The Green Howards in the Great War: 8th and 9th Battalions A.P.W.O Yorkshire Regiment

Chapter 1

Your Country Needs You

Assassination

On the bright sunny morning of Sunday, 28 June 1914, the visit of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Duchess Sophie, to Sarajevo, the capital of the Austrian province of Bosnia-Herzegovina, was to set Europe alight. It was a National Fête Day and the streets were decked with flags and thronged with people as the royal train arrived at the station. Security arrangements began to go wrong almost immediately: when the royal cars left the railway station, the security detectives were left behind and only three local policemen were present with the royal party. The Archduke with General Oskar Potiorek, the Military Governor, travelled in an open-top sports car, which, at the Archduke’s request, travelled slowly so he could have a good look at the town.

As the car drove along Appel Quay, near the Central Police Station a tall young man named Čabrinović threw a hand grenade at the car. The grenade bounced off the folded roof and exploded under the following car, wounding several officers. Despite the threat, Archduke Ferdinand ordered a halt to find out who had been injured and it was now that it was discovered that a grenade fragment had grazed the Duchess. The Archduke arrived at the town hall in an outrage and decided to visit one of the wounded officers who had been taken to a nearby military hospital; he would then continue with the visit to a local museum as arranged. The cars left the town hall and went back along Appel Quay, this time at high speed, but the drivers had not been told of the unplanned visit to the military hospital. The first two cars turned right at the corner of Appel Quay and Franz Josef Street but General Potiorek shouted at the driver of the third car that he was making a mistake. The driver, obviously confused, braked sharply and brought the car to a halt, in the worst possible place. Standing right at the spot was a young Bosnian, Gavrilo Princip, who emerged from the crowd only some three or four paces from the Archduke’s vehicle. Drawing a pistol, he fired two shots into the car; the first mortally wounded the Archduke and the second struck Duchess Sophie in the abdomen. The car raced to the Governor’s official residence but the bumpy ride only made matters worse and the royal couple were pronounced dead shortly after arrival. If Austria-Hungary was to continue as a world power this outrage could not go unchallenged.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand visited/Sarajevo on 28 June 1914.

If Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, this would bring in the Russians, but Austria was allied to Germany and as early as the beginning of July the Kaiser, who was a personal friend of the Archduke, is reported to have said: ‘The Serbs must be disposed of.’ Then, on 23 July the Austrian Government sent a strong memorandum to the Serbs listing ten demands, the strongest of which was that Serbia allowed Austria to suppress local agitation and subversion directed against Austria. Although the Serbs accepted most of Austria’s conditions, Austria deemed it inadequate and declared war. The nations of Europe rushed to mobilise: the Tsar, Nicholas II of Russia, tried to maintain peace but the Russian Army mobilised on 31 July. To counter this Germany declared war on Russia, having first offered France the chance to stay out of the conflict and remain neutral. The French, however, remained true to their treaties and refused the German offer; the Germans therefore declared war on France. Having declared war on France, on 3 August the Imperial German Army crossed the border into Luxembourg and threatened to move into Belgium. Belgium had mobilised on 2 August and the Germans sent an ultimatum on the pretext that the French had crossed the border into Belgium. The French in fact had retired so that they could not give any cause for such an accusation. The note said that if the Belgian Army could not stop the French the Germans would, and if the Belgians resisted then it would be considered an act of war. The Belgian border with Germany was covered by a line of forts and the key to these was the fort at Liege on the river Meuse. The main invasion of Belgium began on 4 August, although a cavalry patrol had crossed on 3 August. The German cavalry moved quickly through the frontier towns and villages, their task to capture the bridges over the Meuse before the defenders could blow them up. They also had the task of providing a screen in front of the advancing infantry and carrying out advance reconnaissance.

Gavrilo Princip fired the shots that started the First World War.

