Harrogate Herald - 17th November 1915

Dear Chaps, 

Many of you knew Mr Midgley Asquith. I am grieved to have to tell you that he died on Wednesday night at half-past six o'clock. It is a strange coincidence that within two or three weeks three of the eldest and most prominent members of the Harrogate Cricket Club should all pass away. First Dr Riley Watson, then Mr J W Ackrill, and now Mr Midgley Asquith. All three were closely associated in the interest of the club. For many years Mr Asquith was secretary. During his earlier days in Harrogate he was manager to Messrs Holroyd, the celebrated photographers of their time, at Esplanade House. Then he commenced business for himself in Royal Parade. Of recent years he has filled a certain post in our business. On Wednesday morning he called at the office and soon after complained of feeling ill. No doubt it was his heart. He was given brandy and eventually sufficiently restored to go home in a cab. His doctor was summoned and first thing prescribed a little brandy. He retained quite conscious and conversed up to a few minutes of his death. Then he turned his head to one side and went to sleep - the long sleep.

He was one of our oldest of our residents - something like 75 years of age and a prominent man at one time. In his younger days he had a fine baritone voice and was a popular singer. He was the first "Mr Johnson" (that is the middle man) of the original Harrogate Amateur Minstrels, and continued in association with them nearly throughout their career. He leaves a widow, who before her marriage was Miss Fanny Baines, sister of the late Mrs William Milner, of the Granby. He has two daughters living, one married, the other single. The married one is the wife of William Fowler, of Fowler Bros., the coach builders and motor engineers, etc. he leaves one son, Mr Tom Asquith whom you will know well. He was a good cricketer and is now captain of the Harrogate Fire Brigade. I am sure you will join me in sympathy for the bereaved family.

Alderman Binns and friends of the smoke room, Montpelier Hotel (you know, that is Mr Carrick's place in Montpelier Parade) have very kindly sent me a football for the Front. A day or two after Alderman Binns, Mr Carrick, and again the friends of the Montpelier Hotel smoke room, sent a second football. This is earmarked for Lance Corporal R Marshall, of the 1/5th West Yorks. I shall duly send it to him. I have now, therefore, two unallotted footballs for you boys. Will those who need them let me know?

A gentleman came into the office the other day and hurriedly left a mouth organ. This I asked for to send to Private N Richardson, 1/5th West Yorks. The gentleman did not leave his name, for which I am very sorry. If I can ascertain who the kind donor was I will let you know, because I am sure you will be glad to thank him. I am sending the mouth organ by an early post.

I want to tell you boys a joke against myself. Gunner Edwards, as you will remember, asked me to endeavour to get through our readers, a melodeon for his lot. I made the request in the "Gossip", but this is the joke. I was in a big hurry at the time, because I was off to London. Now, I was under the impression that the word melodeon applied only to one of those old-fashioned small harmoniums - those portable things which fold up into little room and have but slight weight. So when I asked my readers for the melodeon I was under the impression I was asking for one of those. How I found out my mistake was in coming by the train from London at five o'clock on Wednesday night. A wounded soldier was in the compartment and a gentleman who had to make many journeys to the boys on the other side of the water. It transpired in conversation that the word melodeon turned up. I asked what a melodeon was and I was told that it was one of those square accordions. I felt I had been altogether out of it. I was in a hurry to get home to see a Herald to ascertain what sort of an ass I had made of myself. however, on reading over the paragraph, I found it did not give me away. In future I shall remember that a melodeon is an oblong affair; in other words, an accordion; and a concertina one of those things shaped like a crushed pot hat. I have not yet received an answer to the request for a melodeon, but I have no doubt now that I know what it is we shall be having one very shortly.

Since writing the above, Mrs John Cooper, of High Bridge, Knaresborough, has sent me a very good melodeon with this kind message : "I hope it will help to pass many a happy hour for our brave lads at the Front". It is very kind of Mrs Cooper, and I am grateful to her. I am sending it to you, Gunner J Elsworth. Will you take an early opportunity of writing and thanking her?

