Thursday 1st October 1914

Tunstill's Company remained in training at Frensham.

Wednesday 30th September 1914

Walter Morrison declared that it was his intention to offer financial support to Tunstill's Company in supplying them with appropriate 'comforts'. (Rumours had been circulating that he would be supporting the Skipton Company of the Territorial Battalion).

Tuesday 29th September 1914

The King and Queen, accompanied by Princess Mary paid a visit to Frensham Camp, “to the great delight of all ranks”.

The Times reported that, "On the Common some 10,000 troops were drawn up, and alighting from his car the King passed down the lines of the entire camp. His Majesty was heartily cheered on leaving."

Henry Clifford Harvey**, commented on the royal visit in a letter home which was subsequently (3^rd October) published in the Keighley News. 

KEIGHLEY MEN AT FARNHAM

AN APPEAL TO THEIR FELLOWS

The Mayor of Keighley (Mr. W.A. Brigg) has received the following letter from Private H.C. Harvey, No.2 Platoon, A Company, 10th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, Frensham Camp, Farnham, Surrey:

“I am taking the liberty of writing to you to let you know that all the ‘Pals’ who enlisted at Keighley are having a fine time here, and are very grateful indeed for all the kindnesses which were shown them in the shape of blankets, cigarettes etc. We are progressing A1 in our new sphere of life, and think that every young man who possibly can should enlist at once. The food and sleeping here are excellent, and I am only expressing the view of every one of us when I say that anyone who says the life of Kitchener’s men is hard is a man with whom work does not agree. We cannot speak too highly of the place where we are encamped. As regards our officers, they are perfect gentlemen, our captain and colour-sergeant realising that we are people who have left decent homes and good positions in order to serve our country in time of need. We especially wish to convey our thanks to Captains Tee and Lansdale for the way we were treated whilst under their charge. We have today (many of us for the first time) been lucky enough to see our King and Queen and watch them as they walked openly about the parade ground. Our idea of writing this is to obtain, for our country, men who are, as you know, at this critical time, very much needed”. 

A postscript says, “Please convey our thanks to the YMCA for their kindnesses”. 

**Henry Clifford Harvey was 20 years old (b.16^th December 1893) and had been working as a telephone operator before enlisting. He was the only son (though he had two sisters) of Walter and Ida Harvey, who lived in Spencer Street, Keighley.

Pte. Harry Waller also commented on the royal visit and gave other details of his life in camp in a letter to his parents. He was a 22 year-old plumber from Todmorden.

“I am still in the pink. We are in tents, twelve in one tent, two sleeping together with four blankets and a waterproof ground sheet. We are as snug as bugs in a rug, although it is a bit nippy washing in Frensham Pond at 5.30am. I have received the parcel from York Street and thank them for it. The King, Princess Mary and Lord Kitchener inspected us yesterday (Tuesday)”. In a further letter written a few days he would add, “I am still in the best of health and stil busy. Hardly time to wash. Will you please send me some soap as we cannot get any decent here and have to pay dearly for it. Have had a ripping time, have not seen any rain yet. Our daily routine is: 5:30 Reveille; 6:00 Parade – have one hour’s doubling and finish with a ¼ mile sprint; 7:00 Breakfast, boiled aggs, bacon or boiled ham; 8:00 Parade, drill till 11.30; 12:00 Dinner, meat, potatoes and either peas or beans; 1:30 Parade, drill till 3.30; 4:00 Tea, jam or sausage; 5:00 Parade and go for a route march of 5 to 10 miles. After route march, go for a swim in Frensham Pond, which is about 2 miles by 1 mile and nowhere deeper than 4ft. 6in.; 9:30 Lights Out. This is glorious country, all moor and pine woods”. In a further postcard he added, “Just off on a night attack, 7:00 to 12:30. Rumours of us going to south of France for winter. Have been served with another coat”.

Pte. Harry Waller

An article which would be published in The Brighouse Echo on 9^th October also referred to the royal visit: ‘Writing from Frensham Camp a local member of the West Riding Regiment says, “It is very hot in the daytime but fearfully cold at night. Last week we had the King and Queen, also Princess Mary, to visit us. There were 15,000 soldiers, so we were very strong. The moors are very big where we are camping. There is only a small village outside and the people are very patriotic. Many times people visit the troops and distribute cigarettes and fruit amongst them. The country round is most beautiful”.

Pte. Robert William John Morris was appointed Acting Sergeant; he was an ex-regular soldier, having served 12 years between 1895 and 1907. He was 37 years old, from Bermondsey, married with two children, and had been working as a post office mail porter

Monday 28th September 1914

Tunstill's Company remained in training at Frensham.,

Sunday 27th September 1914

The Company remained in training at Frensham.

Cpl. Henry Herbert Calvert was promoted Pioneer Sergeant. He was a 45 year-old assurance agent (working for the Prudential Assurance Company) from Halifax; he had previously served 14 years in the Territorial Army and had re-enlisted on 15^th September and had immediately been appointed Corporal on account of his previous experience. He was married with two children (a third child had died in infancy). Although under age at the time (he was born 6^th February 1898), his son, Sydney Evans Calvert, would join the Royal Engineers in 1915.