Meanwhile, in England mobilisation had been ordered. In July, more by luck than planning, the majority of the Territorial Army were on their annual camp. At Deganwy in North Wales, the York and Durham Brigade, consisting of the 4th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment, 4th and 5th Battalions of the Yorkshire Regiment (The Green Howards) and the 5th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry were in camp. The Deganwy camp was situated on the sloping grass land dominated by the Vardre Hill overlooking Conwy Bay on which are the remains of the castle around which many fierce battles were fought.¹

The various units were recalled to their home drill halls. At Saltburn the possibility of war did not prevent thousands from spending a happy afternoon beside the sea. The crowds were able to witness the departure of the West Riding Brigade, who had been in camp at Marske, making their return to their home drill halls.² Meanwhile, in Wales the 4th Battalion, Green Howards (4/Yorkshire Regiment), recorded that:

The last two days of the first week of training were full of alarms and excursions of all kinds, and on 3 August the battalion camp was broken up and each company proceeded at once to its own headquarters.³

The experience of the 5th Battalion (5/Yorkshire Regiment) was slightly different. On arrival at Deganwy the battalion was ordered to provide a Special Reserve Section, which at once returned to Scarborough. On Sunday, 2 August a second Special Reserve Section was dispatched to the North Yorkshire town. The next day the camp was struck but owing to the congestion on the railway, the battalion did not entrain until 2.30 p.m. There then followed a long journey as the train made its way via the various company locations, finally arriving at Scarborough at 2 a.m. on 4 August.

The Belgians had a treaty with England and when the German Army crossed the Belgian frontier, Britain sent an ultimatum to Berlin. No reply was received so the British Empire declared war on Germany on 4 August 1914. On the night of 5 August a German ship was arrested in the Tees. The arrest was reported in these words:

GERMAN SHIP SEIZED IN THE TEES

Shortly after midnight last night there was a rather exciting scene at Messrs T.R. Dent’s wharf at Middlesbrough. In the silent hours there was heard the tramp, tramp of a posse of police in charge of a number of officials including the Chief Constable. Arriving at the Emma Minloss, the order to halt was given and they marched up the gangway and arrested the ship and the ship’s company in the King’s name. At about 03.00 hours she proceeded in the charge of a Tees pilot to the Middlesbrough Dock, where she is now moored.

The crew had made themselves scarce but on enquiry they were found to consist of ten Germans, two Russian Finns, two Assyrians and one Black man, a British subject.⁴

New Armies

The British Regular Army at home in England and Ireland had been organised as an Expeditionary Force of six infantry and one cavalry divisions and at a meeting of the principal ministers, including Lord Kitchener, who became Secretary of State for War on 6 August, the decision was taken to send four infantry divisions and the cavalry division to France on 9 August. The other decision taken by Kitchener was to raise New Armies, each army of six divisions of civilian volunteers, and on 7 August he appealed for 100,000 recruits. He launched his poster ‘Your Country Needs You’ and the recruiting offices were packed with men, over 10,000 enlisting in five days.

Most Territorial units were moved quickly to their war stations guarding vulnerable points on the coast and along railway lines and docks. It was stated in the Middlesbrough press that of 4/Yorkshire Regiment, 94 per cent had volunteered for foreign service. Likewise, 81 per cent of 5/Yorkshire Regiment had done the same.⁵

Throughout the locality the news of Lord Kitchener’s appeal appeared in the local press and this was added to by owners of collieries and iron and steel works offering inducements to their workforces to enlist.

In Seaham on the Durham coast Lord Londonderry had the following statement printed:

THE WAR

THE LONDONDERRY COLLIERIES LIMITED

Lord Londonderry desires to intimate that for the present he will make the following allowances to the families of such of his workmen as may be on active service as members of the Regular Army, the Reserve Forces, the Territorial Force or the Yeomanry, as an augmentation of the allowances or pay made by the Government and the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Families Association. But his Agents may at their discretion alter all or any of the proposed allowances, either generally or in any particular case to such extent as circumstances may in their judgement render necessary.

