Sunday 1st November 1914

Although the precise date cannot be confirmed it seems that it was around the first week in November that 2Lt. Dick Bolton wrote up, in his personal note book, a list of all the current members of number 4 platoon, ‘A’ Company. The list ran to 62 names. Of the 62, 16 were men from Grassington who had joined Tunstill’s Company on 21^st September; a further 14 were volunteers from Cowling who had joined at the same time; 15 were men from the Keighley area who had joined the Company on arrival in Keighley; while four were among the original Settle volunteers. Of the remaining 13, at least five were ex-regulars added to the Company to give military experience, of whom two (CQMS Sharman and Sergeant Cartwright) were given senior positions. The other eight seem to have no particular place of origin or date of enlistment in common.

The list can be dated to a very specific period on the grounds that all of the Cowling recruits are named with the exception of Johnny Hoyle who is known to have been discharged on 30^th October; this provides a probable origin on or after 31^st October. The latest date for the list would be 4^th November, as this is the date that William Jones, identified in the list as ‘Private’ was promoted Lance Corporal.

Saturday 31st October 1914

Pte. Walter Isherwood, who had died, aged 16, on 27^th October whilst in training at Frensham, was buried at St Andrew’s Church in Slaidburn. During the service his elder brother, Edwin, who had volunteered with him in September, was himself taken ill. The Clitheroe Times subsequently reported that Edwin then, “lay in a critical condition for several weeks at home”.

The Rector, Rev. J.C. Garnett, recalled that Walter was given “as far as we could, a military funeral, and the many who attended it did so out of real sympathy... many wreaths were sent”. He remembered Walter as, “a fine lad and a member of my Men’s Bible Class … always bright and cheerful and we are poorer in his death. We can ill afford to lose such. To his loved ones and friends we offer our very deep sympathy. May God bless them and comfort them in their sad hour”.

The grave of Walter Isherwood,
St Andrew's Church, Slaidburn

 

Robert Clement Perks, who would subsequently be commissioned and serve with 10DWR wrote to his sister, Joy, with news of his progress in the Officer Training Corps (OTC) at Merton College, Oxford. Perks was the second son of Mr. T.P. Perks, of Leeds, barrister-at-law, who lived at The Green House, Hebden, near Skipton He was born on 2^nd January 1895 and had been educated at Heath Grammar School, Halifax, and was in his second year at Merton. His elder brother, Martin Thomas Perks, of Wadham College, Oxford, would also subsequently apply for a commission, but would be rejected on account of his eyesight.

Merton College, Oxford

31/10/14

My dear Joy

I expect a letter this week.  Martin has arrived now and I hear he secured preferential treatment by unwarranted extravagances in chocolates.

I am still getting up at unearthly hours and going at all other hours to an OTC parade and rowing when possible.

As to rowing I am getting on much better than last year (I ought to of course) and hope I am getting on quite well but I don’t really know.  I am getting very sore and very enthusiastic but I think the OTC will stop me sooner or later.

As to the OTC, we peg along and have lectures on the wonderful things we shall have to do if we get a commission, I am quite frightened at the idea of getting (sic.). This afternoon we suddenly started rushing about in open air – run and chuck yourself down and repeat ad infinitum sort of thing.  I finally spoilt my last grey trousers by ploughing up the ground and carrying it off on me and I also broke all the buttons off. The subsequent two hours drill in front of lady spectators was rather trying.  My hands were by no means in their proper position.

I say getting up at unearthly hours but my rollers are miles behind.  I find it terrifically hard to get up nowadays and have to resort to the dressing gown roller which is not really very sure.  One has to go out arranged as for the bath (this may be done up to 7.54) and ask returning roll-makers (mostly dirty rollers) if “Dicky” is in.  If they say yes one steers for the baths in disappointment; if the answer is “No” forthwith, without more ado a dash is made to the room and with luck one does not meet Dicky Brook on one’s return.  If one does it is a pity (one’s roller goes bang) but it is always worth risking and it gives one 4 mins more bed even than the dirty roller.  As for the clean one – I made attempts at it in a fit of virtue at first but I soon lapsed.

It is awfully cold here especially OTC-ing and it frequently pours on us.

Cheerio

Bob

(I am greatly indebted to Janet Hudson for her kind permission to quote from Bob Perks’ correspondence. It is my pleasure also to credit Janet for her excellent research in helping to clarify Bob Perks’ rather arcane comments about ‘’rollers”. It appears that he was referring to his roll-call for the OTC and his reference to “Dicky Brook” relates to Richard Brook, a tutor at Merton and later a Church of England bishop; see http://www.edwardianpromenade.com/education/an-american-at-oxford-everyday-life/).

 

The Perks brothers (Bob on the left), pictured whilst at Oxford

Image by kind permission of Janet Hudson

Friday 30th October 1914

Cpl. Edward Hunter was promoted Sergeant; he was a 43 year-old clay miner, originally from King’s Lynn, but had been living in Halifax. He had previously served 12 years in the regular army and, having re-enlisted on 16^th September in Halifax, had immediately been appointed Corporal and posted to 10DWR.

