Friday 4th August 1916

Bivouac near Scots Redoubt

‘C’ and ‘D’ Companies were ordered forward to reinforce 10^th Northumberland Fusiliers in Contalmaison and, late in the evening, ‘C’ Company further moved into the front line trenches east of Pozieres, supporting 68^th Brigade. The War Diary noted that, “our artillery made a terrific bombardment on the enemy trenches and defences”; this was in response to an attack made by 68^th Brigade which was reported as having been “only partially successful”. The War Diary noted also that one man was wounded.

L.Cpl. Bob Harrison (see 16^th July) was promoted Corporal.

Pte. Charles Robert Thompson of 10DWR, though not of Tunstill’s Company, died of wounds at no.22 General Hospital, Camiers; he was buried at Etaples Military Cemetery.

Pte. Andrew Aaron Jackson, (see 29^th July) who would later be commissioned and serve with 10DWR, serving with 27^th Battalion Royal Fusiliers at Portobello, near Edinburgh, was promoted (unpaid) Lance Corporal.

L.Cpl. Albert Joseph Acarnley (see 25^th June), who would later serve as a commissioned officer with 10DWR, suffered a minor wound in action while serving with 2^nd Royal Berkshires on the Somme.

The Todmorden & District News carried further news of the death of L.Cpl. Albert Henry Nutter (see 21^st July);

“Mrs. Nutter, the wife of Pte. Albert Henry Nutter, 19 Pall Mall, Mytholmroyd, has received official confirmation that her husband has been killed. The Captain of his Battalion, writing from France on 20^th July states, “I am sorry to have to tell you that your husband was killed on 5^th of July. His officer was killed with him. We have lost many officers, NCO’s and men, but we have done what we were expected to do and your brave husband gave his all in doing it. Your husband was in my battalion until the battalion bombers were formed. I never wish to have a better man. You have my sympathy and anything you wish to know, let me hear of and I will do my best to tell you”.

Rev. Wilfred Henderson, the chaplain to the company, writing under date 23^rd July says, “I am sorry to say that the news you have heard is only too true. Your husband was killed on 5^th July in some severe fighting in which our battalion took part, but it has been impossible for me to write to everyone and unfortunately the bombing officer – Lt. Lavarack – was killed on the same day as your husband, or you would have heard from him. I had hoped to have written before, however, as I knew your husband well, and know how much his services were appreciated in the battalion. He will be missed by us all, and both officers and men wish to express to you their deep sympathy. I know how deep must be your sorrow, but it will be some comfort to you know how gallantly your husband died, and that he had no pain, and his death was instantaneous; nor can your sorrow have any bitterness in it; it must be mingled with feelings of pride at the splendour of the sacrifice he has made. Our prayers and sympathy go out to you in your great sorrow. The Lord bless and comfort you”.

L.Cpl. Albert Henry Nutter

The weekly edition of the Craven Herald carried news of the continuing fund-raising efforts of Geraldine Tunstill in support of the Company,

COMFORTS FOR CAPTAIN TUNSTILL’S MEN
Mrs. H.G. Tunstill acknowledges with grateful thanks the following gifts for the 10^th West Riding Regiment: 36 pairs of socks from Longpreston, per Mrs. Sharp; 12 pairs of socks from Mrs. Tunstill (Aysgarth); £2 (monthly), Mrs. H.G. Tunstill; which have been sent with 150 handkerchiefs, 144 pairs of socks, and 2,500 cigarettes from the “Comforts Fund”.

It is a year this month since the Battalion went to France. They have been in many big actions and have had heavy losses, especially the last month, when they have been in the thick of the fighting, but our brave men have brought lasting glory on themselves, and their Regiment, which will never be forgotten.

Captain Tunstill writes, “The men are simply splendid, absolutely wonderful, and their bravery is beyond praise. I am too proud of them for words, and even all the horrors we have seen and gone through cannot spoil the thoughts of their magnificent courage and pluck.”

