Sunday 9th April 1916

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

Conditions were again quiet. Orders were received for the Battalion to be prepared to relieve 9^th Yorkshires in the front line, with the relief to commence the following evening.

Pte. Archie Munro was admitted to 4^th Stationary Hospital at Arques; he was suffering from influenza and would be discharged to duty after six days. He had been an original member of the Battalion having enlisted in September 1914 along with his brother, William Munro. The brothers were originally from Hawick, but had been living, with the rest of their family, in Honley, where they both worked, along with their father, for Messrs. Josiah France Ltd., cloth manufacturers. Archie had actually been underage, being only 17 at the time, and William had been 24 when enlisting. 

Having been treated for four days for influenza, Pte. Stephen Grady (see 5^th April) returned to duty.


Pte. Johnny Smith (see 30^th March) was discharged from 4^th Stationery Hospital at Arques and re-joined the Battalion.

Pte. Johnny Smith

Pte. Edmund Peacock (see 30^th March) joined 9^th Battalion West Ridings. He had originally been a member of Tunstill’s Company but had been invalided back to England having been wounded in November 1915. He reported for duty along with 31 other men and immediately found himself in trenches near Houplines, when the Battalion relieved 6^th Dorsets.

Saturday 8th April 1916

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

Conditions were again quiet, with little to report, other than some desultory German shelling of the pithead at Fosse 10.

Pte. George Henry Hansford (see 7^th January) was admitted via 70^th Field Ambulance and 23^rd Casualty Clearing Station to 9^th General Hospital at Rouen, suffering from ‘trench foot’ to his right heel.

Trooper Claude Darwin (see 6^th April), who had been released from hospital two days earlier, following a period of illness, was transferred from  5^th Australian Army Service Corps (AASC) and joined his former unit, 11^th Australian Light Horse, at Heliopolis. He was the brother of Tunstill recruit, Pte. Tom Darwin, who had recently re-joined 10DWR following a period of illness (see 4^th April).

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.

Pte. Thomas Richard Raylor (see 11^th December 1915), who had been in England since having suffered severe head wounds in November 1915, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service on account of his wounds; he would be awarded the Silver War Badge and an Army pension.

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.

Thursday 6th April 1916

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

What the War Diary described as “a desultory kind of shelling” continued for much of the day, with a few, small calibre, German shells directed against the pithead. Otherwise the day remained quiet.

A number of men from the Battalion were attached for duty with 176^th Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers. Some of these men have been identified: they were Ptes. Alfred John Davis (see 5^th September 1915), Frank William Rabjohn (see 23^rd December 1915), Harold Rushworth (see below) and Thomas Smith (see below). Pte. Harry Shaw (12316) (see 17^th October 1915), who had been at 23^rd Infantry Base Depot at Le Havre since October 1915, was also posted to the Tunnelling Company.

Harold Rushworth was from Shipley and had been one of the men who had enlisted in Ilkley who had been added to Tunstill’s original recruits in September 1914. He was 34 years old and unmarried when he enlisted and had been working as a house painter. In the absence of a surviving service record I am currently unable to make a positive identification of Pte. Thomas Smith.

Pte. Albert John Start was admitted via 70^th Field Ambulance and 18^th Casualty Clearing Station to 2^nd General Hospital at Le Havre suffering from influenza. He was an original member of the Battalion, having enlisted in Skipton on 7^th September 1914; he had claimd to have been 34 years old when enlisting, but was actually 37. He was originally from Tavistock, Cornwall, but his family had moved to Burnley soon after he was born.

Pte. Charles Harwood (see 21^st September 1914) was discharged from 4^th Stationery Hospital at Arques, after treatment for ‘dental caries’, and was posted to one of the Base Depots at Etaples, en route to re-joining 10DWR. In the absence of a surviving service record it has not been possible to establish when he had been admitted or exactly when he would re-join the Battalion.

Major Lewis Ernest Buchanan (see 19^th February) who had been declared unfit for duty while home on leave in England, wrote to the War Office, telling them that, “my health has greatly improved and that I consider myself fit to join my unit in France”.

Trooper Claude Darwin (see 28^th March), who had spent the last month in hospital in Egypt was discharged to return to duty with 5^th Australian Army Service Corps (AASC). He was the brother of Tunstill recruit, Pte. Tom Darwin, who had recently re-joined 10DWR following a period of illness (see 4^th April).

Lt. Charles Frederick Wolfe (see 23^rd March) arrived in France; he would subsequently be posted as Transport Officer to 10DWR.

Wednesday 5th April 1916

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

In between tours in the trenches the Battalion was again billeted in and around  Sains-en-Gohelle, where conditions were generally quiet and the billets regarded as reasonable. There was a danger of German shelling directed against the pithead known as Fosse 10, but there were few shells and largely of small calibre, with no damage reported. There was an intensification of British shelling in the vicinity in the evening and overnight.

A/Sgt. Robert William John Morris (see 9^th March) was now confirmed in his rank.

Pte. Harry Smith (3/11979) was admitted to 70^th Field Ambulance, and then transferred to no.7 Casualty Clearing Station; he was diagnosed as suffering from scabies and also from cellulitis in his right knee. 