Cpl. George Barber (see 11^th September) reverted to the rank of Private.

George Clark, who had been absent without leave from Frensham earlier in the month and had subsequently been returned to the military authorities (see 20^th October) was formally discharged as being “not likely to become an efficient soldier”.

Three more members of Tunstill’s Company were also discharged as being medically unfit, but without any additional information being given as to the reason. Johnny Hoyle was one of the Cowling volunteers who had been added to Tunstill’s original recruits. He did subsequently re-join the Army (he was recorded as an absent, military, voter in 1919 and was referred to as ex-Lance Corporal when he married in 1919), but details of his service are unknown. Harold Cooper had been one of the Ilkley volunteers; he had enlisted on 10^th September. Cooper was originally from Ware, Hertfordshire, but, aged 25, had worked for some years as a Salvation Army Officer in various parts of Yorkshire. On discharge he gave his address as being that of his mother, Fanny Cooper, at 25 Tabley Road, Holloway, London. The third man discharged was Henry Ellison, who had volunteered in Haworth on 18^th September. He was one of the contingent of 50 Keighley men who had joined the Company on their arrival in the town on 21^st September. Ellison was 19 years old and originally from Bicester, Oxfordshire, but had been working as a fitter in an ironworks and living at 23 Alma Street, Haworth. 

The weekly edition of the Craven Herald published an extract from a letter which had been written a few days previously by Tunstill’s Man Norman Roberts (see 28^th October):

AT FRENSHAM CAMP: “HAVING IT VERY ROUGH”

Lance Corporal N. Roberts of “A” Company, 10^th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, son of Mr. Edwin Roberts of Skipton is located at Frensham Camp, Farnham, Surrey. Writing home this week, he states “We are having it very rough. It is ‘drill, parade, drill’ and so on all day long. I have hardly any time for letter writing we are so rushed. Our tent has just ‘come down’ from three weeks isolation, and we are a bit backward in company drill, but all the same I have been made an N.C.O. … The N.C.O.’s have been doing bayonet drill this afternoon; quite hard work and very business-like. There is a marine instructor here and he nearly frightened us all to death; we dared not move our eyes. It is a bit wet now, but a lovely country”.

Lance Corporal Roberts mentions Private S. Elks of Skipton and Walter Hales, who, he hears, is in Belgium; says he saw a piece of shell last week and ‘it looked deadly’; and assures his friends he is alright but would enjoy a bit of ‘Chairman’ tobacco which he cannot get at the camp.

Capt. Thomas Lewis Ingram, serving with RAMC, arrived in France. He was the elder brother of Robert Stewart Skinner Ingram, who was one of the officers serving with Tunstill’s Company. In August, Thomas had written to influential friends in order to secure Robert’s appointment to a commission (see 22^nd September).

Thursday 29th October 1914

Tunstill's Company remained in training at Frensham.

Wednesday 28th October 1914

In the last week in October Tunstill’s Man, Lance Corporal Norman Roberts (he had been promoted on 12^th October) wrote home and described the challenging routine faced by the men:

“We are having it very rough. It is ‘drill, parade, drill’ and so on all day long. I have hardly any time for letter writing we are so rushed. Our tent has just ‘come down’ from three weeks isolation, and we are a bit backward in company drill, but all the same I have been made an N.C.O. … The N.C.O.’s have been doing bayonet drill this afternoon; quite hard work and very business-like. There is a marine instructor here and he nearly frightened us all to death; we dared not move our eyes. It is a bit wet now, but a lovely country”.

Roberts also noted that he had seen a piece of shell and ‘it looked deadly’. However, he assured everyone that was well but would appreciate some ‘Chairman’ tobacco which he could not get at the camp.

Roberts’ rather under-stated reference to the changing weather conditions concealed the fact that there had been several spells of heavy rain during the last ten days of October. This change was also referred to by J.B. Priestley in a letter to his family (dated 2^nd November) but he was rather more forthright as to the effects:

““Last week the general came round before we got up, and seeing the soaking tents, the large pools and masses of mud, said ‘Poor lads’ and condemned the camp. So the story goes and I believe it is true … We shan’t be here long … All sorts of rumours are going about, but they are not worth detailing. You may be sure we shan’t stop here; we spend half the day trying to drain the place.”

Tuesday 27th October 1914

Tunstill’s Company suffered their first death, just five weeks after leaving to begin their training. Walter Isherwood, who had been taken ill some days previously, died as a result of measles and pneumonia. Walter was just 16 years old and had been one of the five men from Slaidburn who had enlisted following Tunstill’s meeting held in the village (see 17^th September). Walter’s elder brother, Edwin had enlisted at the same time. In its account of Walter’s death the Clitheroe Advertiser commenting on the fact that Walter was under-age when enlisting, declared that, “he was a well-built, muscular lad and easily passed the recruiting Sergeant”.