Now I will let you into a trade certificate. Melodeons and other reed instruments get out of tune sometimes. If you open the instrument out you will find that the brass reeds have thin metal tongues. If one becomes out of tune draw it out of its groove; but before doing so sound the tongue by vibrating it with the point of a penknife. Then you make sure you have the right note or reed. If the pitch is flat, scrape a little off the tongue near the extreme tip (the flat part, not the edge of the tongue). To do the scraping, insert a thin wedge of wood under the tongue. If the note is too sharp, then scrape a little of the metal off the opposite flat end of the reed (the pivot end). The scraping in either case must be on the tongue itself - the flexible sliver of brass. Test by vibrating the reed with the knife point, frequently, to see you do not over or under reach the true pitch.

On Friday we had a regular soaking day. It was one of the dewliest we have had this year. It was not only wet, but dark all day. I am told, though, that the land wants rain, so we are ready to put up with it.

The new Mayor was duly installed on Tuesday. He has appointed Dr Rutherford his deputy and the Rev D S Guy his chaplain. The Mayoral service was at Christ Church on Sunday. The Mayoress held an "At Home" today.

I think I told you something about Lance Corporal McMillan last week. He was reported killed, but this was an error and we corrected it last week. I am sorry to say, however, that he died in hospital on Friday morning at 5.30. the father came in to tell me on his way back from Leicester. The military authorities wanted to bury Lance Corporal McMillan with military honours at Leicester, but the father desired that his boy should be laid by the side of his mother in Grove Road Cemetery, Harrogate. The death of young McMillan has left us very sad and full of sympathy, for it is a heavy blow to his good father. He, however, knows that I sympathise with him, for I have spoken to him; but he does not know the full extent of my sympathy, neither can I express it.

Lieutenant Jimmy Simpson was in Harrogate the other day. I was told he was looking extremely well. My friends have had a word with him, but I have not. You remember he is the eldest son of Mr David Simpson, who built all that fine property on the Duchy Estate, and was twice Mayor of Harrogate. I am always proud to remember that he is one of my oldest and best friends.

As soon as the new Mayor was elected, the other day, he handed over to the Town Clerk a cheque for £125 to be distributed amongst the Harrogate charities. It was very generous of him, was it not? Ordinary charities are apt to be overshadowed during the war, so that this help will be very acceptable. The Harrogate Infirmary needs funds, I'm sure.

I was looking out of my window the other day. You will begin to think I spend some time there, but it is not so. Now and then I am able to glance out, when, strange to say, I generally see something of note. It was last Thursday and a fine day. I was very much grieved to see two wounded soldiers the worse for drink and taking little pains to conceal it. A good Samaritan sent them to their hospital in a cab. I am sure you will agree with me that this is very regrettable, and you will feel somewhat indignant. You see, the soldiers stand very high in our estimation, and we do not like to see one of them disgracing, by the slightest act, his uniform. This exhibition hurt our sympathetic people very much, particularly those who are doing all they can do for the happiness of the wounded and other soldiers. This is a big world with many people and all kinds of people. We cannot expect that there will be no lapses; but I sincerely trust they will be exceedingly few.

The latest ambition of the Wounded Soldiers Entertainment Committee is to provide road cars to take the wounded from our hospitals four afternoons a week to the Winter Gardens, the pictures and different places, so that they may have a pleasant hour or two on each occasion. This will cost money, but I feel confident it will be managed.

You will be sorry to hear that Private H Rhodes, 1/5th West Yorks was wounded in the right shoulder on the 4th November. He is now at the 1st Canadian Hospital. I am pleased to say, however, that he is progressing favourably. His friends received the official intimation on Sunday morning. His parents, Mr and Mrs Charles Rhodes, write me as follows : "Will you allow me to thank you for the kind letter you sent to Arthur Draper and Harry (through your paper) in regard to their late, dear friend (Percy Smith). You will pleased to know that Harry wrote to Mr Smith previous to being wounded. This is the second time he has been wounded. Again thanking you, Yours truly, C Henry and B Rhodes"

The Mayor's procession to church last Sunday was a more imposing spectacle than it has been for some few years. The large body of troops, consisting of the Yorkshire Dragoons, made a fine show. Then there was the National Training Corps in their new, smart uniforms, and they too, added an interesting feature. The Girl Guides and Boy Scouts, the Fire Brigade, and the Corporation and officials, of course were there. The bright clear day was very favourable. Everything looked its best. The Mayor and his supporters went to Christ Church, where the Vicar preached the sermon.

