Saturday 1st May 1915

Pte. William Edmondson Gaunt who had joined Tunstill’s Company along with other Earby volunteers in September 1914 was promoted (unpaid) Lance Corporal. Gaunt was 30 years-old when he joined up; he had been educated at Elmfield College, York and and had been working as a ‘buyer and salesman’ for one of the local textile manufacturers. The family had lived for many years at ‘The Willows’ in Earby. William’s father, Matthew Gaunt, had pursued a successful career as an auctioneer and had for some time also been licensee of the White Lion Inn, in Earby, but he had died in 1895. William Gaunt had two older sisters and two brothers. Both Harry (b.1879) and John (b.1888) had also enlisted soon after the outbreak of war. Harry served initially with the Yorkshire Regiment, but at some point transferred to the Durham Light Infantry, while John served with 2^nd/6^th West Riding Regiment.

Ptes. Harry Clark and John Knowles were promoted (unpaid) Lance Corporal. Harry Clark was a 23 year-old warehouseman from Bradford. John Knowles was a 30 year-old engineer from Bradford.

Pte. Charles Smith (12380) (see 13^th February) was reported by Cpl. Arthur Edward Hunt (see 20^th March) and L.Cpl. David Hanton (see 21^st December 1914) as having been ‘absent from Commanding Officer’s parade at 7am until arrested by the Royal Military Police at 8pm’ and also as having been drunk; on the orders of Maj. Mayor he would be ordered to be confined to barracks for fifteen days. 

Friday 30th Aporil 1915

Tunstill's Company remained in their temporary billets in Maidstone, from where they worked on the construction of the outer defences of London.

Pte. Ernest Wilson (11751) (see 15^th April) was discharged from a convalescent hospital in Deal and re-joined the Battalion.

Thursday 29th April 1915

Two men who had originally served with Tunstill’s Company but had been transferred to 3^rd Battalion West Riding Regiment, were transferred again, to 2^nd Battalion West Ridings and posted to join their Battalion in Belgium. The two men were Ptes. Walter White and Walter Shackleton (see 20^th March).

Wednesday 28th April 1915

Tunstill's Company remained in their temporary billets in Maidstone, from where they worked on the construction of the outer defences of London.

Tuesday 27th April 1915

Tunstill's Company remained in their temporary billets in Maidstone, from where they worked on the construction of the outer defences of London.

Monday 26th April 1915

Tunstill's Company remained in their temporary billets in Maidstone, from where they worked on the construction of the outer defences of London.

Pte. Michael Hopkins was ordered to be deprived of seven days’ pay; the nature of his offence is unknown. He had enlisted in Bradford on21st September 1914, aged 22 and had been working as a dyers’ labourer.

Sunday 25th April 1915

In billets at Maidstone

Pte. Fred Atkinson (see below) was reported by Sgt. Henry Carrodus (see 25th January) for “disobeying Battalion orders; ie, smoking a cigarette on church parade”; on the orders of Capt. Robert Harwar Gill (see 21^st March) he was to be confined to barracks for five days.

Fred Atkinson was a 37 year-old carter from Brighouse; he had enlisted in September 1914 and had previously served as a regular soldier with the 1^st Battalion West Ridings, including in the South African War.

Priestley wrote a letter home from his new billets at 1 Melville Road, Maidstone;

“We left Folkestone last Friday (23rd April) afternoon, and came along here by train. Every morning the Battalion are journeying by train to a certain spot (I cannot name the place) there to construct some elaborate trenches which are part of London’s defence scheme. We are in private houses again; four of us stopping a big, rambling corner house, where we have one room for an office I think we shall be back in Folkestone district in about a fortnight. … We are having beautiful weather” (he  went on to describe how he had been boating on the River Medway).

He also reported on speculation about what the future might hold for 10^th Battalion; “There is a very widespread rumour that we are destined for the Dardanelles or Egypt”. This was written on the very day that the ill-fated allied landings began at Gallipoli.

Saturday 24th April 1915

Tunstill's Company remained in Maidstone, where they were employed in constructing the outer defensive system for London.