Saturday 26th September 1914

Another cause of some concern and disaffection in the early days at Frensham was the catering arrangements. The official Divisional History passes only brief comment, noting that, in the absence of sufficient Army cooks, “the messing arrangements were almost entirely carried out by the well- known firm of Messrs J. Lyons & Co, so that the majority of the men were always available for training”.

The Battalion History was rather less sanguine, noting that, “At this time there were no battalion cooks so arrangements were made with Lyons & Co to cater for the troops. I have read that this arrangement was very satisfactory. It might have been to the gilded staff. Ask the lads!” 

Priestley was even more forthright in a letter to his family; “There is only one canteen for all the camp and consequently the place is packed and everything is sold. They do not take money in the canteen, we have to pay with tickets. Up to the present there has been no pay given out, but if things do not alter here, there will be serious trouble. It is very beautiful country around here, wooded and hilly. When I arrived here I was surprised to find the weather very hot, and no trace of autumn in the landscape. I understand, however, that it is frightfully cold at night”.

Friday 25th September 1914

Pte. Frank Harrison (3/11632) was admitted to Connaught Hospital, Aldershot, for treatment for gonorrhoea; he would remain in hospital for 12 days before being discharged to duty. He was a 21 year-old wire cleaner from Brighouse and had enlisted in Brighouse on 7^th September; he was on the National Reserve having previously served in the East Yorkshire Regiment (details unknown).

The Brighouse Echo published a letter written by Pte. Joseph William Henley (see below) describing his experiences and the conditions at Frensham Camp over the previous few days:

“Private Joe Henley of No.1 ‘D’ Company of the West Riding Regiment – an employee of Messrs. Turner & Wainwright, Brookfoot – has amused many Brighouse audiences in his capacity as ‘Professor Len Lee’, ventriloquist. He is now a member of Lord Kitchener’s Army and has interested many friends with the following letter which he has forwarded from Frensham Camp, Farnham. “We left Halifax”, he writes, “on Friday last at 6.30 am, the first stop being (illegible), where we dined. We had beef sandwiches, and we enjoyed them I can tell you. We had two great big slices of dry bread with meat. We stayed there about half an hour, then off again and here we are. We are (illegible) miles below London and 37 miles from the coast. We are just outside the village of Frensham, right on the moors. The next village higher up is the prettiest little place I ever saw, all country lanes and hedges. We marched through this place on our way to the camp which is nine miles from Aldershot. I suppose this place will be very bleak in winter, and they say we are here for ten weeks, so we have some cold weather to face. The first night we had to sleep on the bare ground with two blankets each, 12 in each tent, but now we have got waterproof sheets for the floor, so we are alright. The first night I felt the damp strike through and I had a cold next morning, which has not left me yet, but otherwise we are fine. On Sunday we had sausage, and this morning we had a couple of boiled eggs, so you see we are living like fighting cocks. The dinners are similar to those we had at Halifax. The tea is much better and we can put our own sugar in the tea and sometimes we get butter. The bread and the plates are clean. Some of the chaps say the meat is horseflesh, but I don’t care if it’s elephant, I can eat it. When you have done about three hour’s training you are ready for anything. The training is very strict. We are up at 5.30 every morning and on parade at 6.30, breakfast at 8 o’clock, dinner at 12 o’clock, tea at 4.30, bed at 9 and lights out at 9.30. I can tell you, it feels cold when we turn out first thing in the morning. We go down to the lake to wash ourselves. It is a splendid stretch of water, about a mile long and the beach is all sandy, like Blackpool. I only wish I had been here all the Summer, the sun is warm during the day but it is chilly at night and morning. We have to put in about eight hours a day at training and this week myself and nineteen others of our Company are on picket, which means that we must not leave the camp for a whole week, as we may be called up for duty. There are 700 of us in our regiment and four or five other regiments, about 5,000 men altogether, so you can guess there is a few to feed. The catering is done by Lyons & Co. Ltd. We have three big tents for dining and lots of cooking kitchens. The cooking is all done by steam. They have a lot of pans for boiling water and potatoes etc. They are just like toffee pans. We have not got any uniforms yet but expect them any time, and no pay yet. Some chaps have been here a month and had no pay, so they are cadging all day long”.

Joseph William Henley was a 28 year-old married man from Brighouse.

The concern over uniform and the appearance of the men made a considerable impression on a number of commentators who looked back later: 

“We were rather a motley crew. One man was wearing a khaki tunic, blue trousers, brown boots and a bowler hat. A few had red tunics. Most men had come in old suits and they were soon in rags” (from the Battalion History). 

“No proper uniform was issued although many men wore old scarlet militia tunics issued to them at Halifax and these, combined with green Homburg hats, striped trousers and check waistcoats frequently produced very striking effects … a Company on parade presented the most motley and grotesque appearance” (from the Divisional History).

 

The distinctive and distinguishing feature of Tunstill’s Men was their wearing of their white and red “Kitchener’s Man” brassards. Looking back many years later, John Habishaw recalled that, “we were the only company in the whole of the camp who had them, and we became known as ‘Kitchener’s Pets’”.


Gilbert Tunstill passed the medical examination required to support his application for a commission.