The first weekly payment will be made on Friday next the 11th inst.

Scale in addition to the provision of house or rent and coals free of charge the following weekly allowances:- Wife and five or more children not earning wages, 8s; wife and four children not earning wages, 7s; wife and three children not earning wages, 6s; wife and two children not earning wages, 5s; wife and one child not earning wages, 4s; wife only, 2s.

The places of all men on military service in any capacity will be kept open for them.

While other firms were not quite so generous, they did offer incentives for men to enlist:

J Newhouse and Co., Limited. Middlesbrough suggested that as the call for Volunteers is now very urgent, all their eligible employees who are not already at the front should offer their services. The firm are willing to reinstate any employee so doing at the end of the war.

Miners and boys with a pit pony and tub. Hundreds of men and boys from the Durham Coalfield enlisted in Kitchener’s Army.

Likewise, Colonel Chaloner of the Guisborough estate gave instructions to his agent Mr Clarke that:

All men renting cottages on the estate who have volunteered are to have their cottages rent free whilst away on service and if any of his estate employees who are married have been taken their wives and families will be properly looked after.

At the same time at South Bank, the firm of Alexander Cross and Sons Ltd were prepared to pay a £5 bounty to the first fifty men who offered and were accepted for enlistment into Lord Kitchener’s Army, and they further undertook to find employment for all such men on the termination of the war. Furthermore, the North Eastern Steel Company Ltd of Middlesbrough stated that all men employed by them who had already been called up to join the colours or who responded voluntarily to Lord Kitchener’s appeal for recruits could rely upon getting the same jobs back immediately on their return. The company said it had taken the necessary steps to see that all dependants left by men on service would not suffer want. In many cases the fact that their families would be cared for eased the difficult decision regarding enlistment and soon after the newspapers were reporting the departure of men to regimental depots far and wide. On 31 August, the Middlesbrough Daily Gazette reported that:

Richard Chaloner let his workmen have their cottages rent free while they were serving.

Blast furnace men at Bolckow’s works in Middlesbrough.

Enthusiastic scenes were associated with the departure from the mining areas of Cleveland today. About thirty from Lingdale, Skelton and Boosbeck left amid the cheers of a large crowd. Whilst a further sixty departed from Loftus and Skinningrove, receiving an equally enthusiastic send off. At the coast in Saltburn it was reported that the recruits were also heartily greeted. Those congregated at the station included, Major Hamilton and officials of the Cleveland Miners Association. The area of East Cleveland responded well to Lord Kitchener’s appeal with a further batch of twenty-four men leaving Guisborough on the morning of 31 August with more to follow.⁶

Indeed, all over the region the work of recruiting continued at speed. In Stockton a new recruiting office was opened in the Borough Hall, opening at 9 a.m. The work went on until 9 p.m., although the numbers reported as enlisting were low. Across the river in Thornaby, Sergeant Major Gibson and two clerks worked in a recruiting office at 48 Mandale Road, where over sixty men had enlisted. Further along the River Tees in Darlington, recruiting was described as ‘brisk’, but more ex NCOs were required. Corporals up to the age of 42 and sergeants up to the age of 45 could re-enlist and be given their old rank back.

In East Durham, miners were reported to be flocking to the colours. On the night of Sunday, 30 August a train left Horden with ninety men on board and when it stopped at Easington a further twenty got in. Over that weekend the coastal colliery villages provided some 300 men to the various regimental depots. Up the coast at Seaham Harbour, some 250 men volunteered and in the local Territorial unit, the 1st (Durham) Battery, Royal Field Artillery, every man had volunteered for overseas service. A Mr Horsley of West Hartlepool organised a fleet of cars, which toured all the colliery villages and conveyed many volunteers to the local recruiting office. At Blackhall railway station, where the train only stopped on a Wednesday, a number of men were waiting for a car to take them to Hartlepool, however the promised vehicle did not turn up. A telephone call was made to the recruiting office but no transport was available, and furthermore the recruiting office stated that they ‘had more recruits than they could deal with’. An effort was made to get a car from Sunderland but to no avail. Mr J.J. Prest, the chief agent of Horden Collieries Ltd, desperate to assist those wishing to enlist, sent a telegram to the War Office as follows:

Recruiting notice published in the Middlesbrough Daily Gazette, September 1914.