Friday 23rd April 1915

Tunstill’s Company, along with the whole Division, left Folkestone by train for Maidstone. From here they were to be employed in the construction of defensive trench systems for London. The Divisional Pioneer Battalion, 9^th South Staffs., had already been employed on these defences for some days; working on trenches between Westerham and Knockholt, whilst quartered at Bromley. The anonymous author of the 10^th Battalion memoir commented, “Our duty here was to take our turn at improving the outer defences of London. Here we learnt a good deal about the revetting and wiring of trenches. We also made new friends in the district”. According to Priestley’s later recollection, “on the first night (in Maidstone) we all got drunk on the uncommonly strong local ale”. He also described at some length, in Margin Released, his own involvement in the process of billeting troops in the area.

Thursday 22nd April 1915

10DWR remained in training in Folkestone.

Pte. Edward Anderson (see below) was reported for “not complying with an order”; on the orders of Capt. John Atkinson (see 17^th October 1914) he would be confined to barracks for five days.

Edward Anderson was a 27 year-old firer from Heckmondwike; he was married with one daughter. 

Pte. John Henshall (see 8^th February) was sentenced to 14 days’ detention; the nature of his offence is unknown.

Wednesday 21st April 1915

Tunstill's Company remained in training in Folkestone.

Tuesday 20th April 1915

10DWR remained in training in Folkestone.

Ptes. John Broadbent (see 21^st March) and Charles Marsden (see below) were both reported as “absent off pass from 11.55pm”; both would report back at 11.55pm on 22^nd April and would be ordered to be confined to barracks for six days and to forfeit two days’ pay.

Charles Marsden, aged 19 and working as an ‘improver’, had enlisted in Leeds on 7^th September 1914 and had been posted to 10DWR.

Pte. Robert William Buckingham (see 11^th September 1914) was transferred to 3DWR at North Shields. However, he would be reported as ‘absent from tattoo until reporting himself at 5pm on 21^st April’; he would be ordered to be deprived of seven days’ pay.

Monday 19th April 1915

Pte. Albert Nixon (see 30^th December 1914) was reported by Cpl. Robinson, as ‘absent off furlough from 11.55pm’; he would not return until 9.30pm on 24^th April and, on the orders of Maj. Mayor, would be deprived of ten days’ pay.

A payment was issued to the relatives of Pte. Jonathan Kendall Smith (see 30^th January) who had died from pneumonia whilst in training with Tunstill’s Company. A sum of £3 17s 2d was due from his army pay and it was distributed in equal shares of 15s 5d to his mother, Emma, and to brothers and sisters, Amos, John, Mary and Emma.

Sunday 18th April 1915

In his sermon at Gisburn Parish Church on Sunday morning the Vicar (Rev. John Heslop) referred to the  death of Private John Robinson (see 13^th April) . He said, “that although Private Robinson had not died actually fighting he was nevertheless doing his duty and serving his country, and the sympathy of the whole village went out to his bereaved parents and family”.

Saturday 17th April 1915

Pte. Tom Pickles (see 26^th January) was promoted Corporal with the Company Machine Gun Section.

Friday 16th April 1915

The latest in a series of military boxing tournaments was held at the Victoria Pier Pavilion in Folkestone. None of Tunstill’s Company were involved in the contests reported, but doubtless some would have been in the audience, especially as a 10^th Battalion man was taking part; Pte. George Wallace Fricker (see below) won on points in his bout against Pte. Diamond of the Cycle Corps. Other men might also taken advantage of the some of the more genteel entertainments which were also reported in the same edition of the Folkestone, Hythe, Sandgate and Cheriton Herald; these included “a tea, followed by speeches and singing” held at the Victoria Hall; and a concert held at the Military Hospital, Shorncliffe.  

George Wallace Fricker was born in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, the son of a serving soldier, George Edmund Fricker, who was ‘Band Sergeant’ with 2DWR. In June 1910 George jnr. had enlisted in Keighley in the 6^th West Riding Territorials at the age of 14 ½. He had completed two annual training camps before transferring to the West Yorkshire Territorials in March 1913. He had volunteered for the Royal Field Artillery on the outbreak of war and had been transferred to 10DWR on 24^th February 1915.