Mrs. Tunstill wishes to thank gratefully all those who have contributed so splendidly the last year to the “Comforts”, which have been greatly appreciated by our Craven boys. It is needless to say how gladly she will acknowledge further gifts if sent to her at Milford Hall, South Milford, and is sure she will receive the same generous help until the end of the war. She would be so glad to hear from all Captain Tunstill’s men who have been wounded or the relatives of the same as she has lost touch with some of them, and would like their present addresses so that she can send them some parcels of “Comforts”.

Capt. Harry Gilbert Tunstill (front right) and Geraldine Tunstill (middle right), pictured with other members of Geraldine's family.

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

The Craven Herald also carried news of several of the recent casualties among Tunstill’s Company:

PRIVATE THOMAS B. CARTMAN
Pte. Thos. B. Cartman (see 21^st July), of the 10th West Riding Regiment, who has died from wounds received in action, was only 22 years' old, and was the son of Mrs. Rishworth, of Wood Side Farm, Silsden. He had resided in Skipton for many years prior to enlisting.

Pte. Tommy Cartman

LONGPRESTON
The most serious case appears to be William Rawlinson (see 29^th July), who was badly wounded in the left thigh, a bone broken in the leg, and wounded in both arms, in the face and other parts. He has lost the sight of his left eye. In a letter to his master, Mr. G. Charnley JP (for whom he was chauffeur) he says how kindly he is treated in B2, 13 Stationery Hospital, BEF, and that he is going on well. Corporal Rawlinson is 23 years of age, and enlisted from Crooklands, Long Preston, in September 1914. He has been sent to the Military Hospital at Bristol.

ADDINGHAM

Craven Smith (serving with 16th West Yorks.; he was the brother of Reuben and Johnny Smith, both of whom were members of Tunstill’s Company, see 14^th July) writes: “Thanks for cigarettes. We have gone through some very exciting times lately and the worst of it is it will continue for some time yet. Our artillery are continually bombarding day and night; there is a terrible bombardment going on at present, but we are getting used to it. Our Battalion were in the thick of it on July 1^st, and the casualties were rather heavy, but there is this consolation, ‘Fritz’s’ front line is broken now. They have been the cause of so many casualties, as he was not only dug in, but concreted in. I have made enquiries about Wilf Holmes, and I am afraid he has gone under. His officer was killed in No Man’s Land, and it looks as if poor Wilf would be killed. There is a possibility of him being brought in by the German stretcher bearers. I hear that a few Addingham boys got wounded, and my brother Jack (ie. Johnny Smith) is amongst them. I hope they will all have a speedy recovery”.

EARBY - NEWS OF THE WOUNDED

Mr. Job Smith, 71, Water Street, Earby, received a telegram on Wednesday stating that his son Pte. Douglas Smith (see 29^th July), 10th West Riding Regiment, was dangerously ill at a casualty clearing station (no.45 Casualty Clearing Station, Burnley News 5^th August) in France. The nature of his wounds, if any, was not stated.

Pte. Douglas Smith

There was also news of the presentation of the ribbon of the Military Medal to Pte. John William Atkinson (see 28^th July), who had attended to many of the wounded men from 10DWR:

We have pleasure in reproducing a photograph of Pte. J. W. Atkinson, of the West Riding Regiment, the second Skipton soldier to be awarded the Military Medal. In this instance the award is “for good work in attending to the wounded”. Pte. Atkinson is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Atkinson of 8 Nelson Street, Skipton and before enlisting was employed at the Skipton Gas Works. Twenty-eight years of age, he was a member of the local fire brigade and was associated with the Otley Street Baptist Church. His wife and daughter live in Devonshire Street, Skipton.

In his latest letter to his parents he writes: “I expect you will have heard that I have won the Military Medal for good work in attending the wounded. The General has pinned the ribbons on my chest, but I shall not get the medal until later. The General shook hands with me and said he hoped that I would have the good luck to wear it”.