Thursday 24th September 1914

Once settled at Frensham the men were immediately subject to a strict and vigorous training regime, in anticipation of an early deployment to active service. They were in training seven days a week at first. They were up each morning at 5.30 and spent the day in a variety of drills and exercises. They were in bed before 9pm each evening, sleeping around 12-14 men to a tent, with the men from particular towns and villages kept together as much as possible. Washing took place in a lake about a quarter of a mile away.

 

Wednesday 23rd September 1914

Tunstill's Men, together with the rest of the Battalion, left Halifax for Frensham, near Aldershot, to begin their training. The men were roused at 3am and departed from Halifax in two trains, commencing at 4am. On leaving Halifax the Battalion was under the command of Captain Bathurst (see 18th September). Priestley described the journey, “It was an enormous corridor train entirely filled with recruits. All the way people cheered and waved at us”. The journey lasted well into the afternoon, with the first train arriving at Frensham at 2pm.

On arrival at Frensham the Battalion was welcomed by its new commanding officer, Lt. Col. Crawford (see 19th September). Regimental Sergeant Major was Thomas Broadley, a 49 year-old re-enlisted Army pensioner.

Tunstill’s Men were inspected by Crawford shortly after arriving at Frensham and he informed Tunstill that the Company would become the “A” or leading Company in the Battalion. The Colonel added that he had recommended Tunstill to the War Office for a commission for his services in enlisting the Settle Company, described as “probably the smartest set of men Craven has produced”. Tunstill, in response, made it clear that he would accept the commission if offered to him, but only on the condition that he remained with his own Company.  

Tunstill duly completed his application for a commission the same day; Crawford signing the forms to endorse his application.

The Battalion was accommodated in bell tents, with around a dozen men to a tent, on ground to the east of the Farnham to Hindhead road, opposite Frensham Great Pond.

Pte. Samuel Collins was appointed Acting Corporal; he was a 41 year-old slater from Halifax and had previous military experience having served in the territorial army. He was a married man with three children.

Tuesday 22nd September 1914

Tunstill's Men remained in Halifax for the day and, as John Habishaw, one of the Menston recruits, recalled years later, "marched up and down Gibbet Lane" (the Regimental Depot was on Gibbet Lane). A second night was spent in the Victoria Hall, Halifax.

Geraldine Tunstill sent a postcard (postmarked Airton) to Thomas Brayshaw, who had done much to support her husband’s recruiting campaign. The postcard, which carried a picture of Tunstill’s Company drilling on the cricket ground at Settle, read: 

"The Settle Company had a wonderful reception marching through four miles of cheering people. I have never seen anything like it. They left for Halifax in the afternoon. Had a PC from my husband who says they are sleeping in the Town Hall. Colonel Thorold warmly complimented him on his splendid men. They are all … (illegible) … for Frensham near Aldershot early Wed morning. Shall call in and see you Thurs. aft. Can you get us a full list of names of our recruits, also their mothers and their addresses.

G. Tunstill"

 

 

Robert Stewart Skinner Ingram (see 16^th August) and Herbert Victor Stammers (see below) were appointed to temporary commissions, with the rank of 2^nd Lieutenant. Both would be posted to the newly-formed 10^th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment. 

Herbert Victor Stammers was 19 years old and from Gunnersbury, Middlesex.

Monday 21st September 1914

The culmination of Tunstill’s campaign was the assembly of the recruits in Settle. At the same time other contingents destined to serve with Tunstill gathered in other towns and villages across the area. They then came together at Steeton and Silsden Station from where they marched to Keighley for a civic reception. From Keighley the Company travelled by train to Halifax where they were billeted in the Victoria Hall. The events were extensively reported in the local press, and what follows is a combination of reports from the Craven Herald, the Ilkley Gazette, the West Yorkshire Pioneer and the Keighley News.

Prior to departure, both Gilbert Tunstill and his fellow recruits wrote letters which were published in the next edition of the Craven Herald.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE CRAVEN HERALD

Dear Sir
Today sees the finish of recruiting for this Company, and we are 87 strong. My only regret is that some of our recruits failed to pass the medical test.
Although they failed to pass every consideration and honour is due to these men. They will always have the great privilege of knowing they did their best and showed their loyalty and willingness to serve King and Country in this supreme hour of need.
With regard to the 86 men who have enlisted with me, may I, without any undue boastfulness, say that Settle and the district from which they are drawn, may indeed be proud of them. They are a credit to their country, and will nobly uphold the traditions of their district and Regiment.
I also wish to heartily thank all those who have so readily and generously given me their help and time in this undertaking, which has ensured its success, including yourself as Editor of the Craven Herald.
Yours Truly

H.G. TUNSTILL

(Private in the Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment)
Otterburn, Bell Busk
September 21^st 1914

TO THE EDITOR OF THE CRAVEN HERALD

Dear Sir
We wish, through the medium of your valuable paper, to express our grateful thanks to the people of Settle for their generous hospitality and kind and useful gifts and for their enthusiastic send-off.
We beg also to thank the performers at the Concert and the Band.

THE 87 PRIVATES of the Settle Company of the 10^th Battalion of the Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment.

From Austwick - William (Billy) Hoyle, Wilson Pritchard, Samuel Shepherd, Fred Swale, John William Thistlethwaite, George Thistlethwaite.

