Thursday 8th June 1916

Bouvigny Huts

Another quiet day, with further training carried out.

In the evening, orders were received to relieve the 13^th Durham Light Infantry in the trenches north of Souchez. All billets were to be cleaned and the main company parties ready to move off by 4pm next day. Two Companies of Anson Battalion, Royal Naval Division, who had recently arrived in France and had been gaining trench experience alongside 13DLI, were now to be attached to the Battalion for further trench training. According to Lt. Dick Bolton (see 26^th May) the former sailors had their own trench jargon, drawing on their previous experience, “a dugout was ‘below’, the trench was the ‘deck’, out of trenches was ‘ashore’ but I never heard them speak of being ‘at sea’ when in the line”. 

Advance parties from each Company were to take over trench stores from the Durham Light Infantry before the main parties marched, via Aix Noulette, and rendezvoused with their guides at 10pm. From there, Companies would proceed to their assigned sector, with ‘A’ Company stationed in close support in Bois Six Trench. The poor state of the defences was acknowledged and there was emphasis in the orders on the need for dugouts to be improved by the provision of working parties. Companies, including ‘A’ from close support, were each to supply twenty men who were to be employed, “solely for work on dugouts, except in emergencies. These men will work night and day on all dugouts in Battalion area. Work to commence at 9am 10^th inst. and thence forward to be continuous”.

There was heavy rain in the evening.

Pte. Thomas Delaney (see 26^th May) re-joined the Battalion from 4^th Stationary Hospital at Arques.

One man from 10DWR, Pte. Edward Tetlow (see below) was killed whilst attached to 181^st Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers; he was buried at Maroeuil British Cemetery. Seven men in total were killed in the explosion of a German camouflet which was used against British mining operations in the Souchez area. Edward Tetlow had been an original member of the Battalion and was 21 years old and from Stanedge, near Dobcross.

Pte. Tom Nixon (11904) (see 26^th May), who was 23^rd Infantry Base Depot at Etaples having recently been discharged from 4^th Stationary Hospital at Arques following dental treatment, was evacuated to England suffering from ‘debility’ and complaining of ‘pains in stomach, pain between shoulders and headaches’; he would be admitted to a military hospital in England (details unknown).

L.Cpl. Albert Joseph Acarnley (see 17^th March), who would later serve as a commissioned officer with 10DWR, serving with 2^nd Royal Berkshires, was admitted to hospital suffering from myalgia and “PUO” (pyrexia of unknown origin); these were the typical features of what was often known as ‘trench fever’. He would remain under medical care for the next 17 days. 

L.Sgt. Mark Allan Stanley Wood, serving with 16^th West Yorkshires, was admitted to 93^rd Field Ambulance, suffering from seborrhea (a form of dermatitis, usually affecting the scalp). He would later be commissioned and would serve with 10DWR. Mark Wood was born 12^th July 1890, the only son of John William and Florence Wood (nee Allan) of Bradford. Mark had been educated at Belle Vue Technical College in Bradford and had been working as a textile designer. He had also spent some time in the USA, returning to England in June 1914. On 20^th September 1914 he had volunteered and had joined 16^th West Yorkshires. He trained with his Battalion in England through 1914 and 1915, being promoted Lance Corporal and then Corporal in September 1915. The Battalion was posted to Egypt in December 1915, and Mark Wood was promoted Lance Sergeant on the eve of their departure. They remained in Egypt until embarking for France on 29^th February 1916, arriving at Marseilles on 7^th March.

Wednesday 7th June 1916

Bouvigny Huts

Another dull day, with occasional showers. Again a quiet day, with a continuation of the training programmes of the previous week.

Cpl. Arthur Walton (see 1^st February) was placed under arrest on a charge of drunkenness; he would appear before a Field General Court Martial five days later and would be found guilty and ordered to be reduced to the ranks and to forfeit 28 days’ pay. (He had originally been ordered to undergo 28 days’ Field Punishment no.1 but this had been replaced by the forfeiture of pay on Brigade orders; presumably with an eye to forthcoming training and operations).

Pte. Sam Shuttleworth (see 20^th May) was taken ill, suffering from ‘dental caries’ (tooth decay). He was treated first at 69^th Field Ambulance and then transferred to no.6 Casualty Clearing Station at Bruay. He would not re-join the Battalion until February 1917.