Kitchener, War Office, London.

Hundreds of young miners physically fit and excellent recruits, unable to join your army at Hartlepool or Sunderland owing to inefficient arrangements of recruiting staffs.

Prest, Castle Eden, Durham.

In fairness it has to be said that a car did eventually turn up and took some men to Hartlepool, although ten others went by train from Horden to Sunderland and a local contractor took another ten in his lorry to Sunderland.

Further inland the MP for Sunderland Captain Hamar Greenwood gave a recruiting speech in front of the White Lion Hotel. In what was described as a ‘stirring address’, ‘he appealed to those men who had the physique and were not debarred by other causes, that they could best serve their country by joining the army’.⁷

Hamar Greenwood, MP for Sunderland, gave a recruiting speech in the White Lion Hotel.

On 1 September at Bolckow, Vaughan and Company’s Cleveland Iron and Steel Works, a meeting of over 3,000 workmen heard stirring and eloquent addresses from local dignitaries. Speakers included the Mayor of Eston, Councillor Trevelyan Thompson and the Vicar of South Bank, Reverend H. Robson. The upshot of the meeting was that some 250 men indicated their readiness to join the colours.

Thursday, 3 September 1914 was the day that over 33,000 men across the country enlisted. At the Assize Court in Durham large groups of men gathered in lines in front of tables, each recruiting for a different regiment or corps. Those joining the Northumberland Fusiliers, the Durham Light Infantry and the Royal Field Artillery were sent away by train to Fenham Barracks in Newcastle later that morning. Others joining the cavalry left for the Northern Command Cavalry Depot, at Burniston Barracks, Scarborough. Those who enlisted into the Yorkshire Regiment gathered at North Road Railway Station around 1 p.m. waiting for a train to Richmond, where they would join the Regimental Depot.

Durham North Road Railway Station, 3 September 1914.

It was reported in The Durham Chronicle:

That some excitement was caused as the young men who had enlisted marched through the streets to the railway station. Thursday 3 September had proved a capital day for enlisting and consequently there was a record number dispatched to their regiments. At the Railway station there was a scene of much enthusiasm. The men who were on the point of departure sang popular songs such as, ‘It’s a Long Way to Tipperary’, and ‘In the Evening by the Moonlight.’ And their friends joined in with them. A gentleman, kindly provided ‘tabs’ and the supply was augmented by a ‘gathering’, i.e. a whip round with all present donating what they could. Cheers were given for the donors and the leading military and naval figures of the present campaign were lustily cheered. The Kaiser was not forgotten, but boos and groans and not cheers were the tribute he received.

Mrs Morant, the wife of the Chief Constable, and Mr H Bottomley arranged for some food for the waiting men.

Before they departed a photographer took a photograph of the large group of men.

The depot at Richmond had been very busy initially absorbing and fitting out the Regular Reservists as they re-joined. During the first three days over 950 arrived at Richmond and on 6 August the first draft of 300 were sent off to join the 2/Yorkshire Regiment in Guernsey, followed the next day by a further 250. As the ‘Kitchener men’ began to arrive the available accommodation began to overflow and empty houses had to be requisitioned for the troops. Any available halls and the old married quarters in the castle were soon taken over. The local population were active in supplying blankets, rugs and all manner of comforts for the men, while the local gentry and farmers supplied straw for beds where needed. The depot was soon so overcrowded that the Commanding Officer was instructed to send 500 men home on furlough. To achieve this, those residents of Sunderland and Middlesbrough were selected and they were paid at their respective town halls weekly by an officer from the depot until called for. It was soon time to start dispatching men to their training areas to form the new Service Battalions of the regiment. The first to leave were those sent to Grantham to form the 6/Yorkshire Regiment. They were followed by 7/Yorkshire Regiment on 7 September and their departure was recorded as follows:

LIVELY SCENES AT RICHMOND

In the old garrison town of Richmond on Monday night and early this morning there were some lively scenes when 1,100 soldiers left by special trains – one about midnight and one at 7 a.m. They had a hearty send off. The men heartily appreciated the generosity of the people of the town for providing amusements and suppers for them at the various institutions.⁸

On Saturday night, 11987 Private Edward Burton, a 27-year-old miner from Eston, was found near Gilling with a large wound in his throat, evidently inflicted with a pocket knife. He was also very wet, revealing that he had spent some time in a river or stream. He had gone to Richmond to enlist and it was stated that he had broken out of barracks. He was taken to the Richmond Workhouse, where he was said to be seriously ill. The outcome was that Edward was medically examined, during which he stated he had been drinking heavily, but the Doctor noted that there was no history of habitual intemperance and there was no history of sunstroke or head injury. The main cause seemed to be strain and alcoholism. There did, however, appear to be a family history as one brother had committed suicide and another was in an asylum. Further statements indicated he was depressed, dull and slow of speech and had delusions. He was removed to the North Riding Lunatic Asylum on the grounds he had attempted to commit suicide by cutting his throat. Then on 17 October his case was brought before a Medical Board and he was discharged as unfit on 20 October 1914.

Army Order No. 388 of 1914 authorised the formation of another six divisions, thus creating a third New Army. These divisions were to be numbered 20–26. In an appendix to the order it was stated that the 23rd Division was to consist of the 68, 69 and 70 Infantry Brigades. It also stated which battalions would form each brigade and that 69 Brigade would consist of the 11th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment, the 8th and 9th Battalions of the Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards) and the 10th Battalion, West Riding Regiment (Duke of Wellington’s Regiment). The 23rd Division would be commanded by Major General Sir J.M. Babington KCB KCMG, with 69 Brigade being commanded by Brigadier General F.S. Derham CB.

We are going down south

It wasn’t until 18 September that the 8 and 9/Yorkshire Regiment were ordered to move. Although the regimental history records the date as 28 September, the Surrey Advertiser confirms it as 18 September in its issue of 19 September, when the paper reported as follows:

FRENSHAM

GREAT MILITARY CAMP

A great military camp has been formed on Frensham Common which has been chosen for the training of twelve divisions (battalions) just added to the Army and yesterday (Friday) the troops entered into occupation, coming from the depots of Yorkshire regiments at Leeds, Halifax, York, Pontefract, Richmond and Sunderland. They are mostly recruits and the majority are without any uniform. With but few exceptions all belonged to the working classes. One or two of the colliers gave evidence of their calling by carrying pit lamps. Several had musical instruments of the accordion type and one fondled a kitten. As a whole they are a muscular lot of men and when ‘licked into shape’ should prove an excellent reinforcement to the allied troops. Many of them entrained on Thursday night and reached Farnham station yesterday morning. The others followed in the afternoon and all on reaching the camp were served a substantial meal, consisting of curried stew, potatoes and bread. Messrs J Lyons and Co of London is the caterers and the meals are served in large marquees. Four of the structures are of extraordinary size, each accommodating a thousand men. There are upwards of five hundred bell tents. The total population of the camp is over eight thousand men.⁹

A large, tented camp sprang up close to the lake at Frensham.

The inside of one of the large marquees at Frensham.

A different view of the camp.