Walter was almost certainly a member of the squad of men who had been isolated earlier in the month because of the outbreak of illness (see 21^st October). Indeed his brother Edwin had sent home a postcard from Frensham to his mother in Slaidburn (dated 14^th October) which suggests that he had not been in contact with his brother for some days (presumably as a result of Walter’s being in isolation).

“Dear Mother

I am just sending you a photo of part of our camp. I am in this lot. Hoping you received my letter the other day if so please send me a parcel have you heard from Walter yet. I am going on alright so far. Please keep this card and then I can look at it if I return. I will send you a photo of myself when I get it. I must close now.

From your son Edwin”

I am most grateful to Margaret Brenchley for the information regarding the postcard and for other information on the Isherwoods and also on other volunteers from Slaidburn.

Monday 26th October 1914

Tunstill's Company remained in training at Frensham.

Sunday 25th October 1914

There are men who are known to have joined Tunstill’s Company in September 1914 but who do not feature subsequently in any known references. The likelihood is that they, like a number of others who can be positively identified, were discharged in the Autumn of 1914 on medical grounds, but this may be obscured by the absence of their service records from the surviving records held at the National Archives.

One such may have been Jim Coates, who was named among the original recruits from Bolton-by-Bowland (see 14^th September) and was subsequently (see 16^th October) reported as having been taken ill with a ‘bad chill’ which saw him admitted to Cambridge Hospital, Aldershot. There are no further references to Jim as serving with the West Riding Regiment and it seems likely that he was discharged as a result of his illness.  Jim Coates would subsequently re-enlist and serve with West Yorkshire Regiment.

Another early discharge seems to have been Herbert Dickinson, who was named among the Settle volunteers, but for whom no further trace of service with West Riding Regiment has been found. However it seems that he did later re-join the Army, as in 1919 he was listed as an absent voter (on military service) in the local electoral rolls. I am currently unable to identify any further detail on the nature of his service.

A third man named as having volunteered in September was John Reynolds (known as ‘Jack’) who was identified in the Ilkley Gazette on 18^th September as being one of eight men from Menston who had volunteered and would become part of Tunstill’s Company. Details of service have been identified for each of the other seven, but no trace has been found of Jack Reynolds, again suggesting that he was most likely discharged in the Autumn of 1914.

(I am most grateful to Judith Knaggs, and through her to Jack Kell, for this information on Jack Reynolds and also on several of the other Menston volunteers).

“Jack Reynolds was a tradesman well-known to the Menston community for over half a century. He had been born in 1884 and had attended the village church school. On leaving school, he had been apprenticed in the bleaching trade at Joseph Gill’s Rombalds Moor Bleach Works at Woodhead. However, in 1910 he had converted the front room of his house (previously the first Co-Op premises) into a sweet shop.

After leaving the Army, he was employed as a boiler man at Lister’s Mills where he had an accident in 1918, which resulted in the loss of his right arm. Undaunted, Jack began a green-grocery business and, until he retired in 1967, travelled around the local villages. His wife, Kate, whom he had married in 1909, ran the sweet shop which was later built on to the front of the original property. Kate died in 1971 and Jack in 1982 (aged 98)”.

Saturday 24th October 1914

Tunstill's Company remained in training at Frensham.

Friday 23rd October 1914

The letter written by a number of local recruits (see 19th October)  in answer to criticism of conditions in camp at Frensham was published in the weekly edition of the West Yorkshire Pioneer. The controversy over conditions was to continue over the next few weeks and would eventually result in a question being asked in parliament.

Thursday 22nd October 1914

Tunstill's Company remained in training at Frensham.

Wednesday 21st October 1914

A month after Tunstill's recruits had left to begin their military training, conditions were becoming more difficult in the tented camp at Frensham. The mild weather of the early weeks was gradually giving way to colder and wetter conditions and some of the men were beginning to suffer from a variety of communicable diseases. One of Tunstill's recruits, Norman Roberts, told his family that he and his 'tent' had spent time in isolation following the outbreak of measles which had earlier been reported in the Craven Herald (see 16th October).

Tuesday 20th October 1914

John Thomas Cockerill, who had deserted from Frensham on 6th October and had subsequently (on 17th October) been convicted by a military court, was discharged from the Army on grounds of being 'not likely to become an efficient soldier', due to his having 'a dilated heart'. A final decision on the fate of George Clark, who had deserted with Cockerill, was deferred to a later date.

Monday 19th October 1914

The arrival of the previous week's edition of the West Yorkshire Pioneer clearly created quite a stir among some of Tunstill's Men stationed at Frensham. A letter written by Tom Pickles of Barnoldswick had been published (see 16th October) commenting on some of the hardships faced in camp by the men. The letter elicited a firm riposte from a number of other local recruits from who were serving with various Companies of 10th Battalion:

With reference to the extracts from a letter from Mr. Tom Pickles, re. Frensham Camp, published in the Pioneer, we shall be obliged if you will publish the following remarks:-

1. We have shown the paper to an officer here, and he says that the statements published are quite untrue. 

2. The case of seeing a man brought to the mortuary must be imaginary, firstly because there is not a mortuary here and secondly that the only case of death in connection with this camp took place in Cambridge Hospital, Aldershot, last week. Surely this is a small death rate out of about 10,000 troops.

