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.