Friday 7th April 1916

Billets at Sains-en-Gohelle (Coron Fosse 10)

Conditions again remained quiet, with nothing to report.

At 20^th General Hospital at Camiers, Pte. John Holmes died of wounds received in one of the recent actions; he was buried at Etaples Military Cemetery.

Pte. Thomas Robson departed for England on one weeks’ leave. He was a 26 year-old painter, originally from Penrith, but had been living in Barnoldswick; he was married, but had no children.

Pte. Jacob Sweeting (see 9^th January) reported sick; he was first diagnosed as suffering from influenza, which would later be changed to a diagnosis of german measles, for which he would be treated at several locations in France.

Pte. Robert Wilson Irving (see 23^rd March), who had been in hospital in France for two weeks after suffering from shellshock, was evacuated to England for further treatment.

Pte. Frank Hargrave (see 1^st April), who had originally served with Tunstill’s Company, but was now with 9^th Battalion, was transferred to Etaples, first to 1^st Canadian General Hospital and then to 26^th General Hospital. He had first been admitted to hospital a week earlier, with a diagnosis of scabies, which was now revised to one of impetigo.

Having had news from her husband (see 27^th March), Geraldine Tunstill made a further appeal for help in continuing to provide parcels for the men serving with him. Her appeal was reported in the  Craven Herald,

COMFORTS FOR CAPTAIIN TUNSTILL’S MEN

Mrs. Tunstill acknowledges most gratefully contributions for the 10^th West Riding Regiment. She would especially like to mention the ‘comforts’ from Airton, several being made by children under eight years old, also Slaidburn and district, who have never failed to send her a splendid contribution each month. The contributors are: Arncliffe and Littondale (per Miss Hammond), Slaidburn and districts (per Mrs. King-Wilkinson), Mrs. Procter (Otterburn), Mrs. Winter (Bell Busk). Hellifield Working Party (per Mrs. Nicholson), Anonymous (Conistone), the children of Airton and Miss Richardson, a ‘friend of the soldiers’. Mrs. H. G. Tunstill, and 200 candles and 2,500 cigarettes from the “Comforts Fund”.  The last consignment arrived just as the Regiment had come out of new trenches which they had taken over, and as they had been having a bad time, and have lost most of their things, they were even more appreciative than usual. As the weather is now improving, no more mufflers, helmets and mittens will be required, but any amount of shirts, socks, and small comforts, such as handkerchiefs, stationery etc are needed and will be most gratefully acknowledged by Mrs. Tunstill, Otterburn, Bell Busk.

The same edition also carried news of the gallantry awards to Sgt. Kayley Earnshaw (see 27^th March);

D.C.M. FOR A MALHAMDALE SOLDIER

Mrs. Earnshaw, of Scosthrop, Airton, has received the pleasing intimation from Captain Tunstill, his company commander, with the 10th West Yorkshires in France, that Sergeant Kayley Earnshaw has had the Distinguished Conduct Medal conferred upon him for gallantry in action. Writing on March 23rd, Captain Tunstill says:- "I write to tell you how glad and proud I am that your husband has won the D.C.M. None deserves it more, and no one is more proud than I am that he has won it. I believe it will be the first D.C.M. ever brought to Malhamdale, and Malhamdale ought and will be proud and grateful to the brave man who has done the Dale this honour."

Sergeant Earnshaw, who enlisted in Captain Tunstill's troop from Airton, went through the Boer War, serving as a gunner attached to the 63rd Battery. He was drafted home as an invalid after suffering from fever. He joined the Leeds Royal Artillery at Leeds at the age of 18. He sailed from Bristol in the transport "Ismore" and the vessel was wrecked off Columbia Point, about 90 miles from Cape Town. After spending some days on land, two gun boats were sent down from Capetown, but they could not get within 12 miles of the spot, and all transport had to be requisitioned to take the men off. Sergeant Earnshaw was in at the capture of Spion Kop and the relief of Ladysmith.

Before joining Captain Tunstill's troop Sergeant Earnshaw was a gardener for Mr. Dudley Illingworth at Hanlith Hall. He was highly respected in the district and his wife and two children live at Scosthrop. The news of the honour he has earned will be received with keen pleasure by the inhabitants of the Dale.

Sergeant Earnshaw, after his machine gun had been blown up by a shell, succeeded in digging it out, and then got it into working order, all the time being heavily shelled by the Germans, who were only 60 yards away. He also rendered great aid in bandaging up the wounded.

Captain Tunstill writes as follows:- "The General is having a special parade today to give Lieut. T. Heale (one of the officers, 18th (sic 10th) West Ridings) the Military Cross, and Kaley Earnshaw the D.C.M. We are so delighted about Kayley, do tell everyone in Malhamdale about it, and how well he deserves it too. He is the first of my men to win the D.C.M. although there are many others who have earned it again and again. It is really wonderful to see that he is always so cheerful and happy, all through the greatest hardships and privations, under very trying conditions, and I feel more proud of my company each day. Kayley's fellow Dalesmen will be as proud of him as we all are, and will wish both him and the rest of us a safe return home."

Writing to his wife. Sergeant Earnshaw says:-  "We have had a general inspection. The General shook hands with me and told me I was getting the D.C.M. sometime in the future; so my chest is beginning to expand already. I wish they would get the job over with, but judging by the papers it looks like a lot of married men are having to come out yet. I received a congratulatory message from the Colonel yesterday to say I have been awarded the medal. You will no doubt want to know what for. Well, I suppose it was for digging a gun out that had been blown up by a shell, and getting it into working order again, and bandaging wounded under heavy shell fire. I am not very good at describing things, but we had rather a warm time."

Sgt. Kayley Earnshaw, pictured wearing the DCM ribbon.
Image by kind permission of Sue Lugton.