Friday 3rd December 1915

Jesus Farm, Erquinghem.

The Battalion continued training.

L. Cpl George Liddemore (see 7^th August) was promoted Corporal.

There were also promotions for two former members of Tunstill’s Company, both of whom had been previously promoted and transferred to ‘D’ Company. CSM. John William Headings (see 29th August) was promoted Regimental Sergeant Major, replacing RSM John Kearns, who was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. Cpl. Charles Edgar Shuttleworth (known as Edgar) (see 16th September) was promoted Acting Sergeant.

L.Cpl. Harry Clark (see 7^th October) reverted to the rank of Private.


Pte. William Knox (see 2^nd December) completed the letter to his wife, Ethel, which he had been writing over the previous three days (I am most grateful to Rachael Broadhead and family for allowing me access to William’s letters).

“I will now try and finish this small letter. (3^rd December) Well Dear I arrived back from building up the parapets but not without losing eight men; five killed and three seriously wounded (the detail of these casualties is unclear, but they do not appear to have been men from 10DWR). It was just like Hell let loose when we were under heavy fire all the time but thank God I came through quite safe. It was half past eleven when we got home for our tea so you may guess we were just about famished when we did land home. But we did not get up until nine o’clock this morning. Then we went bomb throwing for about an hour and are finished for the day. It is very nice here today, the sun is shining.

I often used to laugh at you when you used to be flea hunting but I often have a hunt now as nearly every one of us is alive. You know what that means but we can’t help it. I always put some of the Pomade on my shirts every time I change. You say you hope I do  not come home in my skin (referring to the goatskin jacket with which he had been issued). Well I shall do as we have to bring everything home except our ammunition and that we leave at the Base. … You will no doubt think this is a long letter. I have wrote a little bit every day since Wednesday and I am still waiting for the green envelope to be issued out me so I can post it. I remain, your ever loving and affectionate husband, Will”.

Pte. Fred Greenwood (12115) arrived in France en route to joining the Battalion. He was a 25 year-old married man from Haworth; why he had not been posted to France in August is unclear.

The weekly edition of the Shipley Times and Express published an appeal from L.Cpl. Richard Everson; he was an original member of the Battalion and originally from Leeds but had enlisted in Shipley, aged 18. He was one of six children of Dick and Ann Everson. It is unclear when he had been promoted, although he was still a Private when the Battalion had left for France in August 1915. 

L.Cpl. Richard Everson

An Appeal from the Trenches

L.Cpl. R. Everson writes from the front asking him if some kind person in Shipley will send him a small melodeon “just to help keep me and my comrades cheerful during the cold Winter months”. They have been out three months, he says, and have had some pretty hard times. He expresses pleasure that so many Shipley lads have joined the forces and regrets the loss of those who have made the supreme sacrifice.

The weekly edition of the Craven Herald published part of a letter written by Cpl. Norman Roberts (see 11^th November) to his father.

SKIPTON CORPORAL’S INTERESTING LETTER

The following are extracts from a letter received a few days ago from Corporal Norman Roberts, son of Mr. Edwin Roberts, of Skipton, serving with Kitchener’s Army in France. It is dated November 11th, and was written “In billets somewhere”. He writes:

“I have left the job of ration corporal to our machine gun section and gone back to my company, so I have had a little experience of the front line trench. We left (location censored) and spent a few days in the support trenches, where there was plenty of rain and mud. We were almost washed out of our dug-outs. A few German shells visited us now and again even there.

On the 3rd we left for the real thing. It was raining, the communication trench was over the knees in mud and water and it was ‘some work’ with a pack to get through. We manned the bags immediately and remained on duty until noon next day. Twenty hours out of the day are devoted to some duty or other, but from 12 pm to 3.30 pm you are free to sleep – if you can get it. The dug-outs are all wet and one can hardly get inside. It is an awful time.

