, and put two shells through the water tank. We saw a rare duel between a German and British aeroplane, but our man got him down with a shot through the petrol tank”.

LONGPRESTON

PRIVATE HORNER’S EXPERIENCES

The Following is a copy of a letter received by the Rev. R. Shipman, from Pte. H.E. Horner:

Rest Billets,
Somewhere in France,
September 28^th 1915

To Rev. R. Shipman,

Dear Sir,

I am writing you these few lines to let you know that we are in the best of health, as I know you will be thinking and wondering how we are all getting on and what we are doing. I am very thankful that I am able to write this letter to you, as I did not think one of us would come out of the trenches alive, after what we have been through these last few days.

About 4.30 last Saturday morning all was very quiet and a few minutes later our big guns opened fire and then the German guns started, and shells came falling down like rain. What with the noise of our shells passing over us and the German shells coming on us, on all sides, we did not know where we were, and every minute we thought we should be blown up into the air.

Then we got the order to open fire on the Germans. Just at first we did not like to put our heads up over our trench, but we knew we had to do it, and with a cool mind we all started firing. After the bombardment was over and the smoke cleared away we could see the German trenches and most of them were blown to bits with our shells. We seemed to be firing better shells than the Germans, as most of ours were high explosives. On Sunday morning we were very glad to hear the news that we were going out of the trenches, as we had had enough of them. It was our first time in. We were brought right up into the firing line and there we stayed for twelve days. We had two days’ rain which made the trenches very dirty, as they were full of water, which we had to stand and walk about in. It must have been very bad for the men who were in the trenches out here last winter. Those at home in England do not know half of what they must have suffered. The trench which we came out of into the road was full of clay and water which we had to go through. When we had got through it we were all wet through and covered with clay from head to foot. Now we have got our clothes clean, and we have got a good sleep, which we were very much in need of, as we have not much chance of sleep when we are in the trenches. We are about two miles behind the trenches in little wooden huts, about 24 of us in one hut.

We are in the best of health and feeling very well and fit and will soon be ready for going back into the trenches again after a few more days rest. After we had been firing a few minutes we had no fear of the shells, for we all fired as hard as we could till our rifles were red hot and we could not hold them, not thinking of any danger or of being hit with the shells. We were very lucky in our trench, as not one of us was hit, but all the time shells were dropping very near us. Two shells dropped right on the front of our trench while we were firing, and goodness knows how we missed being blown to bits, as it sent sandbags and things flying into the air and filled our eyes with dust. The bombardments last for about three hours and for that time we hardly knew where we were, only we were firing away at the German trenches. We were all very thankful when we found ourselves all in the trench and unhurt.

The trenches which we were holding were the nearest point to the German trenches and on our right the trenches were a long way back. They wanted to get the trenches on our right in a line with ours; so we were firing on the Germans to keep them from firing on our men who were attacking the German trenches on our right. As far as we know all went very well and they took a lot of the trenches as well as prisoners, and for this last week on this front we have done very well. We have to cook our own food when we are in the trenches; we get a fresh supply daily. I have eaten meat that I could not have thought of eating at home, and we have washed ourselves in water in which about a hundred had washed in.

We were very lucky for water, as there was a farm just behind where we could get it. The Germans have shelled it and now we cannot get water there; we have to carry it about a mile. There are people still living in the houses about two miles behind the trenches, and some of them get shells every day; but most of the houses are blown down. At night, when it is dark, the Germans send up a lot of star shells, which light up all round, so that they can see our trenches or any working party which might be out. We are now about three miles south of where Capt. Preston lies buried. There are graves where soldiers have been buried all round about here. There is one very near the huts where we are now staying.

I will close, trusting in the Lord for a safe return back to the little village.

I am, yours respectfully,

H.E. HORNER

Thursday 7th October 1915

Jesus Farm, Erquinghem

The Battalion remained in billets, finding large working parties each evening to assist the Royal Engineers.