3. As regards the 'sick', some men will go to the doctor if they have a headache and so try to escape drill, etc., but they get put on police duty and cleaning up the camp. The real cases of sickness are treated as they should be.

4. The statement that no smoking is allowed at camp is also untrue; we can smoke as much as we like, but we cannot buy cigarettes in camp. We can, however, buy as many cigarettes and as much tobacco as we require in the village.

The reason we write the above is because I think it only right that the parents and friends of soldiers from Barnoldswick and Craven district should be allowed to hear the truth, and because we think that the statements as have been published are detrimental to recruiting.

 

Yours truly.

T. PATRICK, Barnoldswick
W.D. STOCKDALE, Thornton
W. ROBINSON, Thornton
T.L. LANG, Barnoldswick
C. LEIGH, Barnoldswick
ROBERT HUNTER, Barnoldswick
R.P. WALKER, Gargrave
J. WOLFENDEN, Earby
W.H. DOVER, Earby
W.B. HOLMES, Kildwick
J. KNIGHT, Earby
M.D. SMITH, Earby
C.G. CHURCH, Crosshills
WRIGHT FIRTH, Earby
ALLAN WHARTON, Earby
JAMES WALKER, Earby

All attached to the 10th West Riding Regiment.

Frensham Camp, Surrey

October 19th 1914


Of these men, two, Allan Wharton and James Walker, were attached to Tunstill's Company, having been among the eight men from Earby who had enlisted and joined up with the Company on 21st September.

Allan Wharton was 27 years old and had been living with his father, Michael, mother, Elizabeth, sister, Mary, and younger brothers, Richard and Percy. Four older children had already set up homes of their own. Michael worked as a carter at the local gas works and all the children were weavers in the local mills. The family came originally from Aberford, near Leeds, and had also lived for some years in Gargrave, before moving to Earby in the late 1890s. Not only had Allan enlisted but so too had Richard; he had been posted to 9th Battalion Duke of Wellington's.

James Walker was 23 years old worked as a 'mule room piecer' in a local spinning mill. He was a very recent arrival in Earby (within the last year); the family (father, Edwin; mother, Elizabeth and elder brother, Hebden) having previously lived in Gargrave. They were now living at South View Cottage, Earby.

None of the others were in Tunstill's Company but were members of other Companies of 10th Battalion, having enlisted around the same time as Tunstill's Men.

Sunday 18th October 1914

Tunstill's Company remained in training at Frensham.

Saturday 17th October 1914

Ptes. George Clark (see 14^th October) and John Thomas Cockerill (see 14^th October), the two men who had deserted from Frensham eleven days earlier were formally charged with being absent without leave by the military authorities at Frensham. Both were ordered to undergo 14 days’ field punishment number two, which required them to be detained in shackles; both would also forfeit seven days' pay.  

2Lt. John Atkinson was promoted Temporary Captain. He was an Irishman, born in Bundoran, County Donegal in 1884; he was one of eleven children of George Andrew Atkinson, who was a solicitor in Dublin. John had been granted a commission with 3^rd Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in 1902 and served for six years before resigning his commission “owing to financial trouble”. John then settled in London and married in 1909; he and his wife had a child who died in infancy and, at the time of the 1911 census, the couple were living at 5 Blandford Road, Bedford Park. Living with them were three of John’s sisters, one of them also with her four months’ old son. In 1911 John had been working as a time-keeper at the Shepherd’s Bush Exhibition but by 1914 he had begun training as an engineer, working for the industrial giants, Siemens. On the outbreak of war he had immediately applied for a commission with his old regiment but had been told there were then no vacancies and was instead appointed to a temporary commission and posted to join 10DWR in training at Frensham.

2Lts. Herbert Montagu Soames Carpenter (see 31^st August) and Herbert Victor Stammers (see 22^nd September) were promoted Lieutenant.

Friday 16th October 1914

A letter appeared in the weekly edition of the West Yorkshire Pioneer which was to cause quite a stir in the local press over the next couple of weeks. Tom Pickles (see 2nd October) had written to his father with news from Frensham. The newspaper reported that, "Although largely of a personal nature, the letter contains passages of public interest, which we are enabled to reproduce for the benefit of his many friends". They then went on to quote from the letter: “I saw a chap brought to the mortuary the other day. They were carrying him in a blanket, just like a calf you see on the railway. They have little thought for the sick here, and much less for the dead. Anyone reporting sick here, unless bad enough to go to hospital, gets medicine duty, ie police duty and cleaning up camps etc. Any minor ailment, no matter what, is treated by a pill or two”.