Folkestone Pier, demolished 1954

Pte. Frederick Griggs, who had originally served with Tunstill’s Company before being posted to 3^rd Battalion West Ridings, was promoted (paid) Lance Corporal.

Thursday 15th April 1915

There was a further round of promotions involving several of Tunstill’s Men (see 7^th April). At least four of the original recruits (there may also have been others for whom details do not survive) were appointed as acting, unpaid Lance Corporals; they were Ptes. John Beckwith (see 11^th September 1914); Christopher John Kelly (see 24^th December 1914); William Proctor (see 9^th September 1914) and Billy Rawlinson (see 15^th September 1914). There were also promotions for two others who had been attached to Tunstill’s original recruits. 

Pte. Richard Cleasby Chorley was promoted acting, unpaid Lance Corporal. Chorley had enlisted (aged 24) in Keighley on 19^th September and had been one of the many Keighley recruits who had been combined with Tunstill’s original volunteers to form ‘A’ Company. His younger brother, Charles Leonard Chorley, had also signed up at around the same time and was also serving with 10^th West Ridings, though with a different Company. The brothers were sons of Leonard Chorley, who was originally from Gorton, Manchester, and had initially worked as a solicitor’s clerk. However, in his early twenties he had taken over as licensee of his first public house and since then his business had prospered. For some years he had been licensee of the Bowling Green Inn, Kendal but in 1914 he had been running the Black Bull Inn, Sedbergh for more than 15 years. He had done well enough to send both his sons to attend St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Boarding School in Dumfries. After leaving school Charles had worked in the family business while Richard had joined the Civil Service in 1906 and had worked as a clerk in the Labour Exchanges and Unemployment Insurance Branch. Richard had also served just under a year in the Territorial Force, with 1/15^th Battalion London Regiment (Prince of Wales’ Own Civil Service Rifles). At the time of his enlistment he was working in Keighley and lodging with a Mrs. Bowker in Ash Street. It was most likely Richard’s higher standard of education and his clerical experience which were behind his promotion, and it seems likely that he was part of the Company administrative organisation.

Pte. James Wilson was also appointed acting, unpaid Lance Corporal. He had enlisted in Menston on 18^th September and joined Tunstill’s Company on their departure for training. James Wilson was 22 years old and originally from Grasmere, where his father, John, worked as a builder. James himself  had been working as a chauffeur and gardener for his father before enlisting.

After spending a month in hospital having dislocated his elbow, Pte. Ernest Wilson (11751) (see 18^th March) was transferred from Thorncliffe Hospital to a convalescent hospital in Deal.

Wednesday 14th April 1915

At home in Huddersfield, Mary Ann Collings, wife of Pte. James Collings, gave birth to the couple’s second child, a boy who would be named James Henry. James Collings was an original member of the Battalion. The couple had married in April 1914 when Mary was pregnant with their first child.

A payment was issued to the relatives of Pte. Walter Isherwood (see 8^th November 1914) who had died from pneumonia whilst in training with Tunstill’s Company. A sum of £2 19s 10d was due from his army pay; 14s 11d went to his mother and the remainder in equal shares of 7s 6d to brothers George, Thomas, James, Edwin (who was also serving with Tunstill’s Company) and Albert and sister Mary.

Tuesday 13th April 1915

The funeral of Pte. John Robinson (see 12^th April), who had died in Folkestone on 9^th April, was held at the Parish Church in Gisburn. The event was reported in some detail in the Clitheroe Times (with additional detail also from reports in the Craven Herald and the West Yorkshire Pioneer),

“With feelings akin to consternation, the villagers heard on Friday afternoon that Mr. and Mrs. George Robinson, of the Poultry House, Gisburn, had received a telegram from the officer commanding 10^th Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment saying their son, Private John Robinson, had died suddenly that morning. On several mornings last week letters were received from him by several of his friends, enclosing an excellent photograph of himself, and containing the news that he was well, though suffering slight inconvenience from his arm, natural to vaccination a few days before. It transpired, however, that he had a heart attack early on Friday morning and died immediately.