Pte. William Seymour Budd disembarked in France. He had been one of the Keighley men attached to Tunstill’s original recruits and had initially trained with the Battalion. He had been 34 years-old when he enlisted in September 1914. He had been born and brought up in Keighley and, in June 1910, had married Sarah Jane Kingham. The couple had one child, Louisa, and had been living in Bengal Street, Keighley, with William working as a fitter in an agricultural machine factory. The reason for his delayed departure from England is unclear but it seems that he arrived as part of a draft of 60 NCO’s and men from 11^th (Reserve) Battalion who were due to reinforce 10^th Battalion. Also among this draft was L.Cpl. Harry Clark (see 7^th September), whose departure had been delayed due to treatment for syphilis. Among the men transferred from 11DWR was Sgt. Edward George John Cooke; he was a 30 year-old engineer from Peckham and was married with two children. He had served eight years (1901-09) with the 1DWR and 2DWR and a further four years on the Reserve. He had re-enlisted in September 1914 and had been appointed Corporal in November 1914 and promoted Sergeant on being posted to France. Cpl. Wilfred Fletcher was a 21 year-old plumber from Halifax and had been married for just two months. L.Cpl. Owen Gregan was a 23 year-old weaver from Halifax. L.Cpl. George Holmes (10794) was a 28 year-old fitter from Bradford. L.Cpl. Alfred Newey was an 18 year-old colliery pony driver from Mexborough; he had enlisted in 3DWR in April 1914 having overstated his age by a year. He had been called up in August and transferred to 11DWR in November. Pte. Harry Ambler was a 40 year-old painter, originally from Brighouse, he had lived for many years in Middleton, Lancs.; he was married with five children. He had enlisted in Bury in July. Pte. Harry Braithwaite was a 32 year-old window cleaning contractor from Bradford; he was married, with four children (2 other children had died). Pte. James Broadbent was a 39 year-old labourer from Oldham. Pte. John Edward Dolan had enlisted in June 1915, aged 29; he was married with two children and had been working as a gas engineer in Armley. Pte. Harry Duthoit; in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of this man. Pte. William Haste; in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of this man. Pte. Rennie Hirst was a 20 year-old ‘piecer’ from Huddersfield; he was married with one son and his wife was heavily pregnant with their second child who would be born on 16^th October. Pte. Jonas Jowett; in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of this man. Pte. William Kershaw (12689) was a 21 year-old dyers' labourer from Rastrick. Pte. William Knox, was 25 and from Ketton, Rutland, but had been working in Sheffield as a milkman for the Attercliffe Co-Op in Sheffield when he enlisted in 1914. Whilst in training in the Spring of 1915 he had married Ethel Thomas. Pte. Thomas Lloyd was a 32 year-old oil distiller from Huddersfield; he was originally from Derby but had been adopted by Mrs. Bottomley of Slaithwaite and was known in the family as ‘Jack’. He had enlisted on 9^th August 1914 and had trained with 11DWR. Pte. Fred Lockwood was a 24 year-old shop assistant from Halifax. Pte. Charles William Long was a 31 year-old stone dresser from Idle, Bradford; he had married whilst in training in May. Pte. James McMath was a 25 year-old cloth finisher. He was originally from Derbyshire, but had been living in Holmfirth; he was married with one son and his wife, Eva, was pregnant with their second child. Pte. Albert Henry Nutter (see 26th September). Pte. Ernest Parkin was a 37 year-old stone dresser from Huddersfield; he was married, with one daughter. Pte. Cornelius Thomas William Rigby was a 42 year-old veterinary medicine dealer; though originally from Staffordshire, he had lived for many years in Denby Dale, Huddersfield. Pte. John Shone; in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of this man.  Pte. Lewis Sykes had originally volunteered on 1^st September 1914, having married only three weeks previously, and had been posted to 9DWR. However, after eight weeks he had been discharged as medically unfit. In July 1915 he had enlisted again and had now completed three months’ training. Pte. Fred Wainman was also a member of this draft, but, in the absence of a surviving service record, I am unable to make a positive identification of this man. Pte. George Edward Western was a 19 year-old driller from Bradford.

Pte. James McMath

Having arrived in France doubtless many of the men would have despatched postcards and letters to their loved ones. One such postcard survives among a remarkable collection of correspondence written by Pte. William Knox (see above). (I am most grateful to Rachael Broadhead and family for allowing me access to William’s letters).

“Just a postcard to let you know that I am still keeping very well. Hope you are the same. Will write you a letter when we get to our destination. We are at a resting camp and we are expecting to go up to the base any time now. It is lovely weather here but expect it will get hotter later on”.

Wednesday 6th October 1915

Jesus Farm, Erquinghem

The Battalion remained in billets, finding large working parties each evening to assist the Royal Engineers.

In the quieter conditions prevailing whilst out of the line a number of men from the Halifax wrote home and their letters would appear in the Halifax Courier (16^th October):

“We read in your weekly paper, which a lot of us receive from our homes every week, that you would like the names and addresses of the Halifax lads in our Battalion. Sorry we cannot get to know the names of all, but have got them in A Company. We have been around to all and enclose a list of the men and the articles we are mostly in need of at present. A lot of the things mentioned it is impossible to get here, and things that we could buy are very dear indeed; forinstance a 2d. tablet of soap costs 5d.

We are behind the firing line, after having a fairly rough time in the trenches, and we are not sorry to come out, as the last three days we had rain and were over the boot-tops in water and sludge, and it felt a treat to be able to take our boots off and part with the mud, thick on boots and puttees, and get on clean, dry socks. We were in the big bombardment recently, when the Allied troops made headway. I think, by the number of shells that dropped in our trenches, we came out of it very lucky, only having about six casualties in our Company. We think the Battalion is upholding the Dukes’ good name. We stuck 12 days in the firing line in our first taste of trench life, so we got a good breaking-in. We might also say we had our best bit of luck when, about two days after leaving the trenches, we got a good hot bath and a claen change of underclothing, which made us feel new men, ready to face the baby-killers again. Hope single men left in England will come forward and help their fellow comrades to drive the Huns into their own land.

Yours respectfully

R. Swallow and J. Smith, 3^rd Platoon, for the Halifax lads in A Company.

Pte. Richard Swallow was a 25 year-old power loom overlooker from Halifax and was married, with one daughter. Pte. John Smith (13487) was 26 years old and from Halifax, where he had worked as a ‘teamer’ for the Lancs. and Yorks. Railway; he had served in the Territorials before the war and had initially re-joined his territorial battalion before being transferred to 10DWR whilst in training in England. He was officer’s servant to 2Lt. Harry Harris (see 27^th August).

There was also a letter from Pte. William Henry Jones (see below):

“We are resting. We had a share in the glorious advance of last month and which, if not a very prominent one, was a link in the chain. Our artillery had a very violent duel with the enemy, and the screaming and explosion of shells, the rattle of machine guns and the sharp spit of thousands of bullets against the parapet, made you think of Dante’s Inferno. We were prepared to advance but the order was not given … Ptes. Holmes, Cross Hills, and Siddall, Ripponden, are the only local men I am aware of who were wounded”.

William Henry Jones was a 33 year-old compositor from Halifax; he was married but had no children.