Pte. Stephen Grady (see 28^th February) reported sick, suffering from influenza, and was despatched to 70^th Field Ambulance. 

L.Cpl. Maurice Harcourt Denham (see 3^rd April), recently released from 2^nd Canadian General Hospital at Le Treport, having been treated for an ingrowing toenail, reported for duty at 23^rd Infantry Base Depot at Etaples.

Mrs. Louisa Ambler, widow of Pte. Harry Ambler (see 25^th March), who had died of wounds on 25^th March, wrote to the Regimental Depot at Halifax asking for further information about her husband as she “has heard that her husband has died of wounds”; no information could be provided to her as no official report of his death had yet been received. 

A payment of £2 2s. 11d was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late Pte. George William Elliott (see 28^th January), who had been killed in action in January; the payment would go to his widow, Emily.

Tuesday 4th April 1916

Front line trenches west of Angres

The day was much colder and dull but passed off without incident. Orders were received that the Battalion would be relieved overnight by 9^th Yorkshires and would return to their former billets in and around the pithead known as Fosse 10, at Sains en Gohelle. From their position in the support trenches Tunstill’s Company provided guides (from 7pm) to direct the relieving troops into their front line positions. In addition to the usual arrangements for the relief orders were issued that, “extra bandoliers, at present on the men, will be handed over to the relieving unit … (and) … all gum boots will be carried out around the man’s neck and will be handed in to the Brigade gum boot store on the way to the billets”; the recent improvement in the weather had clearly been enough to obviate the need for gum boots in the line. The relief was completed, without reported casualties, around midnight.

CSM Robert Cameron Watson (see 3^rd April), who had been wounded the previous day, died in the care of 23^rd Casualty Clearing Station; he would be buried at Lapugnoy Military Cemetery.

One man, Pte. Willie Dean, was officially reported as a casualty on or around 4^th April. In the absence of any further information, the circumstance, detail and treatment of his wounds have not been established, but he would be evacuated to England. Pte. Dean was a 26 year-old iron moulder from Halifax and had been an original member of the battalion.

Pte. George Edward Western (see 21^st March) was reported as having been ‘found in bed after reveille’; on the orders of Capt. James Christopher Bull MC (see 21^st March) he would be confined to barracks for seven days.

Pte. Thomas Warburton (see 23^rd March), who had been held in detention since suffering a self-inflicted wound to his right hand two weeks previously, appeared before a Field General Court Martial. The Court found that, “even admitting the man’s statement is true, the accident was due to carelessness in carrying a rifle with the safety catch up” and therefore found him guilty of “negligently wounding himself”. He was ordered to undergo 56 days Field Punishment no.1.

Lt. Dick Bolton (see 28^th March), one of Tunstill’s fellow officers with ‘A’ Company, re-joined, following one weeks’ leave to England.

Pte. Roy Sayles joined the Battalion. He was an apprentice tailor from Huddersfield; he had enlisted in August 1915 and had given his age as 19, although he was in fact only 16 at the time (born 29^th September 1898).

Pte. Tom Darwin (see 28^th March) re-joined the Battalion from the Infantry Base Depot at Etaples where he had spent the previous two weeks following a spell in hospital.

L.Cpl. Richard Cleasby Chorley (see 31^st March), on leave in England, following recent treatment for scabies, applied for a one day extension of his leave due to having been delayed on his homeward train journey. He was currently staying at the Bull Hotel, Sedbergh, where his father was landlord. His application was accepted and his leave extended to 10^th April.

Monday 3rd April 1916

Front line trenches west of Angres

The morning was rather hazy but as the day progressed so the weather improved and it became “very pleasant”. There was further activity from aircraft on both sides and continued exchanges of rifle grenades which on this occasion resulted in three casualties in the Battalion. The night passed quietly. Among the casualties was CSM Robert Cameron Watson (see below); he suffered severe wounds and would be evacuated to 23^rd Casualty Clearing Station. L.Cpl. Harry Clark (see 4^th January)  suffered injuries to his back when part of the parapet was blown in by one of the explosions; his injuries were relatively minor and he was treated locally. Pte. Heaton Whitaker was also wounded; the nature of his wounds and the details of his treatment are unknown but he would be evacuated to England and admitted to hospital in Northumberland. Once sufficiently recovered, he would be posted to 11DWR at Brocton Camp. He was from Haworth, where he had worked in the textile mills, and only 18 years old, having enlisted underage in 1914. Pte. Joseph Chapman Syers (see 14^th September 1914) was also wounded; he appears to have remained with the Battalion.

Robert Cameron Watson was a 41 year-old married man from Kircudbright; he had previously served 14 years as a regular soldier with the Dukes before re-enlisting on the outbreak of war.

Pte. Heaton Whitaker

Image and additional information by kind permission of Andy Wade and 'MenofWorth'.

L.Cpl. Maurice Harcourt Denham (see 13^th March) was released from 2^nd Canadian General Hospital at Le Treport, having been treated for an ingrowing toenail, and was ordered to join 23^rd Infantry Base Depot at Etaples.

Cpl. Vincent Edwards (see 24^th March) having completed a ten day leave period following hospital treatment, joined 28^th (Reserve) Battalion Royal Fusiliers. He would later be commissioned and join 10DWR.