A number of men departed on one weeks’ leave to England. Among them are known to have been was RSM John William Headings, (see 23^rd December 1915) who may have been allowed leave especially because of the birth of his daughter Marjorie (13^th May). Pte. Israel Burnley was another of the men going home on leave; he was an original member of the Battalion. He had enlisted aged 41 and was a widower who had been working as a coal miner in Castleford. Also on leave was Pte. George Mitchell, who had been one of the Keighley recruits added to Tunstill’s original Company in September 1914. George Mitchell had enlisted in Keighley on 15^th September at the age of 25; he had been born and brought up in Keighley and had been working as a colliery electrician before the war.

The three Headings brothers: from left to right, James Lawrence, John William (standing) and Henry George.
(Photo by kind permission of Jill Monk)

Pte. Robert Cresswell (see 2^nd June ) was transferred from no.22 Casualty Clearing Station at Bruay to no.2 Canadian General Hospital at Le Treport; he was suffering from haemorrhoids.

Pte. William Walton (see 16^th May), who was suffering from influenza, was evacuated to England, onboard the Hospital Ship St. Patrick, from 8^th General Hospital in Rouen; on arrival he would be admitted to hospital in Eastleigh. On 13^th June he would be transferred to The Military Hospital in York.

Pte. John Edwin Lumb (see 29^th May), serving with 11DWR at Brocton Camp, Staffs., was reported for ‘Highly irregular conduct; ie laughing and putting his tongue out when given an order by a Warrant Officer’; he would be ordered to undergo 96 hours detention.

Tuesday 6th June 1916

Bouvigny Huts

Conditions remained quiet, with further training carried out. The weather was dull, with some rain.

Pte. Robert William Bell (see 2^nd April) was admitted to 4^th Stationary Hospital at Arques, suffering from tonsilitis.

Pte. Robert William Bell

Sgt. Herbert Grayshon (see 24^th May) was discharged from 4^th Stationary Hospital at Arques and re-joined the Battalion.