Airton - Kayley Earnshaw.
Arncliffe - Percy Hodgson, John Simpson.
Bolton-by-Bowland - Irvine Clark, Jim Coates, Richard Davies Ellison, Harold Greenhow, Edward Victor Grubb, James Mason, Robert Singleton, Joseph Chapman Syers.
Bell Busk - Leonard Fox.
Clapham - Albert Edward Dury, Arthur Herbert Procter.
Grindleton - William Irvin Bell, James Wilding Clarkson, Joshua Crossley, William Walker.
Gisburn - Anthony Lofthouse , John Robinson.
Hellifield - James John Angus, Charles Graham, Thomas Harding, Charles Harwood, Sidney Hoar, John Ernest Linnett, Joseph Edward Preston, Thomas Procter, Christopher Ralph, Norman Roberts, Fred Graham.
Horton - John Bruce Davidson.
Ingleton - Hugh Robinson.
Longpreston - Arthur Bailey, Thomas Garnett, John Henry Hitchin, Henry Edward Horner, William Jones, James Kayley, Job Kayley, Arthur Lawson, William Henry Metcalfe, Joseph Parker, William Procter, William Rawlinson.
Langcliffe - Richard Butler, Thomas Henry Edmondson.
Marton - John Beckwith.
Malham - James Swinbank.
Newsholme - Thomas Edward Askew, Carl Parrington Branthwaite, Benjamin Ashton Butler, William Henry Scott.
Otterburn - Harry Gilbert Tunstill.
Settle - Robert William Bell, Ernest Campbell, George Clark, John Thomas Cockerill, Robert Cresswell, Herbert Dickinson, William Edward Gibson, George Jellett, Thomas Laytham, Robert Henry Maunders, Robert Newhouse, Walter Umpleby, Thomas Walsh, Solomon Richard Webb.
Stainforth - Walter Dinsdale.
Slaidburn - Edwin Isherwood, Walter Isherwood, Abel Moore, Charles Edward Parker, George Whitfield.
Wigglesworth - Fred Metcalfe, George Oversby.
Waddington - Joseph Barrett Hartley, Albert Herd, Harry Smith, Thomas Rigby, William Watson.

Of these 87 named individuals, 77 have already been identified as having volunteered at particular meetings during Tunstill’s campaign.

For the final ten it has not been possible to identify their exact date of enlistment, but all but one have been positively identified:

• John Ernest Linnett; 21 years old, he was originally from Leicester and had only recently moved to the Settle area (possibly to take up a job on the railway).
• Norman Roberts; see 6^th August for details on Norman Roberts.
• Hugh Robinson; came originally from Caton, Lancashire and was a cousin of another Tunstill recruit, Joseph Edward Preston (see 8^th September). Following the death of Hugh’s mother, Mary Ellen Robinson, in 1905, the family had become scattered, with the six children boarding with various families across North Lancashire and working in local mills, on farms or in domestic service. Hugh Robinson had been working as a farm labourer.
• Arthur William Bailey; came originally from Liverpool but had for four years worked for Mr. John Winter at the Craven Poultry Farm in Tunstill’s home village of Otterburn. He had just turned 18 when he volunteered.
• Thomas Henry Edmondson; he was born in Settle in 1881. He was the sixth of eight children born to John and Mary Edmondson. John was a bootmaker who lived and worked in Settle. By 1899 Thomas was the postman covering the area from Langcliffe to Malham Moor and in 1901 he was living in School Hill, Settle with his parents and four of his siblings, one of whom, his elder brother, Matthew, was also working as a postman. Thomas married Langcliffe girl Annie Harvey  in 1905 and the couple set up home on the Green in Langcliffe. Their first daughter, Mary, was born in 1909 and a second, Muriel, in 1912.
• Robert William Bell; he was 28 years old and a very well-known figure in Settle. His father, Joseph Bell, had for many years run a business as a joiner, cabinet-maker, wheelwright and furniture broker in the town. Joseph Bell had also served on the Parish Council for a number of years, and had been a leading member of the local Volunteer Company, before retiring with the rank of colour sergeant. Robert William Bell had followed his father into the local territorials and had served seven years (from 1902-09), while his elder brother, James, had served 16 years, succeeding his father as colour sergeant. Both Robert and James worked in the family business.
• Herbert Dickinson; was 22 years old. He was one of two children of an unmarried mother (Isabella Dickinson). Isabella and her children had continued to live with her father, Richard Dickinson, at Albert Hill, Settle. Herbert worked as a labourer in the building trade, while his mother worked as a dressmaker.
• William Edward Gibson; was a recent arrival in Settle, coming originally from Kendal. He was 28 years old and worked in the local limestone quarries. He had married in 1909 and he and his wife, Nancy, had a four year-old daughter, Mary Hannah.
• Robert Henry (known as ‘Bob’) Maunders; he was born on 17th February 1891 in Selside, Horton-in-Ribblesdale; he was the seventh of nine children born to John and Mary Maunders (nee Thompson). His father, John, was originally from the village of East Hanney, near Wantage in Berkshire where his father had worked as a railway labourer. John worked for some time as a young man as a groom but for most of his working life he too worked on the railways. It may well have been work on the railways which had brought John to the Settle area. By 1911 the family had moved to 6, High Hill Cottages, Settle, and of their seven children only Elizabeth, Bob and Kate were still living at home. John was still working on the railway but Bob was employed as a grocer’s apprentice.
• Arthur Lawson; I am, as yet, unable to make a positive identification of this man; it would appear that he is likely to be the individual who appears in the official military records as William Lawson.