Private Robinson was only 20 years of age. For several years he was employed at the Gisburn Park Gardens, and left to assist his father who is gamekeeper to Lord Ribblesdale. He was the only Gisburn volunteer to join the company raised by Mr. (now Captain) H.G. Tunstill, for the West Riding Regiment, now in training at Folkestone. An inquest was held on Saturday, and from the evidence given it seems clear that Private Robinson’s heart was in poor condition and that the action of dressing on Friday morning brought on the heart attack. The verdict was, “death from natural causes caused by heart failure, due to the commencement of pneumonia”.

The body was conveyed to Gisburn on Monday and the interment, which was public, took place at the Parish Church on Tuesday, with military honours. A short service was conducted at the house by the Vicar, Rev. John Heslop, after which the remains were conveyed to the Church on a wagon. Crowds of people lined the street as the cortege passed along to the church; the procession being headed, from the lodge gates, by a detachment of men of the 16^th West Yorkshire Regiment, from Skipton, under the command of Captain Rhodes. The procession was an impressive one, the coffin being draped with the Union Jack, and was followed by the family and a large number of friends. There was a crowded attendance at the service in the Church and at the graveside. A full choral service was conducted by the Vicar of Gisburn, and, after the last rites had been performed by the Vicar the soldiers fired a volley over the grave and the ‘last post’ was sounded.

Owing to his fine disposition and his unassuming manner, Private Robinson was thought much of by his companions and the villagers, and everywhere in the village and district there have been expressions of sorrow and esteem. Amongst the large number of floral tributes was one from the Officers of ‘A’ Company, 10^th Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment; another from the N.C.O.’s and men of ‘A’’ Company, 10^th Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment. Also wreaths from the Vicar and members of St. Mary’s Parish Church choir and from the Gisburn Park Gardens and the Gisburn Estate Workpeople and one, “With deepest sympathy from Private W. Weymes (ASC), Private J. Weymes (6^th Loyal North Lancs) and other Pals at the Front”.

In the course of a letter to the deceased’s father, Captain Tunstill wrote, “Indeed scarcely can I say how much I personally deplore your son’s death. He was an excellent lad and bore a splendid character, there being absolutely nothing against him since the date of his enlistment”. Writing later, Captain Tunstill says, “Your son was much liked by both Officers and men, and the loss of such a fine lad can ill be afforded”. Tributes to his memory have also been received from Coy. Q.M. Sergt. G.R. Percy and Privates A. Bearpark, R. Hancock and G. Dale”.

 

 

It seems likely that Percy, Bearpark, Hancock and Dale had been the men billeted with Robinson in Broadmead Road, Folkestone, where he died. For Percy and Dale, see 9^th April; for Hancock, see 5^th January.

Arthur Bearpark had been born, brought up, and had lived all his life in Menston and was one of the recruits who become ‘adopted’ members of Tunstill’s Company in September 1914. Arthur was the eldest (b.1895) of the three sons of William and Annie Maria Bearpark. William was a well-known local figure who had worked for many years as a carpenter and joiner, most recently at the West Riding Pauper Lunatic Asylum in Menston; he was also secretary of the local bowling club. William and Annie had married in 1893 but Annie had died, aged just 29, in January 1900, leaving William to bring up their three sons. William then re-married, in 1908, to Ethel Anna Hill, who was originally from King’s Lynn, and together they had a son, Thomas Herbert Bearpark (b.1910). In 1914 Arthur had been working as an assistant on the W.H. Smith’s book stall at Menston Station.

 

Rev. Wilfred Leveson Henderson reported for duty as Church of England Chaplain to troops, stationed at Aberdeen (he was living at 45 Devonshire Road, Aberdeen). He would subsequently be posted to 69th Brigade and become Chaplain to 10^th Battalion.

Henderson was one of five children of William and Helen Henderson; William worked as a tanner and Wilfred was the fourth of their five children. He was born on 25^th January 1889 in Greenock, Renfrewshire. He had graduated, MA., from the University of Glasgow in 1909 and had then attended Edinburgh Theological College, before taking up a post as assistant curate at Dumfries in 1912.