The camp was described in these words, ‘Frensham Common near Farnham, one of Surrey’s beauty spots has been chosen. It is a picturesque spot, rolling hills of heather stretching for miles, with backgrounds of pine trees and in the centre two lakes, one two miles and the other a mile in circumference.’¹⁰

A very large percentage of those who joined 9/Yorkshire Regiment were married men over 30 years of age. The majority came from Middlesbrough and North Yorkshire with the exception of D Company, who were mainly County Durham and Tyneside men. The men in D Company were primarily coal miners, while the other companies had a fair portion of ironstone miners and iron and steel workers from the banks of the Tees.

Chapter 2

Training in the South of England

Frensham was a tented camp and both Green Howard battalions and the rest of the brigade were accommodated in long lines of bell tents, each holding thirteen men, with larger marquees providing cover for the cookhouse, dining tent and quartermaster stores, company and battalion headquarters and a guardroom. For a long time there were no tent boards available so the men had to sleep on the ground. Fortunately the missing boards were issued before the weather broke. The battalions were hampered by two main shortages; firstly there was a lack of trained instructors. This difficulty was overcome by the War Office advertising for ex-NCOs to re-enlist to serve as drill instructors, with no liability to serve overseas if they were over 45 years of age. Secondly, there was a real shortage of equipment; khaki uniforms had run out rapidly after the formation of the first New Army. There were also shortages in equipment and weapons, all of which had to be overcome to complete the training of the New Armies. For a number of weeks the men paraded in their own civilian clothing, which owing to the nature of the training was wearing out rapidly, as were the men’s boots. Owing to this lack of uniforms and equipment, training was somewhat limited to route marching, squad drill, physical training, running and entrenching.

Blue uniforms had been issued, but no caps.

Major E.G. Caffin arrived at Frensham with no other officers, one sergeant major and one quartermaster sergeant and 1,070 other ranks. So, if there was a shortage of NCOs, the shortage in officers was even greater. There were insufficient regular officers for there to be one in each battalion of the 23rd Division, and in at least one case the command of a battalion was given to a retired officer, commonly known as a ‘dug out’. Command of 8/Yorkshire Regiment was offered to Colonel C.J. Spottiswoode, formerly of the 2/Green Howards, but almost immediately he had to resign owing to ill health, the baton being passed to Major A.J. Stephen from the 11/West Yorkshire Regiment. Along with those already mentioned the officers that arrived in September were Captains J. Rikey (B Company), S. Robson (D Company), Lieutenants T.L. Webb (A Company), F. Dodgson (C Company), Second Lieutenants J.D. Dellus, J. Tilly, G.M. Whitehead, A.R. Thompson, C.S. Simpson, R.F. Nicholls, E.N. Player, A.J. Peters, B. Jessop, and R. Evers. Captain A.C.W. Cranko was adjutant with Lieutenant C. Ridsdale as quartermaster.

The regimental history also records those officers that initially joined 9/ Yorkshire Regiment at Frensham. Command was originally given to Colonel H.C.F. Vincent CMG, late Indian Army, but after the move to Frensham Major H.G. Holmes of the Reserve of Officers of the Green Howards assumed command with the rank of lieutenant colonel. At that time other officers include Major C.E. Ross (late Indian Army), Captain H.A.S. Prior (from 4/Yorkshire Regiment), Lieutenants L. Crawley-Boevey (late 2/ Yorkshire Regiment) and W.F.C. Beckett, along with Second Lieutenants A.C.L Parry, E. Collier, W.T. Wilkinson, W.F. Greenwood, F. Hermiston, R.G. Pettle, G.K. Thompson, R.H. Tolson, C. Barraclough, A.B.H. Roberts, P.M. Courage and A.C. Barnes, with Lieutenant R.E. Wall as quartermaster.

As equipment became available the men began to look more like soldiers.