A Splendid Lot of Recruits

Tunstill's Men assembled in the Market Place, Settle

Armband originally worn by
"Tunstill's Man" George Smith

The men, 86 in number, paraded in the Market Place at 7 o’clock on Monday morning and, after a little preliminary drill and other instructions, and a parting speech by Mr. Morrison, fell in behind the Settle Band, who once more lent their services in the public-spirited manner they have displayed throughout the war. It could then be seen what a sturdy, likely looking lot of men they were. A great proportion of them were from the country farms, and it would be difficult to find a more promising set of recruits. Each member of the Company wore a white armlet bearing the words “Kitchener’s Man” in red letters and very proud of their “uniform” the gallant fellows were. Escorted by a large crowd, which included Mr. Morrison and many well-known residents, the Company marched in good style to the station, at times singing, “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary” (which Mr. George Herd had given with great effect on Saturday) with great gusto. In the interval before the train started they were each presented with a meat pie and grapes from Mr. Birkbeck, fruit from Mr. Clark, a cigar from Mr. James Hunt and a packet of cigarettes from Mrs. Nicholson (Ingfield Hall) and the Settle men were especially favoured. In addition to the above gifts they each received socks from Mrs. Birkbeck and a tin of cigarettes from Miss Geldard. Mr. Christie, Mr. T. Dixon, Mr. D.H. Brayshaw, Mr. G. Thorpe, Rev. A. Ingilby and others also rendered financial or other help to the send-off.

Resounding cheers were given for the men, fond farewells were said, the National Anthem was sung and amidst the waving of handkerchiefs, the detonation of fog-signals and hearty expressions of goodwill Settle sent out a body of men to fight for their country of whom the whole district may well be proud. Amongst those who witnessed the troop’s departure was Mr. G.G. Robinson, Editor of “The Times” (George Geoffrey Robinson, born in Skipton in 1874 was editor of The Times from 1912-19 and again from 1923-41).

AUSTWICK

Departure of recruits

The five Austwick youths who have enrolled in Mr. Tunstill’s company left early on Monday morning to join the other members at Settle. Although they left at 6 am there were quite a number of the working population out to see them off at 8.30 from Settle station. Later in the day Lieut. Noel Clapham (Austwick Hall) left to take up duties, this making a total from the village of eleven young men who have responded to the call of King and country.

LONGPRESTON 

The men from Long Preston who have responded to the call towards making up the 100 sought by Mr. Tunstill, C.C., left home early on Monday to join those who were leaving Settle for training. Their names were: J.Airey, T.Garnett, C.Harwood, J.H.Hitchin, H.Horner, W.Jones, J.Kayley, W.Mason, F.Metcalfe, H.Metcalfe, J.Oglesby, J.Parker, W.Procter, J.Rebanks, W.Rawlinson and R.Taylor. Those who had previously joined the ranks of either the Regulars or the Territorials were: Capt.T.Preston, O.Dawson, J.Cowgill, J.Arthurs, J.Jackman, R.Carr, A.Carr, A.Evans and J.Foster, some of whom are training at Healing near Grimsby and they write that they are looking well and getting fit.

GRASSINGTON AND DISTRICT TO THE FORE

In the enthusiastic recruiting by local ladies and gentlemen to raise a company for Lord Kitchener’s Army to be called the Upper Wharfedale Company, proud results have followed; no less than 20 having obeyed the nation’s call. The names will be found in another column. To each recruit there was presented by the local committee a shirt, and a pair of socks, and they also received each a pipe, tobacco and cigarettes on their departure on Monday for training. They were photographed by Messrs. Crowther and Grimshaw. A large number went to the railway station to say goodbye.

CONSTITUTION OF THE COMPANY

The 3^rd Wharfedale Company, which includes a number of men from places in Airedale, is to form part of the 11^th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment (actually they would become part of 10^th Battalion), and on Monday morning they were under orders to mobilise at Keighley.

The men from this part of Wharfedale proceeded to Keighley by the 8.10am train from Ilkley via Skipton and as the Menston and Burley recruits entrained at their respective stations, and others were picked up at Skipton and elsewhere, there were only eight to entrain at Ilkley.

In all, 240 dalesmen were to soldier together, belonging to the following places: Settle 87; Keighley 50; Grassington 18; Cowling, 18; Ilkley, 16; Bingley, 11; Skipton, 10; Burley, 10; Earby, 8; Menston, 8; Addingham, 2; and Silsden and Otley one each. 

Altogether over 2,000 recruits have been secured from the Airedale and Wharfedale Recruiting Districts during the month it has been in charge of Captain J.H. Stanley Tee, who is now rejoining the 6^th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment.