A number of men joined the Battalion from 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples, where they had spent the previous three weeks after being posted to France on 18^th May. The delay in their being posted to active service was due to fears over an outbreak of German measles, as reported in a letter home by Pte. William Dixon; he was 21 years old and from Addingham. Pte. Dixon had told his family, “Thanks for the parcel received in good condition. We have not had a bad time of it up to now, and as far as fighting is concerned, we have seen none as yet, in fact we can hardly realise that we are in France. On arriving at the base camp one of our lads was found to be suffering from German measles, and we have been isolated ever since, but we remove from this camp to-morrow, and then I dare say we shall see some fun. John Burke has already gone up to the firing line, his parcel landed here all right, and I dare say by now he will have received it. The first day we arrived I came across Jack Smith, he had just come down from the firing line for a rest”. The man suffering from German measles was Pte.Thomas Walter Mellin, a 20 year-old farm labourer from Long Preston; he had spent most of the previous three weeks in hospital in the isolation block at 24^th General Hospital at Etaples, after being found to be suffering from the disease. Also among the draft was L.Cpl. Harold William Crowther was a 20 year-old warehouseman from Bradford; he had been appointed Lance Corporal whilst in training with 11DWR. L.Cpl. Joseph Currie was a 22 year-old asylum assistant from Menston. Pte. Albert Armitage (18048) was a 22 year-old weaver from Huddersfield. Pte. Walter Barker was a 20 year-old warehouseman from Bradford. Pte. Harold Best was 22 years old and from Leeds. Pte. Alfred Bogg was a 20 year-old weaver from Silsden. Pte. Albert Bradley was a 19 year-old currier from Otley. Pte. Harry Bradley was a 28 year-old sawyer from Sheffield; He was married with two children. He had enlisted in January 1915 and had served two months at Gallipoli with 8DWR from August to October 1915 before returning to England (reason unknown). Pte. James Bradley (18319) was a 19 year-old tailor’s apprentice from Shipley. Pte. Fred Brown was a 19 year-old weaver from Waddington and had originally attested under the Derby Scheme in December 1915. During his training with 11DWR at Brocton Camp in Staffordshire he had been reported absent off pass, having returned to duty eight hours late from his final leave. His punishment, forfeiture of one day’s pay, had been ordered by the original commander of Tunstill’s Company, Maj. Harry Robert Hildyard, (see 20^th May) who had been back in England since January. Pte. George Edward Chapman was a 22 year-old warehouseman from Bradford; he had married Phyllis Clark five months’ previously and she was pregnant with their first child. Pte. Arthur Cooper Clapham was a 22 year-old dyer’s labourer from Guiseley. Pte. Arthur Clarke was a 20 year-old horseman and cowman from Bingley. Pte. Arthur Cliffe was a 22 year-old dyers’ labourer (working for Buckle’s Dyeworks, Great Horton) from Lidget Green, Bradford. Pte. Samuel Cordingley was a 22 year-old textile worker from Yeadon. Pte. Garibaldi Edwin Dawson was a 21 year-old warehouseman from Earby.  Pte. Albert Edon was a 21 year-old butcher from Shipley. Pte. Henry Fielding was a 19 year-old warehouseman from Bingley. Pte. Joseph Fitzgerald (see 21^st November 1915), who was re-joining the Battalion having been in England since having been wounded in September 1915. Pte. Henry Edgar Grass was a 20 year-old carter from Sutton in Craven. Pte. Alfred Henry Green was a 20 year-old weaver from Barnoldswick. Pte. John Hargreaves (18009) was a 23 year-old textile worker from Farnhill near Skipton. Pte. Arthur Edward Holmes was a 19 year-old horseman from Bradford. Pte. Joseph Leonard Holmes was a 22 year-old warehouseman from Barnoldswick. Pte. Frank Horner was a 21 year-old motordriver from Huddersfield. Pte. Charles Hoyle was a 21 year-old weaver from Barnoldswick. Pte. Cyril Clarkson Hoyle was a 21 year-old 'process operator'; he was originally from Conisbrough but had been working in Bradford and his parents lived in Shipley. Pte. Frank Johnson was a 22 year-old joiner from Bingley. Pte. Edwin Kenyon was a 22 year-old cotton weaver from Barnoldswick. Pte. Cecil Lloyd was a 20 year-old cloth scourer from Bradford. Pte. John Longfellow (known as Jack) was a 20 year-old textile worker (working for Johnson and Akam) from Bradford and had originally served with 9DWR, going to France in July 1915 before being evacuated to England, sick, in March 1916. Thomas Mann was a 21 year-old storeman from Baildon. Pte. John Overend was a 19 year-old cabinet maker from Birstall. Pte. Ben Pedder was a 20 year-old dyer’s labourer from Bradford. Pte. Ezra Plumb was a 19 year-old farm worker from Roecliffe, near Harrogate. Pte. Harry Raistrick was a 19 year-old ‘seat finisher’ from Bradford. Pte. Howarth Reid was a 20 year-old weaver from Barnoldswick. Pte. Cecil Rhodes was a 20 year-old joiner and builder from Bradford. Pte. John Russell was a 20 year-old bootmaker from Shipley. Pte. Douglas Smith was a 21 year-old weaver from Earby. Pte. Richard Swallow (see 10th January) was re-joining the Battalion after spending seven months in England. Pte. Michael Taylor was a 20 year-old weaver from Barnoldswick. Pte. John Thompson was a 22 year-old grocer from Bradford. Pte. Frank Oddy Waddington was a 21 year-old wool warehouseman from Charlestown (between Baildon and Shipley). Pte. William Wigglesworth (17891) was from Keighley. Pte. Edwin Wood was a 22 year-old ‘seamer’ from Halifax. Pte. Herbert Milton Wood was a 22 year-old warehouseman from Bankfoot, Bradford.
Pte. Alfred Taylor, a 20 year-old warehouseman from Bradford, was also among this draft. The previous day his father had written to the Infantry Records Office, asking that his son should be sent back from France to be ‘put on Home Defence’:

“He joined the Seaforth Highlanders in June 1915 and was examined by a military doctor at Fort George, Scotland, who refused to pass him and gave him his discharge papers, as physically unfit. He attested under Lord Derby’s Scheme for Home Defence in January 1916 and was sent to Halifaxt and from there to Brocton Camp, Staffs., where he was again examined by a military doctor who told him that he would be fit for Garrison Duty. He was drafted to France on Thursday 18^th May. What I would like to explain to you, Sir, is that my son has very little muscle on his left side and his left foot is very much swollen and partly webbed. My son was born with this deficiency and the muscle will never develop. I have written to the Commanding Officer of the 11^th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s at Brocton Camp, Staffs. And I have stated the case to him. I received an answer stating that each man who proceeds overseas is subjected only to a rough examination as to his fitness and goes on to say that my son’s health must have improved since I last saw him, which was only a week before he proceeded to France, so I think he could only have been roughly examined or they would have found his deficiency. I beg you, Sir, to have his case fully investigated and I assure you that you will come to the conclusion that it is no fit place for a physically unfit man to be at the front”. Following enquiries to 11DWR, it would be confirmed (on 12^th June) that “He successfully passed through the training and was found fit by the Medical Officer before the draft proceeded overseas”. This information would be conveyed to Pte. Taylor’s father on 20^th June.

