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.