ENTHUSIASM AT THE RAILWAY STATION

The eight men leaving Ilkley on Monday morning were given an enthusiastic send-off. They marched from the Ilkley Drill Hall to the Ilkley Railway Station, headed by the Ilkley Brass Band, who have shown a splendid spirit of patriotism by playing both sets of recruits through the town on their departure, and also through Addingham in the case of the first men to leave, besides giving their services on several other occasions – a little bit of self-sacrifice in their country’s service that ought not to go without public recognition.

The Burley and Menston men joined forces with their comrades at the top of Brook Street and all marched together into the Railway Station and on to No.3 platform.

They were accompanied by Sergeant C. Baker and on the platform Captain Mercer, Captain Lansdale and Mr. F.H. Humphries, J.P. joined the party. Captain Mercer now being attached to the Army Service Corps.

No.2 and No.3 platforms were crowded with people and prior to the departure of the train the band played appropriate selections, finishing up with “Auld Lang Syne” and the National Anthem. Profiting by the experience of the previous recruits from Wharfedale, most of those leaving this district on Monday had provided themselves with a warm blanket or rug. 

The men were heartily cheered as the train steamed out of the station, and they were also given a salute by the firing of detonators placed on the lines.

COWLING - DEPARTURE OF RECRUITS 

Stirring scenes were witnessed in Cowling on Monday morning last when the eighteen recruits for Kitchener’s Army left. Nearly the whole of the inhabitants turned out to witness their departure. Prior to leaving, each man was provided with a blanket by Mr. Everett Binns, a ‘soldiers friend’ and handkerchief by Mrs. Hudson Naylor (out of the proceeds of the Vicarage fund); and a sprig of white heather and handkerchief from Mr. and Mrs. Watson Hartley. Other presents included boots from the Vicar, cigarettes etc from Mrs. Hill (Bay Horse), kit bags and hold-alls from Mr. H. Newman; cigarettes from Mr. Tempest (proceeds of collecting box), top coat etc from Mr. Seth Moore and cigars from Mr. Arthur Stephenson. The company travelled by motor bus to Steeton, where they were joined by other units, and thence on to Keighley, en route for Frensham Common, Aldershot. Prior to their leaving, a service was held at the Parish Church, conducted by the Vicar.

CRAVENS’ RECRUITS DEPART

STIRRING SCENES AT SILSDEN 

Stirring Scenes were witnessed at Silsden and Steeton Station on Monday morning last (21^st September) when a second contingent of recruits, numbering well over 200 and drawn from Craven, Airedale and Wharfedale, were assembled for the march to Keighley. Among them was the batch of 90 (sic.) which Mr. H.G. Tunstill, County Councillor for the Settle Division, has raised from his area. As the detachments arrived by train at Steeton Station they were drawn up in marching order in the goods yard, under the command of Captain Tee. The Silsden Brass Band (many of whom attended at personal sacrifice) was in attendance again, and during the period of waiting at the railway station a number of selections were played under the conductorship of Mr. George Laycock (bandmaster). As most of the mills in Silsden were closed on account of the shortage of work, a large number of people congregated in the vicinity of the railway station from where the recruits were to start their journey on foot. Captain Tee, of Keighley, had charge of the men and was assisted by Captain Lansdale of Ilkley, and other officers. They were accompanied to Keighley by Mrs. Tunstill, Colonel Parker (of Browsholme) and Mrs. Dudley Illingworth. Mr. Tunstill took the view that it was little good him trying to obtain recruits unless he enlisted himself, and that was his motive for coming forward. His wife, it may be mentioned, accompanied her husband at all the recruiting meetings he attended. 

The school children of Steeton, in company with their teachers, headed the procession in Station Road, displaying quite a number of flags and raising cheers which were taken up by the crowd. Most of the people who took part in the early proceedings followed all the way to Keighley. The Band headed the procession and greatly enlivened the proceedings with patriotic melodies, including “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary”. On arrival at Utley, the school children were lined on the causeway, and at Steeton they moved a number of small flags about pretty freely. 

In anticipation of the arrival of the men large crowds assembled in the Skipton Road, and loud cheers were raised when the procession came in sight. The Keighley Trade and Grammar students raised a hearty cheer as the recruits passed the Technical Institute. Each man wore a ribbon on his sleeve proclaiming the fact that he was ‘Kitchener’s Man’. Admiring comments were passed upon the sturdy physique of numbers of them who hailed from the Yorkshire Dales. A formal reception had been arranged to take place in the Town Hall Square, and the men formed round the temporary bandstand, upon which stood the Mayor (Mr. W.A. Brigg), Captain Tee and the Silsden Band. 

On behalf of the Borough of Keighley the Mayor offered to them – men of the 10^th Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment – a most hearty and sincere welcome, and wished them all God speed on their way to their training camp.  

“You are going at the call of duty” he went on, addressing the recruits, who were surrounded by a dense crowd, “to reinforce that Army, I hope on the Continent. It will need every assistance possible to force upon the German government those terms which alone can give lasting peace to the Continent of Europe and the world for many years to come. You have come from all parts of the beautiful country of Craven, and you are not the first men who have answered the call to duty in this way. We read in the old chronicles of more than 400 years ago how men from Linton to Long Addingham followed the banner of Lord Clifford to Flodden Field, and did their duty there. We remember also how a little more than a hundred years ago a Craven Legion was formed; and a regiment of yeomanry was raised by the first Lord Ribblesdale to repel the threatened invasion of the French; and now again at the call of duty you have come from Craven not to repel the threatened invasion of the French but to fight with them; not against an invasion of our country, but to repel an attack upon the liberty and freedom of thought of the whole world. You must ever remember when you do fight, that you are not fighting for territories or gold mines, nor for gain of any kind, but for freedom against militarism, for right against might, and for the great ideas which ought to, and will, we hope, prevail in the future in every country in Europe” (Applause). 