Ptes. Patrick Larvin (see 23^rd May) and William Leach (see 23^rd May), both of whom had been wounded two weeks previously, were evacuated to England from 2^nd General Hospital at Le Havre, travelling onboard the Hospital Ship Lanfranc; on arrival they were admitted to 3^rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth. A further X-ray examination of Pte. Leach revealed “metallic fragments in the thigh but arm was nil. As injury involved elbow, joint massage was carried out”.

Pte. William Leach

Image by kind permission of Andy Wade and MenfWorth

Lt. Harold Lockhart Waite, (see 5^th May), who had left the Battalion a month earlier to take up a posting as a Flying Officer (Observer) was formally appointed to the Royal Flying Corps.

Andrew Aaron Jackson was called up from the Army Reserve and posted to join 27^th Battalion Royal Fusiliers at Portobello, near Edinburgh; he would later be commissioned and serve with 10DWR. Andrew Aaron Jackson was 28 years old (born 16^th April 1888), married (to Florence Dyson, 1912), and had been working as headteacher at Burnley Road Evening School in  Mytholmroyd. He had attested, under the Derby Scheme, in November 1915.

Monday 5th June 1916

Bouvigny Huts

A quiet day, with further training carried out.

Pte. Thomas Richardson (see 22^nd April) was reported for ‘smoking on night working party’; the exact date of his offence is unknown but he had been reported by 2Lt. Henry Herbert Owen Stafford (see 25^th April) and Cpl. Ernest Nussey (see 21^st March) and he would be confined to barracks for three days on the orders of Capt. James Christopher Bull (see 24^th May).

Pte. Edmund Peacock (see 9^th April) serving with 9DWR reported sick suffering from trench fever and was admitted to 52 Field Ambulance; he had originally been a member of Tunstill’s Company but had been invalided back to England having been wounded in November 1915 and subsequently posted to 9DWR. 

Pte. Joseph Bell (see 3^rd March), serving with 51^st Battalion, A.I.F., left Alexandria onboard the troopship “Ivernia”, bound for Marseilles. He was the elder brother of original Tunstill recruit Pte. William Irving Bell.

A payment of £3 13s. was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late L.Cpl. Joseph Fieldhouse (see 19^th March), who had died of wounds in March; the payment would go to his widow, Eva.

Sunday 4th June 1916

Bouvigny Huts

The settled routine of the previous days resumed, with further training carried out.

Sgt. George Clifford Sugden, serving with 10^th East Yorkshires, was wounded in action; he suffered a facial wound during German shelling of British positions near Hebuterne, on the Somme (more than 20 men were killed and almost 50 wounded). He was admitted to 10^th General Hospital at Rouen. He would later be commissioned and serve with 10DWR. George Clifford Sugden was born 28^th December 1891, the second of eight children, three of whom died in infancy, of John William and Mary Alice Sugden. The family farmed land at Barmby-on-the-Marsh, near Goole, but Clifford himself worked as an insurance manager. He enlisted in the newly-formed 10^th battalion, East Yorkshires on 5^th September 1914 and trained with them in England for the next 15 months, being promoted Sergeant in December 1914. In December 1915 the Battalion sailed from Devonport, arriving at Port Said two weeks later. They remained in Egypt until embarking for Marseilles on 29^th February 1916, from where they had been transported by train to the Somme sector.

Pte. John Beckwith (see 29^th May) who had left 10DWR after being wounded in March, was posted from the Regimental Depot to 11^th (Reserve) Battalion at Brocton Camp, in preparation for a return to active service.

Saturday 3rd June 1916

Bouvigny Huts

There was an interruption to the settled routine of the previous days when, at 8pm an SOS was received from 68^th Brigade holding the line near Souchez. However, despite a German bombardment of the line, nothing further occurred and the alarm was withdrawn 45 minutes later. The alarm was most likely associated with a trench raid which was carried out by 13^th Durham Light Infantry overnight.

Pte. Michael Henry Rourke (see 15^th April) was again in trouble for “insolence to an NCO”; on this occasion he was reported by Sgt. David Frederick McKrill (see below) and Sgt. Taylor (unidentified); on the orders of Capt. John Atkinson (see 5^th May) he was to be confined to barracks for seven days.

David Frederick McKrill was an original member of the Battalion; he had been promoted Lance Corporal while the Battalion was still in England and further promoted to Sergeant whilst in France. He was 27 years old and from Middlesbrough, where he had worked as a clerk before enlisting.


Following ten days’ treatment for ‘synovitis to right knee’, Pte. Albert Saville (see 19^th May) was discharged from 4^th Stationary Hospital at Arques and would re-join the Battalion.

