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 who had been posted to the Battalion. Broadley had served 21 years (1886-1907) with the Dukes and had latterly been working as a timekeeper for a silk manufacturer in Bradford. He was married but had no children.

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.