They owed great thanks to men like Mr. Tunstill, and to every other man who had thrown himself into the work of recruiting. They owed great thanks to Captain Tee for the ungrudging labour he was giving, and he hoped before very long they would be able to send another 500 men from Keighley (Applause). 

Captain Tee, on behalf of the contingent, thanked the Mayor for the hearty welcome accorded them and went on to congratulate the men upon the splendid way they had conducted themselves during the march; they had marched off without any misdemeanour on the road or cause of complaint whatever. “You are joining the Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment”, he added, “which has an honour roll as fine as any regiment in the British Army. I want you to do nothing whilst you are members of the regiment that will not add lustre to its name” (Applause). Cheers were called for by the men for the mayor, Captain Tee, Mr. Tunstill and Mrs. Tunstill. The band then played the National Anthem, the recruits standing at the salute. 

Afterwards the men went to the public swimming baths which were placed at their disposal by the Corporation. Later they were provided with dinner at the expense of the Mayor, who treated the band in a similar manner. Shortly after dinner the recruits marched to the station, which was densely packed with people; a crowd much larger than that which saw their arrival. Before leaving, each man received a packet of cigarettes, and on the station platform, at 2.30, as the special train for Halifax steamed out, a number of fog signals were fired, the “Farewell March” being played by the Band.   

In point of physique the recruits were a well set-up contingent of men and from whom credit will no doubt accrue if they become efficient early enough to be despatched to the scene of operations. 

On arrival in Halifax the Company were marched to the Regimental Depot on Gibbet Lane and assembled in the barrack square. Here they were inspected by Lt. Col. Thorold, a former Commanding Officer of 1st Battalion. However, with the groundswell of recruitment which had already taken place there was no room to accommodate the men in the barrack complex. Instead they were marched back into Halifax to be billeted at the Victoria Hall.

Dick Bolton (see 27^th July) was commissioned Temporary Lieutenant in the New Army; he would become one of the original officers with Tunstill’s Company

Sunday 20th September 1914

Most of Tunstill’s recruits returned to their homes on Saturday evening and spent Sunday with their friends and family, but 35 of them “from the more distant parts of the district” were billeted in Settle at Dickinson’s Temperance Hotel and at the Naked Man Hotel. “They were hospitably entertained at night by Messrs. Moore, Butterworth, W. Dawson and T. Harger”. Most of the men attended Settle Church and both the Conservative and Liberal Clubs were also thrown open for their use.

 

 

Menawhile, on Sunday morning the Grassington recruits took part in a Church Parade in Linton Church, when the Rev. J. Leighton, the Rector, in a moving address, thanked the men for their patriotic action, and urged then to be a credit to themselves, to their homes, and to the British Army.

Saturday 19th September 1914

Tunstill’s recruiting campaign came to its climax over the weekend, with the assembly of the new Company in Settle, ahead of their planned departure to begin their training. The events were extensively reported in the Craven Herald. 

STIRRING SCENE AT SETTLE 

Last weekend was a stirring time in Settle as for the first time in many a long year it witnessed the assembling and departure of a company of recruits for the regular army. Mr. H.G. Tunstill concluded his successful tour, which he had undertaken for the purpose of raising a “Settle Company” for Lord Kitchener’s Army, on Friday evening (18^th September), and the men were instructed to muster at Settle on Saturday (19^th September). They met at the Victoria Hall where they were passed by Captain Tee and other officers. After a brief interval they again assembled on the cricket field where they were instructed in a little elementary drill. 

Tunstill's Men on the cricket ground in Settle

 


The man indicated by the arrow is Harry Metcalfe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A body of ten local gentlemen banded themselves together to entertain the recruits and offer them a little hospitality with a view to showing their appreciation of the men’s patriotism. At 6.30 dinner was provided at the Ashfield and Golden Lion Hotels for a company of 113. Mr. Walter Morrison presided at the former place and Mr. W. Simpson (Catteral Hall) at the latter. During the meal a spray of white heather, given by Mr. J. Harrison, was presented to each man, and mineral waters were given by Mr. Thomas Rawson. At the close only two toasts were given – “The King” and “Success to Mr. Tunstill’s Settle Company”. 

After cigars (presented by Mr. and Mrs. Green) had been smoked, a procession headed by the Settle Brass Band, and comprising the recruits, a small body of Territorials home on leave, and the hosts, wended their way to the Victoria Hall. Before the programme commenced, the band played the National Anthems of each of the Allied nations. 