Monday 12th April 1915

The body of Pte. John Robinson (see 10^th April) who had died in Folkestone on 9^th April, was returned to Gisburn, ready for interment the following day.

A payment was issued to the relatives of Pte. Joshua Crossley (see 9^th November 1914) who had died from pneumonia whilst in training with Tunstill’s Company. A sum of £2 11s 6d, due from his army pay, went to his father, John.

Sunday 11th April 1915

Tunstill's Company remained in training in Folkestone.

Saturday 10th April 1915

An inquest was held in the Town Hall, Folkestone into the sudden death of Pte. John Robinson (see 9^th April). The Borough Coroner heard from Dr. Charles Matthews, regimental doctor, who had attended the scene at Broadmead Road. He reported that he had carried out a post mortem investigation and, as reported later in the Clitheroe Times, Robinson “had a heart attack early on Friday morning and died immediately … and from the evidence given it seems clear that Private Robinson’s heart was in poor condition and that the action of dressing on Friday morning brought on the heart attack. The verdict was, “death from natural causes caused by heart failure, due to the commencement of pneumonia”.
 
John Clarence William Redington (see 17^th March) was commissioned 2^nd Lieutenant with 3^rd Battalion West Riding Regiment; he would later join 10^th Battalion. He was the younger brother of Frank Hubert Caudwell Redington who was serving as one of Tunstill’s fellow officers.

In a letter to his family Priestley revealed that he was feeling the after-effects of his vaccination; “We were vaccinated the other day and I was not feeling very well at the time. I am suffering considerably from a bad head and arm at the present time. We have got a lot of new equipment, so we are getting nearer and nearer.”

Friday 9th April 1915

One of Tunstill’s original recruits, 19 year-old Pte. John Robinson (see 15^th September 1914) died in his billet at 4 Broadmead Road, Folkestone. At 6.30 am, another member of Tunstill’s Company, Pte. Gordon Dale (see below)  had discovered Robinson, unconscious, and had immediately called for help from Quartermaster Sergeant George Reginald Percy (see 21^st December 1914) What followed was described later in an article in the Folkestone, Hythe, Sandgate and Cheriton Herald,

John Robinson

“Dale said, “Robinson is in a fit. What is to be done with him?” Witness (Percy) replied, “Open his neck and sprinkle him with water”. Witness found Robinson sitting in a chair, unconscious. He went for Dr. Linington who told him they must get their regimental doctor. Immediately, with assistance, he moved him to a couch, and performed artificial respiration, meanwhile waiting for Dr. Charles Matthews, their regimental doctor. On his arrival deceased was dead.”

News of John Robinson’s death was passed that afternoon by telegram to his family in Gisburn. They were doubtless shocked by the news, especially as (reported in the Clitheroe Times), “On several mornings last week letters were received from him by several of his friends, enclosing an excellent photograph of himself, and containing the news that he was well, though suffering slight inconvenience from his arm, natural to vaccination a few days before”.

Gordon Dale had enlisted at the age of just 16 and had been one of the volunteers who had become ‘adopted’ members of Tunstill’s Company after joining them in September 1914. He had been born in Darlington but his father, John William Dale, who worked as a domestic gardener, had moved his family first to Harrogate and latterly to Bingley, from where Gordon volunteered. Gordon’s only brother, Laurence William Franklin Dale, had joined the Royal Marines in May 1913.

Thursday 8th April 1915

Pte. Joseph Culbert Preston joined the Battalion. He was a 26 year-old gas stoker from Keighley; he was married, with three children, and had enlisted in January.

Over the course of two days, the whole of 23^rd Division was inspected by Major Genl. Laurence George Drummond, Inspector of Infantry.