During their free time the men made their way into Farnham to have a look round the town and to find a hall where they could read and write letters home. Many made inquiries as to the location of the ‘Free Library’. Coming from the industrial north they were used to reading rooms and miners’ welfare halls, but these were not to be found in the rural villages of Surrey and Hampshire. Thanks to the efforts of Morton Latham JP of Frensham, the National School at Frensham was opened to the soldiers. Pen, ink and writing paper was provided free of charge. It was reported that the men were most respectful and showed a keen sense of the regard thus displayed for them, and were repaying the kindness shown by their magnificent behaviour. In Farnham E. Kempson, Chairman of the Urban District Council, convened a public meeting in the Corn Exchange to raise funds for a recreation room for the use of the troops on Frensham Common. It was estimated that £100 to £150 would be required. The motion being passed, the Reverend F.G. Webster, chaplain to the troops at Frensham, thanked the meeting on behalf of the men.

9th Battalion officers at Frensham. Standing L to R: 2/Lt G.K. Thompson, 2/Lt E. Collier, 2/Lt F. Hermiston, 2/Lt A.C.L. Parry, 2/Lt R.H. Tolson, 2/Lt R.G. Pettle, 2/Lt W.F. Greenwood, Seated: 2/Lt A.B.H. Roberts, Capt H.A.S. Prior, 2/Lt P.M. Courage. (Green Howards Museum)

It was also related that the men were especially pleased with the catering arrangements of Messrs J. Lyons and Co. who had provided sausages, brawn, tinned meat and boiled eggs for breakfast and at tea time bread, butter, jam and cake. Furthermore, the dinners were just as good with plenty of everything. The firm chartered a special train every day to bring foodstuff and supplies from London. Additionally, a number of footballs were provided, which were kicked around the common followed by huge crowds of players, enough to make up thirty or forty teams.

In glorious weather on Sunday afternoon the men at Frensham basked in the sun. There was a respite from training and at 3 p.m. religious services were held. The largest assemblage was that of the Church of England, which was conducted by the Reverend F.G. Webster. The troops were marched from their battalion lines and formed a square in which a local brass band accompanied the singing of hymns.

The men of 69 and 70 Brigades had scarcely been at Frensham two weeks when His Majesty King George V, accompanied by Queen Mary, made an inspection of the tented camp. Their Majesties passed down the ranks and visited the kitchens and mess tents. In the kitchen the King spoke to Mr Lee, the manager of Messrs Lyons and Co. Ltd, and asked a number of questions and expressed delight in all he saw. Their Majesties were particularly interested in the methods of cooking, most of which was done by steam. In the course of the inspection the King and Queen spoke to several men and after shaking hands with the chief officers motored back to Aldershot amid the ringing cheers of the troops.

Officers of 9th Yorkshire Regt at Frensham 1914–15. L to R: 2/Lt A.B.H. Roberts, 2/Lt W.F. Greenwood and 2/Lt A.C. Barnes. (Green Howards Museum)

Inspection by King George V and Queen Mary.

Photographic evidence shows that some of the men on parade had been issued with red jackets and blue trousers but the vast majority were still wearing their civilian clothes. In one battalion a separate squad had to be formed of all those with no seats in their trousers. These men were tactfully lined up with their backs to one of the large marquees. That afternoon a further 1,000 men from the depots in Pontefract, Richmond and Newcastle arrived to bring the battalions stationed at Frensham up to strength.

There was now a need for more men as some of the earliest enlistments were found to be unfit. Men such as 14443 Private George Hall a 22-year-old seaman, from Whitby of 8/Yorkshire Regiment; 13017 Private Charles Allan, a 30-year-old labourer, from Linton, Lincolnshire, of 9/Yorkshire Regiment; and 11408 Private George Allan, a 25-year-old bottle maker from Sunderland serving with 8/Yorkshire Regiment, were all found to be unfit and unlikely to become efficient soldiers, and were therefore discharged under King’s Regulations paragraph 393iiic, during October 1914. It is no reflection on the men themselves as at this stage the route marching and physical training were arduous and some loss of men was to be expected. However, the late Brigadier Holmes then commanding 9/Yorkshire Regiment, wrote in the Green Howards Gazette in 1924, ‘In these early days there was little difficulty in eliminating wasters, and non triers, whether they were officers, non-commissioned officers or men, and after two or three months the battalions gradually got into shape.’¹