At the entertainment Mr. Morrison made a few spirited remarks, and an excellent musical programme was given by a talented company, comprising Messrs. George Herd, E. Handby, C.A. Milford, Frederick Lord, Edward Lord and W.W. Thornber. Brief addresses were given by Mr. Tunstill and Colonel Birkbeck. An interval was utilised for the purpose of presenting to each man a neat parcel containing a shirt, a handkerchief and a pair of bootlaces (all given by Mr. and Mrs. W. Dawson, except 24 shirts from Miss Carter), a pair of socks, a briar pipe and a four ounce tin of tobacco from the Local War Relief Committee, a tin of boracic powder from Mr. Calvert, a Testament from Mrs. Farrar and fruit from Mr. W.F. Clark. The distribution was prefaced by a few appropriate remarks from Mr. John Moore, the Chairman of the Reception Committee, and the parcels were handed round by Messrs. J.W. Butterworth, C.J. Lord, A. Stockill, J.L. Brayshaw, Dr. Hyslop and the other hosts. During the evening four more recruits were sworn in**, two of them on the platform so as to emphasize the serious nature of the obligations entered into by the men. A vote of thanks to the performers, proposed by Mr. Simpson, brought an enjoyable evening to an end. Before leaving each man received cigarettes from Mrs. Lovegrove and Mrs. J.W. Hesleden. 

 

** Three of these four men can be positively identified; they were:

• Richard Butler; aged 20, he was the younger brother of Benjamin Ashton Butler, who had already volunteered to serve with Tunstill (see 15^th September). Prior to enlisting, he had been working as a labourer at Paley’s Farm, Langcliffe.
• Ernest Campbell; 20 years old and Settle born and bred (though his father was originally from Scotland) he had been working as a farm labourer.
• Thomas Walsh; was 25 years old and working as an insurance agent. He was one of nine children who had been brought up in Settle by their father, Joseph Walsh, following the early death of their mother. The family came originally from Bakewell, Derbyshire, but had lived for some years in Settle and latterly in Giggleswick. Thomas Walsh had served eight years with the Territorials and at least two of his brothers had also been in the Territorials.

Meanwhile, similar preparations were being made for the departure of other contingents who would become ‘adopted’ members of Tunstill’s Company. These were reported in the Craven Herald and the Ilkley Gazette:

 RECRUITING IN THE DALES

The eloquent appeal for recruits which was made in Grassington on September 12^th by Captain Tee, Captain Lansdale and Captain Minchin Mercer, has met with a ready response among the young men of the district. On Saturday last (19^th September)  Captain Tee was able to assemble 18 men in Grassington School, where he addressed them and accepted them as part of an Upper Wharfedale Company which will form part of the West Riding Regiment.

 

The Grassington recruits

 

 

MORE RECRUITS LEAVE ILKLEY

ANOTHER ENTHUSIASTIC SEND-OFF

Thirty-nine men were enrolled by the Ilkley Recruiting Staff and these were paraded at the Ilkley Drill Hall on Saturday afternoon for the purpose of receiving the gifts with which all the recruits from the Ilkley district have been presented prior to leaving.

The money for the presents was collected by Mrs. C.E. Jones, and each man on Saturday received at her hands a wood pipe, ¼ lb tin of tobacco, and a housewife’s friend, the latter being presented on behalf of the children of the members of Ilkley Soldiers and Sailors Needlework Guild. In lieu of tobacco, the non-smokers received a 1lb bar of chocolate.

Sergeant Baker, drill instructor, thanked Mrs. Jones on behalf of the men, for whom three hearty cheers were afterwards given.

 

 Meanwhile, preparations for the organisation of the new 10th Battalion Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment, of which Tunstill's Men would become 'A' Company, began to gather pace, with the appointment of a number of officers to key posts:

Colonel George Rainier Crawford C.B., ex-Indian Army, was re-instated in the Army and appointed to command the newly-formed 10^th Battalion.

Crawford was 52 years old and had served 30 years in the Army before recently retiring and setting up home with his wife, Katherine (Bladen), in Cheltenham. Following the outbreak of war he had applied for reinstatement but had been deemed unfit for active service.

 
Lewis Ernest Buchanan was granted a temporary commission, with the rank of Captain, to serve with 10^th Battalion; he would later be promoted second-in-command, under Col. Crawford.

At the age of 45 Buchanan had long military career behind him. He was from an Irish Protestant background and had been first commissioned in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in 1888, rising eventually to the rank of Major. He had retired from the Army in 1908 and had set up home in Omagh, County Tyrone, with his wife, Constance, and their three daughters. He served his local community as a J.P.  


Harry Robert Hildyard was granted a temporary commission, with the rank of Captain; he would become Company Commander of ‘A’ Company, with Gilbert Tunstill as one of his Company officers.

Harry Robert Hildyard was the son of barrister Robert Hildyard, and his wife, Dinah. Harry had been brought up by his mother following the early death of his father and had taken up a military career. He had joined the West Riding Regiment as a Second Lieutenant in 1891 and had served for six years before resigning his commission in 1897. Shortly before leaving the Army he had married Edith Vivian Hersee. Their only son, Robert Aubrey Hildyard, was born in August 1897. It is not clear what occupation Harry followed after leaving the Army. In the 1901 census, he and Edith were living with Edith’s parents, with Harry stated to be, “living on his own means” and to date I have not located the family in the 1911 census (though Robert was a boarder at a prep school in Folkestone).