It was then said that, "Mr. Pickles jokingly asked his relatives not to to tell him about any good ‘blow-out’ at home, and not to make his mouth water, together with a gentle hint that a nice fresh pork pie and some dainties would be appreciated. He also mentions that at camp they have not to smoke any more cigarettes and tobacco, but incidentally mentions that he has a good stock in hand. The trend of the letter is a happy one, evincing the true spirit of patriotism in circumstances vastly different to thse of comfortable home life".

The reference to conditions at camp echoed concerns raised in another article published on the same day:

THE SETTLE TROOP AT FRENSHAM

A Case of “German Measles”

"The Company of “Kitchener’s Men” who responded to the call of Mr. H.G. Tunstill of Otterburn and are now in military training camp at Frensham, with the 10^th Service Battalion of the Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, have settled down to their work in fine style, and have realised that, unless exceedingly hard work is done and long hours put in, it is impossible for the new army to be ready in time for real service to the country by the early spring of next year. The Settle contingent – the smartest body of recruits Craven has produced, and we say it on the authority of a high military authority at the Halifax depot – have accepted the military rules and regulations in a truly patriotic spirit, and despite rough times and hard faring during the early part of their encampment, they have thrown themselves heart and soul into the task of making themselves fit. 

They count themselves lucky in their officers. Col. Crawford, C.B., in command, inspires confidence, and takes a deep interest in the men individually; while the Company Commander, Captain Hildyard, does everything he can for the comfort and well-being of the men of his company, asking no man to do what he is not capable of and willing to do himself. 

Since the Settle troop’s arrival at Frensham, which is near Farnham, Surrey, they had not, up to a few days ago, had a drop of rain. Indeed the weather has been glorious, though the nights have proved very cold. There have, as was to be expected, been many cases of colds among the Settle “boys” and Jim Coates, of Closes Hall, Bolton-by-Bowland, had to go to the Cambridge Hospital, Aldershot, with a bad chill. He is, we understand, doing well, and expects to soon rejoin his company. 

One tent of the Settle Company is, we hear, isolated, as a case of “German” measles broke out. Luckily, no further cases appeared, but the rest of the tent occupants are isolated for another week or so. However, they are quite happy and contented".

The medical concerns expressed in both of the articles would be made more pertinent by events over the following weeks. Meanwhile, a further round of medical inspections saw a number of Tunstill’s original recruits discharged from the army. Among the men discharged was Benjamin Beaumont (known as Ben) (see 12th September), who had been one of the Grassington volunteers. Other men who had been attached to Tunstill’s Company on or soon after 21^st September were also discharged. They included Richard Lister (see 7^th September) who had volunteered in Addingham and Frank Lomax, a 25 year-old weaver from Cowling. William Bright, a 34 year-old labourer originally from Shrewsbury, but who had enlisted in Keighley and John Ellison, originally from Barnsley, but at the age of 26 married, with four children and living in Ingrow, near Keighley were also discharged. No specific cause was recorded for any of the men, but all were regarded as ‘medically unfit’ under King’s Regulations. The proceedings were noted by the Battalion Adjutant, Captain Town.

William Norman Town had been an officer in the territorial battalion of the West Riding Regiment from 1894 to 1903. More recently he had been running the family paper manufacturing business in Leeds, along with his younger brother. He had been granted a temporary commission, with the rank of Captain, aged 38, on 16^th September.

Thursday 15th October 1914

Lt. Charles Bathurst (see 18^th September) was appointed Temporary Captain, serving with 10th Battalion; he would later become Battalion Adjutant.

Wednesday 14th October 1914

Pte. Harry Wood was reported by Sgt. John William Headings as ‘absent from 6pm parade’; on the orders of Maj. Hallet (unidentidied) he was to be confined to barracks for three days. 

Harry Wood had enlisted, aged 19 in Middlesbrough on 6^th September 1914; he had been working as a brickyard labourer. Sgt. John William Headings was one of the ex-regulars who had been posted to 10^th Battalion in September 1914 to provide them with experienced NCOs. He was one of three brothers who were all serving with the Battalion. John William Headings was 31 years old when he re-enlisted in 1914 and had previously served ten years in the Regular Army and a further two on the Reserve. He was a married man (indeed he was twice married, his first wife having died in 1907) and had four children under the age of six. Prior to enlisting he had been working as a foreman painter and decorator for Messrs. Seed and Ingham in Halifax. John William’s younger brother, James Lawrence Headings, had enlisted a few days before his older brother, and the third brother, Henry George Headings, had enlisted at York on 8^th February 1915 and had been posted to 10^th Battalion two months later.

The three Headings brothers, from left to right, James Lawrence, John William (standing) and Henry George.

Image by kind permission of Jill Monk

Ptes. George Clark (see 13^th October) and John Thomas Cockerill (see 13^th October), who had been reported absent without leave from Frensham on Tuesday 6th October, appeared at the Police Court in Settle before local magistrates Mr. T. Delaney and Mr. Thomas Brayshaw (he had been prominent in the planning and execution of Tunstill's recruitment campaign). The Craven Herald reported that, both men "pleaded guilty and admitted to being deserters. In answer to Mr. Brayshaw, Clark said he had surrendered himself in the hope that he would be taken back to camp but Cockerill made no statement. Both prisoners were remanded to await a military escort."