He also wrote: ‘Soon however platoons were to be seen doubling in extended order across the common, or digging hard at some trenches which were supposed to be constructed on the very latest principles from France, while in the distance some particularly keen or ambitious Company Commander might be seen leading his men in an attack on the Devil’s Jumps or Kettlebury Hill.’²

Another amenity supplied by the people of Farnham was hot baths. Eight baths were installed by Messrs Mardon and Mills above the skating rink in Castle Street, where for 2d a soldier could get a hot bath between 1400 and 2000 on a Saturday and a Sunday, and from 1600 to 2000 on a weekday. Donations for fuel for heating the water was made by Messrs Taylor and Anderson Ltd. Mr H.J. Wells and Mrs Andrews donated towards the purchase of soap and the Farnham Swimming Club provided towels. The townsfolk also organised concerts and the Corn Exchange was filled with soldiers when a number of ladies gave recitals and an orchestra played for the men.

However, not all the locals at Frensham were kindly disposed to soldiers, as reported under the heading:

ASSAULT ON A SOLDIER

Thomas Chiverton of Headley was summoned for assaulting 11235 Private Hugh McMillan of the 9th Yorkshire Regiment. The Private stated that whilst returning to camp at Frensham at 10 p.m. on 3 October, he overtook the defendant and asked him for a ride in his wagon. Thereupon, defendant struck him on the head with an iron hammer. Two comrades of the complainant corroborated. Defendant an old man said he was pestered with requests for a ride on the way home from Farnham. Complainant was clambering into the wagon when he struck him. Mr Chiverton was fined ten shillings.³

The same day as the court case, 3/9110 Sergeant Edward Henderson, 9/Yorkshire Regiment, a 46-year-old miner, died in hospital at Aldershot. His body was taken home to Ferryhill, County Durham, where he was interred at Duncombe cemetery in the village.

As time went on uniforms became available, not the khaki of the Regular Army that the new recruits hoped for, but blue serge, which today is known as, ‘Kitchener Blue’. However, the issue of these uniforms meant the men were starting to look a little more like soldiers. One soldier of ‘Kitchener’s Army’, writing home to Chester-le-Street, told his family, ‘We are expecting to get our uniform. It will not be khaki. It will be plain blue with no red stripe on the trousers; it is thought the caps will be the old Glengarry style. This uniform will be used until we are ready for the front, when it will be changed to khaki.’⁴

Kitchener man wearing old Slade Wallace leather equipment, braces belt and a single ammunition pouch.

This was followed with the issue of pieces of old Slade Wallace leather equipment: a belt; two straps, an ammunition pouch and a water bottle. Some Lee-Metford rifles were also issued, which allowed some arms drill to take place. The weapons were handed from one squad to the next squad of men to begin their training.

Meanwhile, the depot kept sending men south to join the battalions. On 14 October, fifty-two men were sent to the 8/Yorkshire Regiment and nine days later, on 23 October, forty left Richmond bound for the 9/Yorkshire Regiment.⁵

One area of training that instructors or officers could not improve on was the men’s ability at entrenching. With the majority of men in all the battalions of 69 Brigade being miners, they would be 6ft beneath the surface before the officers could explain the task to them. This would hold them in good stead when they arrived in France. In the middle of November the weather changed and the camp turned very muddy, but the worst happened during a gale on Wednesday, 11 November:

During the gale of Wednesday evening one of the Y.M.C.A. tents at Frensham Camp was blown down. There was danger from the fact that the tent was lighted by oil lamps which fell, but owing to the canvas being saturated no damage was done, the soldiers quickly stamping out the flames. There was sufficient warning for most of the occupants to escape, but Mr Edmonds, who was in the centre of the tent at the time, was enveloped in the folds of the canvas. He was,