Major Genl. Laurence George Drummond

Wednesday 7th April 1915

A number of men were promoted. Ptes. Harry Waddington and William Murphy (see below) were appointed (paid) Lance Corporal. Harry Waddington had enlisted in Bradford in September 1914 and, although aged only 17 at the time, had given his age as 19. He had enlisted along with his cousin, Herbert Waddington; Herbert had been 19 when enlisting and was the youngest of nine children of James and Hannah Waddington. James had died when Herbert was just eight years old; thereafter he had been brought up by his widowed mother. Both men had been working as apprentice etchers. Herbert was a friend of J.B. Priestley. William Murphy was 21 years old and was a dyer’s labourer (working at Armitage’s dyeworks) from Bradford; he was also an associate of Priestley. Ptes. Christopher Longstaff (see 2^nd September 1914), Henry Markham (see below), Archibald Louis Norris (see below) and Fred Swale (see 8^th September 1914) were all appointed (unpaid) Lance Corporal. Henry Markham was 30 years old and had enlisted in Halifax on 12^th September 1914, having previously worked as a labourer.Archibald Louis Norris was a 27 year-old labourer, originally from Holbeach, but now married and living in Huddersfield. 

Seventeen year-old Pte. Horace Dunn, who had enlisted underage in Keighley and been posted to serve with Tunstill’s Company (see 8^th January) was confined to barracks for four days having been found to have absent off pass from 11.55 pm on 5^th April to 10 pm the following day; his offence was reported by Sgt. Alfred Lodge (see 17^th September 1914).


One of Tunstill’s original recruits, Pte. William Henry Scott (see 7^th September 1914) was married at St. John the Baptist’s Church, Folkestone. The Church was in the heart of the area in which the Company was billeted and Scott himself was recorded as resident at Park Farm Cottage, Park Road, Folkestone. Scott’s bride was Susannah Driver, from Skipton. One of the witnesses to the ceremony was Scott’s fellow recruit, Sgt. William Edward Gibson (see 21^st September 1914); the second witness was Pte. William Brymar Stancer, also of 10^th Battalion, but not one of Tunstill’s Company.

2Lt. Robert Stewart Skinner Ingram (see 5^th April) wrote to his parents with news of his routine at Folkestone:

7^th Apl. 1915
(Regimental headed notepaper)
2 Julian Road

Folkestone

My Darling Mother and Father

I got back here last Monday night about 9.30 pm, some time before the train was due to get down at Charing Cross. I happened to pick up two of ours returning from their 8 days Passover leave, and we came down together.

I can’t remember ever having enjoyed 4 days holiday more than the 4 days ending 5/4/15. Usually after a long-looked-forward-to event or period one has an unsatisfied feeling that perhaps, after all, anticipation was superior to realisation. But on this occasion I came back absolutely satisfied in every way.

And so life goes on. We don’t expect to be out before July. Today, from one cause or another, I’ve had the Company on my hands all day. Tomorrow I’m for a day on the ranges at Hythe, having for a day Range Officer’s Duty. And so on.

In the top left or right drawer of the dressing table I left a cheque for £8 15s. made out to me by Jim. I wonder if somebody would be kind enough to forward it to me?

Much love to all, your ever loving son.

Robert

(One of the two Jewish officers with whom Ingram travelled would most likely be 2Lt. Harry Harris (see 19^th November 1914); ‘Jim’ would be Ingram’s younger brother, James Skinner Ingram).

 

Tuesday 6th April 1915

Two of Tunstill’s original recruits were promoted. Ex-regular soldier, Corporal William Jones (see 1^st December 1914) was promoted Sergeant and, in his place, Lance Corporal Albert Edgar Palmer (see 12^th December 1914) was promoted Corporal. There was also a further promotion the same day for Edgar Shuttleworth who had originally served with Tunstill, but had subsequently been transferred to ‘D’ Company; he was promoted from Lance Corporal to Corporal, despite his recent censure for having been late on parade (see 28^th February). L.Cpl. Andrew Hermiston (see 12^th December 1914) was also promoted Corporal.

Pte. Joseph Fitzgerald was reported as being ‘absent off pass from 11.55pm’; he would not report back until 1am on the 8^th and, on the orders of Maj. Mayor, would forfeit three days’ pay and be formally admonished. He was a 27 year-old barman from Bradford.