Pte. John Etchells (see 19^th May), serving at the Regimental Depot at Halifax, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service on account of TB contracted whilst in service; he was assessed as having suffered a 20% disability and was awarded an Army pension of £1 per week.

The London Gazette published notice of the award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal to L.Cpl. Albert Simpson (see 10^th April); the citation stated that the award recognised “conspicuous gallantry when rescuing a wounded man who had become entangled in the wire under heavy fire. After dressing his wounds he carried him back into safety”. It is unclear exactly when and where this incident had taken place.

The weekly edition of the Keighley News carried a report of the death of Pte. Ernest Dawson (see 26^th May).

KEIGHLEY SOLDIERS KILLED IN ACTION

Private Ernest Dawson (28) West Riding Regiment, son of Mrs. Dawson of 16 Park Grove, Keighley, was killed in action by a trench mortar bomb on May 24. The news was contained in a letter from Captain J.C. Bull of the same regiment who, writing on May 24, said: “I expect you will have heard from the War Office that your son was killed today by a trench mortar bomb, but I felt I must write to you personally to say how sorry I am for you in your trouble. I have known your son since October 1914 at Frensham, and he was always a hard-working and good soldier and we shall miss him a great deal. Mr. Marks, his platoon officer, who was with him when he died, is partially trained as a doctor, and he assures me that your son suffered no pain. I hope that this fact and the knowledge that he died for his country may be some consolation, but please accept the sympathy of all the officers of this Company, for we all had a high opinion of your son’s soldierly spirit”.

A further letter has been received by Mrs. Dawson from Wilfred L. Henderson, chaplain of the battalion to which Dawson belonged. Writing on May 26 he said: “Another name has been added to our country’s roll of honour, and it is one which will bring home to you the sadness of war. I suppose you have already heard the sad news of the death of your son but I wish to tell you how much we all sympathise with you. He was killed last Wednesday by a trench mortar and we buried him last night in a soldiers’ cemetery immediately behind the lines. A cross with his name and number will be put over the grave, and his grave for ever kept sacred and reverently cared for … Both officers and men join with me in expressing their sympathy. Your son will be much missed by his comrades in the battalion. I know how difficult it is to say words of comfort to a mother, but, deep as your sorrow may be, I feel that there can be no bitterness in it. The mothers of England are proud of their sons today and justly proud that they should have given up all they hold dear to follow the call of duty and you too must feel that pride in your son. You must rejoice at the splendid sacrifice he has made. “Greater love hath no man than this; that he lay down his life for his friends”. Our sympathy and prayers are with you. God bless and comfort you”.

Private Dawson was a single man who enlisted at the outbreak of war and had been at the front about twelve months (sic.). Prior to enlistment he worked at the Post Office and formerly was employed as a barman at the Royal Hotel. He has twin brothers serving with the Colours and a brother-in-law, Private Charlie Taylor, the well-known Keighley footballer. Private Dawson was very well known in the town.

Friday 2nd June 1916

Bouvigny Huts

A quiet day, with further training carried out.

L.Sgt. William Alfred Walmsley Gaunt (see 24^th May) was admitted to 4^th Stationary Hospital at Arques, suffering from influenza.

Pte. Robert Cresswell (see 1^st June) was transferred from 69^th Field Ambulance to no.22 Casualty Clearing Station at Bruay;  he was suffering from haemorrhoids. 

L.Cpl. Walter Maynard Willis (see 12^th March) and Pte. Tom Lister Ellison (see 15^th May) departed for England on one weeks’ leave.

The weekly edition of the Craven Herald reported news of the latest despatch of parcels and the continuing fund-raising efforts of the “Comforts Fund”, organised by Geraldine Tunstill (see 7^th April):

COMFORTS FOR CAPTAIN TUNSTILL’S MEN

Mrs. H.G. Tunstill acknowledges with grateful thanks the following comforts for A Company, 10^th West Riding Regiment: Seven pairs socks from Grindleton, per Mrs. Ackernley; 18 pairs socks from Mrs. Tunstill, Aysgarth; 3 pairs socks, stationery, &c. from “A Friend of the Soldiers”, three shirts, 12 handkerchiefs, Oxo cubes, shaving soap, cocoa and £2 (monthly) Mrs. H.G. Tunstill, 36 pairs socks, Mrs. Ecroyd (Armathwaite); which have been sent with 2,500 cigarettes, 150 handkerchiefs, confectionery – from the Comforts Fund – this month. Now that Summer is coming people have not time for so much work, but socks, shirts and other comforts are greatly needed, much appreciated, and will be only too gladly acknowledged.