Tuesday 13th October 1914

One week after having been reported as absent without leave from Frensham, two of Tunstill's recruits, George Clark and John Thomas Cockerill, surrendered themselves to the police in Settle. They were detained and would appear before the local magistrates next day.

Monday 12th October 1914

A round of promotions was put into effect, creating a number of new NCO’s among Tunstill’s recruits; the promotions largely reflected the background and  civilian occupations of the men concerned, with ex-regulars and men who were used to holding positions of responsibility being favoured. William Eley, with twelve years’ service behind him, was appointed Corporal; the same rank was afforded to Kayley Earnshaw, with seven years’ service. John Henry Hitchin, a bank clerk, became Corporal, as did Thomas Henry Edmondson, a postman; Robert Cresswell and Norman Roberts, both policemen in civilian life, were appointed Lance Corporal.

Sunday 11th October 1914

Up to date the pace of training had been relentless, in the expectation of an early deployment of the Battalion to active service. By mid-October it had become clear that such a deployment would be impossible, not least because of the continuing shortage of weapons and equipment. Therefore, on 11th October the men were given their first day off and thereafter Sundays were free of parades and training other than for church parade, and Saturday afternoons were given over to football and other games.

Saturday 10th October 1914

Tunstill's Company remained in training at Frensham.

Friday 9th October 1914

Around the second week in October Tunstill's Men, along with the rest of the Battalion, at last received their first issue of uniform. However, the men were disappointed to find that rather than the khaki they had been expecting they were instead issued with the blue serge uniforms which were widely issued to Battalions in training at the time, due to the shortage of 'normal' uniform.

The 'Kitchener Blues' as they became known were widely unpopular. Priestley wrote home of them in very disparaging terms; “We have all got our ‘Kitchener’s Army Uniform’ on now; it is made of fine blue serge and is absolutely without any decoration whatever; not even a simple stripe down the trousers! We also wear the old-style service caps. We look like convicts. It is a great blow to our vanity!”.

The author of the Battalion History noted that, "we were issued with a blue serge uniform with a back-to-front cap and a white armband stating ‘Kitchener’s Man’. We looked like a lot of warders!”.

Tunstill's Men in their blue serge uniforms, Autumn 1914 at Frensham (note the bell tents in the background). Two of the Settle recruits have been identified; Bob Maunders left of front row and Thomas Laytham, third left front row.

Another group of Tunstill's Men, again taken at Frensham in Autumn 1914. The man indicated right of front row is Johnny Smith of Addingham.

Thursday 8th October 1914

Just as some men had been transferred away from 10th Battalion to join the ASC, so some others were transferred to join the 23rd Divisional Cyclist Company. The date of their transfer is not clear, but it would appear to have been effected at an early stage in their training and certainly a number of men were selected and transferred together, as witnessed by their near consecutive service numbers. Certainly in other newly formed divisions the transfers had taken place by mid-October, as reported by a letter from a Craven recruit to another Division who found himself transferred to a cyclist company. His letter, published in the Craven Herald on 16th October, described his new role:

"I am attached to a cyclist battalion, whose main functions are scouting in advance of the main army, but we have also to learn everything the infantryman knows. Generally speaking, we have physical drill at 6.45, which is very trying to some of the married men, but with a little practice they can often put the youngsters through it. It is often accompanied with about a three mile march. From 9.30 to 12.30 generally squad, section or company drill, following about a four mile march. In the afternoon it is generally skirmishing, which is the most exciting and sometimes the hardest of all drill, such as rushing a heavy cycle across a ploughed field behind a hedge bent half double in order to avoid capture or to get into a position to successfully repel the oncoming enemy. The outskirts of Colchester are literally intersected with bye roads and lanes, and it is very difficult for an opposing force to move on without being found and checked".

It seems likely that a similar regimen would have been followed by the six men from Tunstill's original recruits who transferred. They were James John Angus; Walter Dinsdale; Henry Clifford Harvey (for whom see 29th September); Joseph Parker; Wilson Pritchard and Sam Shepherd.

Wednesday 7th October 1914

At some point, most likely in early October, two of Tunstill's original recruits were transferred to become drivers with the Army Service Corps. Both Thomas Edward (Ted) Askew and William Henry (Harry) Metcalfe became drivers in the horse transport section of the ASC and both were on active service in France before Christmas 1914, while the remainder of Tunstill's volunteers remained in training at Frensham. Both men had extensive pre-war experience of working with heavy horses and it seems clear that there expertise was valued and put to good use at the first opportunity.

Little can currently be said about Ted Askew's war service other than the fact that in November 1918 the Craven Herald reported that he was home on leave for the first time in more than three years.