An advertisement appeared in the Yorkshire Post offering for rent the home of Gilbert and Geraldine Tunstill. With Geraldine having followed her husband, firstly to the Aldershot area and latterly to Folkestone (see 2^nd March). The property at Otterburn had originally been advertised in November 1914 at a rate of £75 pa; the new advert made no mention of the annual rent, which, presumably, was subject to negotiation, given that the property had already been unoccupied for several months.

“OTTERBURN, Bell Busk. To Let, a furnished country house containing 3 reception, 7 bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen, scullery, usual offices with cottage, stables, garden, field and greenhouse; good trains, Leeds, Bradford. Apply Tunstill, Metropole, Folkestone.”

Monday 5th April 1915

The Battalion received ‘new equipment’, as referred to in the letter by CQMS Harry Briley (see 3^rd April) and also, subsequently (see 10^th April) in a letter by Priestley, “We have got a lot of new equipment, so we are getting nearer and nearer”. The exact nature of the new equipment, however, has not been established.

Pte. Fred Hird was reported by Sgts. Arthur Manks (see 17^th December 1914) and Alfred Lodge (see 17^th September 1914) as ‘absent off pass from 11.55pm’; he would return at 8.45pm on 8^th April and would be ordered to forfeit four days’ pay and to be confined to barracks for three days. Fred Hird had enlisted in Bradford on 11^th Sptember 1914; he was 32 years old, married with four children, and had been working as a labourer.

2Lt. Robert Stewart Skinner Ingram (see 2^nd April) returned to Folkestone following a four day leave.

Sunday 4th April 1915

Easter Sunday

Tunstill's Company remained in training in Folkestone.

Saturday 3rd April 1915

As anticipated by Priestley  (see 1^st April) men of 10^th Battalion, including Tunstill’s Company, received their next round of vaccinations.

The Folkestone, Hythe, Sandgate and Cheriton Herald carried an extended report on the fund-raising football match which had been played the previous Saturday between 10^th West Ridings and 9^th South Staffs (see 27^th March).

Company Quartermaster Sergeant Henry Briley wrote to a friend thanking him for a recent gift and commenting on various aspects of the progress of the war. Briley had been living at 29 Sackville Street, Skipton, with his father, John, a retired police sergeant and mother, Hannah. Henry had himself had been working as a legal clerk when he enlisted in Skipton on 18^th September 1914, being one of a small group of Skipton men who had been attached to Tunstill’s Company. Briley, with his higher standard of education and administrative experience had (at a date unknown) been transferred away from ‘A’ Company and had joined ‘D’ Company as CQMS. He was billeted at 94 Linden Crescent, Folkestone when he wrote his letter.

“Please accept my very sincere thanks for your letter of the 30^th ult, and for the beautiful box of cigarettes received yesterday morning. It is really kind of you to send them and I shall have the greatest pleasure in smoking the health of yourself, Mrs Oldham and family. If Harry has got to Aldershot I hope he will fair better than he appears to have done in Derbyshire. There is one thing about at Aldershot, you can always get a good feed at Darracotts. I used to go to one of their places almost every night......We are all going to get new equipment on Monday. Honestly I believe the difficulty in getting these new armies fully equipped is more serious than the public realise. I cannot understand how any body of working men can want to strike at a time like this. Considering all things I believe Germany is having difficulties to face now that if we can only get the men, guns & ammunition there to the front & strike them a heavy blow now that it would practically mean the end of the war…”



Darracott's Restaurant, Aldershot (right foreground)
Photograph, c.1910; demolished 2007

 

Friday 2nd April 1915

Pte. Matthew Best, who had been one of the Keighley volunteers who had joined Tunstill’s Company in September 1914, was appointed unpaid Lance Corporal. Matthew Best had enlisted at the age of 35. He was a married man with seven children (the eldest of whom was 14) and the family had been living for some years in Keighley, where Matthew had been working as a stonemason’s labourer. Life could not have been easy for the Best family and indeed, at the time of the 1911 census three of the children had been noted as inmates at the Keighley and Bingley Joint Hospital and Sanitorium, at Morton Banks, near Keighley.

2Lt. Robert Stewart Skinner Ingram (see 5^th February) departed on four days’ leave, returning to his family home in Wimbledon.