The Germans have our parapet well marked with guns and rifles, which were apparently set during the day. It is most dangerous to put one’s head above the top. I gave them about one hundred to two hundred rounds to commemorate the fifth. The part of the line we were in has a decided curve, and we were often troubled – and I expect they were – by shots coming in on our flank.

It just sounds, when bullets are going over, like a big whip is being used close to your ear. Whizz-bangs and coal-boxes have also been our portion. Hundreds of graves are all about us, men having been buried just where they have fallen. Most pathetic are those graves with a crude cross bearing the words, ‘An English soldier, unknown, killed in action, etc, R.I.P’.

It is awfully cold and dismal at nights. I would refer you to Rudyard Kipling for a description of the dawn and the close of the day, when soldiers stand to arms, to give you a truer idea of something no one but a good poet can describe. We have left the firing line and I am writing this in a dug-out in the reserve trenches. We have been in one or two pretty hot shops.

I met Jack Lister (the barber’s son in Middletown) the other day. He was driving a motor ambulance and is attached to the 20th Division, with which we have been this time in the trenches. We shall be pleased when we get back to our own division. Our clothes are two or three inches thick with mud. I expect we shall have to appear immaculate on parade in the rest billets. The duties in these rest billets include route marching, bayonet fighting and so on, but I am thankful to say we get a sleep at nights if we are not on guard. Healthy ain’t it!

Please give my kindest regards to all at Farey’s (another shell has just burst, I can smell the powder even). They have had us properly marked. One or two of our lot have been bowled over and the regiment relieving us had several casualties whilst they were coming in. As we were stood in the trenches ready to move out a shell came and burst a yard or so away. Talk about two minds with but a single thought, we all ducked like one man. It was a dirty shrapnel shell and lumps ripped over our heads, breaking and snapping the branches of trees in their journey.

However, we got out of it this time round and are stopping here for a day or two to do some work. Then we go on again. I expect we shall eventually get back to the original part of the line where we went in the first time”.

The same edition also carried an extended article concerning Pte. Claude Alvin Darwin (see 16^th August), who was the brother of Pte. Tom Darwin (see 2^nd September) one of the original Grassington volunteers who had joined Tunstill’s Company.

A GRASSINGTON RECRUIT FROM AUSTRALIA

The following extract from an Australian newspaper just come to hand will be of interest to our Grassington readers. It concerns one of the sons of Mr. John Darwin, farmer, who, in addition to having two sons now with the Army, will soon have a third:

“Glenreagh was en fete on Saturday night, the occasion being the presentation of a handsome wristlet watch to Private Claude Darwin, who was home on leave, prior to his departure for the Front. At ten o’clock a break was made in the dancing, and Mr. A.J. Lurcock, who occupied the chair, called upon Mr. J. Blackley to make the presentation to their guest.

Mr. Blackley referred in eulogistic terms to the merits of their young soldier friend. He felt quite sure that no one could leave with a firmer determination to do his duty to his King and Country than did Pte. Darwin. Other speakers were Messrs. H. Gillard, T.C. Sweeney. A. Armstrong and J. Howard. All endorsed the remarks of the former speakers, and were firm in the belief that, come what would, Pte. Darwin would never waver in doing his duty. Pte Darwin’s friendship was something to be valued, and they all hoped it would not be long before they would be able all to meet together again to welcome him home, others who had gone, and those who were going back again.

Pte. Darwin, in responding, expressed his heartfelt thanks for the kindness they had shown him. He regretted the fact that more of the Glenreagh lads had not offered their services. There were plenty more khaki suits to spare, both big and small, but the fact, perhaps, that the shells were not filled with violet powder accounted for the delay. At the conclusion of his speech, Pte. Darwin was loudly cheered, and the audience sang, ‘He’s a jolly good fellow’”.

Glenreagh is a small settlement on the North Coast railway line, in New South Wales, north-west of Sydney.

William George Wade (see 25^th November) was posted to the Army Cyclist Corps; he would later be commissioned into 10DWR and would serve as a Lieutenant with ‘A’ Company.