For Harry Metcalfe, on the other hand, information from his grandson, Alan Metcalfe (to whom I am most grateful) has shed some light on his military career and on his life after the war. Harry arrived in France on 15^th December 1914 to rendezvous with the 2^nd Indian Cavalry Division, which had left Bombay on 19^th November 1914 and arrived in France on 14^th December.  It has not been possible to verify Harry’s personal war service record but something can be said of the Division as a whole. At times during the war the division served in the trenches as infantry, each Cavalry Brigade once dismounted formed a dismounted regiment. The 2nd Indian Cavalry Division (which was renamed 5^th Cavalry Division from 26^th November 1916) served in France and Flanders until March 1918 when the Division was broken up and reformed in Egypt as the 2nd Mounted Division. 

Harry and Ethel Metcalfe, taken late in Harry's Army
career (the overseas service chevrons visible on his
right sleeve were only authorised by an Army order
in December 1917.
 

What part Harry played personally and where exactly he served cannot be established, though some family anecdotes suggest that he may, at some point, have seen service in connection with the Canadian forces on the Western Front. What is clear is that Harry served throughout the war. He was home on leave when he was married on 23^rd January 1917 to Annie Ethel Wooler at St Mary’s Church, Long Preston. Harry returned to service and was not finally discharged to the Class Z Army Reserve until 21^st April 1919. 

After the war Harry and Ethel set up home on Church Street in Long Preston and Harry worked as a goods porter on the local railways, most likely at Hellifield, until at least 1924. He later worked as head horseman for Mr. Robert Preston, who was a major local landowner in Long Preston, and also as gamekeeper. Harry and Ethel’s first son, Jim (James Henry) Metcalfe was born on 14^th April/1920. Two other sons followed: William Edward in 1922 and John Wooler in 1924.

 

Annie died on 12^th April 1946 at the family home in Long Preston and Harry died on 17^th December 1956, aged 67, at Raikeswood Hospital in Skipton; they are buried together (along with their son Jim and his wife, Joan) in the churchyard at Long Preston.

Tuesday 6th October 1914

Two of Tunstill's recruits, George Clark and John Thomas Cockerill, both of whom were from Settle, were reported as being absent without leave from the training camp at Frensham.

Monday, 5th October 1914

Pte. James Leach was appointed Corporal. He was a 25 year-old textile worker from Keighley; he was married with four children.

Harry Harris (see 11th September), then serving as a Private in the Public Schools' Battalion, Middlesex Regiment at Kempton Park, completed his application for a temporary commission. He was to become one of the original officers with Tunstill's Company.

Sunday, 4th October 1914

J.B. Priestley wrote to his family to inform them about recent events at Frensham (Priestley was a member of 'B' Company, 10th Battalion). He professed himself to be "dog-tired" and described a routine day in training as consisting of:

• Breakfast at 7 am
• Physical exercise from 8 – 9.45 am
• Squad drill from 9.45 – 12.15
• Skirmishing drill from 1 - 4.15 pm
• Route march from 5 - 6.30 pm

He also confirmed that he had received his first Army pay (10 shillings, of which he enclosed 5 shillings with the letter). He went on to confirm the general pre-occupation with the food provided to the men; he described Lyons catering as, ‘scarcely satisfactory. Breakfast is alright – tea, bread and butter and a slab of brawn or ham. Dinner is far from good and we have to fight for the grub. Tea consists of the eternal bread, butter and jam. We spend something every day on buns, on fruit and chocolate, to fill up.”

The rigours of Army life were also taking hold; “I take very good care of my feet, because the strain put on them is enormous, and an infantryman with bad feet is useless. I wash them constantly and rub any sore places with Vaseline every night”. 

Finally he passed on information which he had been given by his Company Captain that there would be a move into winter quarters at Whitley in about 6 weeks; following that he had been told that by late February or early March the Battalion would then be “due for special service at the front”.

 

 

Saturday, 3rd October 1914

Gilbert Tunstill was commissioned Temporary Lieutenant (he had applied for his commission on 23rd September). He had made it clear from the outset that he would only accept a commission if he were allowed to remain with his own Company and he now took his position as second -in command of the Company to Captain Hildyard.


Following a round of medical examinations, three men from Tunstill's Company were discharged as being "not likely to become an efficient soldier". Two of them had been among Tunstill's original recruits: Ernest Campbell from Settle was found to "have bad varicose veins" and George Thistlethwaite from Austwick was suffering from "general debility" (his brother, John William remained a member of the Company).

The third man discharged was Arthur Overend. He had enlisted in Keighley on 20th September and had been among the local men who had been attached to Tunstill's Company when they arrived in Keighley the following day. Arthur was 30 years old and originally from Farnhill, near Keighley. He had married Mary Ellen Shackleton in 1905 and the couple had lived for some time in Cononley before moving to Keighley Road, Cowling; by 1914 they had four children. Arthur had been working as a bus driver. He was discharged due to having a "dislocated cartilage in his right knee".

Friday, 2nd October 1914

The weekly edition of The Ilkley Gazette referred to a letter which had been sent from Pte. J.C.B. Redfearn to his father in Ilkley. It was said that Redfearn, "intimated that the Wharfedale men are making the best of things and getting accustomed to their new mode of life and circumstances generally. They are well provided with blankets and underclothing".

John Charles Brison Redfearn was born on 24^th July 1891 at Gosport, Hampshire; he was the only child of John and Elizabeth Redfearn. His father had been born in St John’s, New Brunswick in 1854 and his mother was a native of Guernsey. John senior had spent many years in the Army and the family moved in accordance with his career; in 1901 they were in Orkney where John was serving as a Company Sergeant Major in the Royal Garrison Artillery. Ten years later John senior had retired from the Army and he and his wife were living in Ash Grove, Ilkley, while John junior was training as a teacher at York Training College, Lord Mayor’s Walk, York.

 

John junior had completed his studies by the time that war broke out and on 11^th September 1914 he completed his attestation papers at Ilkley. He was one of the Ilkley contingent who had joined Tunstill's Settle recruits on Monday 21st September.

 

 

News of other letters from men of 'A' Company were also referred to in the pages of The West Yorkshire Pioneer. The newspaper reported that,

"Amongst those who have recently shown their patriotism is a group of well-known Barnoldswick gentlemen who have joined the Keighley Pals (sic.). They are Messrs. Tom Pickles, Harry T. Pickles, Harry Widdup, J. Bargh (a native of Bradford, but associated for some time past with the Craven Bank) and J. Birley. These friends are camping, together with their regiment at Frensham, near Farnham, Surrey, and in recent letters home they state that they are well and on the whole enjoy the new life. It is a singular fact that as yet there is not a rifle in the camp and many of the men are without uniform. Route marches, manoeuvres and drill appear to be the order of the day, but these, coupled with good wholesome camp food and the healthy atmosphere of the Surrey Downs are agreed on all hands to form excellent preliminary work for the more serious business of practical warfare to come".

 

This group of Barnoldswick volunteers were drawn from among the middle-class mill-owning families of the area. Three of them (the two Pickles and Widdup) were attached to Tunstill's Company before leaving Halifax.

Harry Thornton Pickles

Tom Pickles and Harry Thornton Pickles were cousins. Their fathers (Henry and Stephen respectively) were sons of Stephen Pickles snr., who had established a successful cotton spinning business in Barnoldswick after spending a brief period (with his family) in Massachusetts in the 1850’s.

Tom Pickles (aged 25) worked in the family business whereas Harry Thornton Pickles had pursued a legal career. He had been educated at Silcoates School, near Wakefield before attending The Victoria University, Manchester, where he completed both B.A. and M.A. qualifications. In 1910 he began to study law, and was articled to Messrs. Goulty and Goodfellow, solicitors, Manchester. Early in 1914 he secured the University degree of LL.B., with first-class honours. Shortly after leaving the University the authorities had selected him for a vacant lectureship in English Law and Jurisprudence. However, on the outbreak of war both he and cousin Tom had volunteered for the Army.

Harry Widdup’s father, John, had originally run a business as a coal merchant, but more recently had established a cotton weaving business. John himself had recently retired and Harry, along with his brothers, Ellis, Frank and John, had taken over the running of the business.

John Bargh was a 26 year-old bank clerk from Bradford. As yet I have been unable to make a positive identification of J. Birley.

An article was published in The Brighouse Echo describing conditions at Frensham Camp: 

YORKSHIRE TROOPS IN SURREY – SLEEPING ON HEATHER

The training of Yorkshire troops on Frensham Common, near Farnham, Surrey – amongst whom are the ‘D’ Company West Riding Regiment of Lord Kitchener’s Army – continues under very enjoyable conditions. During one or two nights last week there was a bite in the air which told of frost and of the approach of cooler days but a beaming sun from an almost cloudless sky has been the rule by day and the task of preparing troops for the field is carried out from 6 am until 6 pm with but little intermission except for meals which, by the way, continue to be first class. The tramp of so many feet is wearing the common bare of grass. Heather is also disappearing from the immediate vicinity of the camp, being cut and taken by the men to their tents to form a softer couch than a waterproof sheet affords. Of heather, however, there is enough and to spare, hundreds of acres of the Common being knee-deep of it. The beds of the men are being built up with more blankets, which have been generously given by residents of the neighbouring villages and townsa and from friends in Yorkshire, but stil more would be acceptable. The troops have been befriended in many ways, and by no-one more than by Mr. Morton Latham, of Hollow Dene, Frensham, who has presented cart-loads of fruit and through whose influence schools, institutes and various public buildings have been thrown open to the men of an evening. The weather on Sunday was Summer-like and the Common was thronged by large numbers of the general public, many attending in the hope of seeing the King, who was expected to pay a visit from Aldershot, but His Majesty did not appear. In the afternoon a drum head service was conducted by the Rev. F.G.D. Webster, the Chaplain, and, although attendance was not obligatory, a large percentage of the troops were present. The singing was hearty and reverential and was accompanied by a local brass band. Non-Conformist services were also held on the Common by local ministers at the same time.