We still get rumours in the town, of all kinds. Some Canadian visitors staying here heard that there was a Canadian soldier, who had lost two or three limbs, in one of the hospitals. We were asked if we could give and information, as, naturally, those good people desired to see the man. In communication with the various hospitals we ascertained there was no soldier answering this description. The nearest to it was of a man who had lost two limbs, but had long since left Harrogate for Beckett's Hospital, Leeds. I do not know whether he is there now or not. Possibly this was the case which rumour mentioned, but it was some time ago. The incident serves to show you how kind everybody is and how sympathetic. Nothing seems to be too much trouble or expense to do for our boys who are at the Front or who have come home wounded.

On Sunday morning I heard that snow had appeared on the hills above Pateley. Afterwards I learnt that it had come to the hills in Wales. It felt very cold on Sunday, and ???thing like snow, though it was far too bright. I should not be surprised if we had a little before long.

We are very short of errand boys and youths to help in Harrogate. It is an ill wind that blows nobody good. Take our establishment as an example. We have had the greatest difficulty to obtain even one boy. One of their duties is to clear out the rooms in the morning. Mine has occasionally looked as if a tornado had struck it and its appearance suggested somebody might be buried in the debris. This is attributable to the shortage of boys. However, we have solved the problem. A soldier's widow is an excellent substitute. We have one new who is giving to our rooms all the comfort of a well-cared-for home. we are so pleased we do not know how to contain ourselves. In other spheres women are having the chance of the century. They are doing all sorts of jobs formerly done by the more or less tidy male, and the same results seem to accrue, that is, tidiness and efficiency. We have lady letter-carriers, other girls running errands, and performing many duties more satisfactorily.

There is just a little friction at the Baths. In the winter some of the staff work right through. The Local Government Board has ordered economy, and so the committee were proposing to grant a fairly long holiday (without pay) to some of these hands at the Baths. This has caused a little excitement and some talk. The Corporation are carefully considering the committee's proposals, which have been postponed for a month. It is desirable that the public should wait and hear both sides of the question before exciting themselves or coming to a conclusion. Many things are involved in this question and like every other, requires to be treated with judicial fairness and calmness on the part of everybody. At the first blush, to the ordinary observer, it looks very hard to be thrown out of work even for a brief period in war time, but, as I said, it is not well to form an opinion till we have heard all the detail.

You remember Charlie Wood, who got up that three days' show for the boys coming out of the trenches? He is a son of Mr and Mrs George Wood and brother of Miss Connie Wood, who collected those cigarettes and sweets sent to you on that occasion. Well, he is on leave and came in yesterday. He is very fit and jolly. I was delighted to hear from him that you speak of me as "the old man". That's right! I look upon you as my boys and am proud. I would have you regard me as something more than a casual friend, and I believe you do. Do not be afraid of giving me trouble. I have always time for your concerns.

Charlie Wood is the proprietor of a cinema and variety house in Scotland. He turned them over to a manager to run for him while away and enlisted. Charlie Wood has a very responsible job and is happy in he consciousness of duty done and doing. Do you wonder that he is content? He is in the 50th Division. Sergeant Fred Allen, son of Christopher Allen, is in the same locality as Wood, and he has sent me, by Charlie, his kind regards. It is a cold day, but I am warm. Allen's kind thought has done it. Perhaps you remember Allen went to Canada, enlisted when war came, and is at the Front. He married, lately, a daughter of Assistant Stationmaster Knowles. Long life and happiness to them both.

Corporal C Salisbury is a Harrogate boy, the son of Mr and Mrs Joseph Salisbury, of King's Road, Harrogate. He has spent most of his business life in Cheltenham and was there when the war broke out. He joined a Gloucester Division. Yesterday he came in, together with his father to thank me for the Herald. He went out on the 29th March, and since that time has been al right with the exception of two spaces spent in hospital, happily suffering from very minor causes. He came last Friday and returns on Thursday.

Most of us are interested in the happiness of young couples, particularly on the sea of matrimony. For this reason I am prompted to tell you that Corporal C Salisbury was married on Saturday at Cheltenham. I am sure you will unite with me in wishing them a long, happy and prosperous married life.

W H Breare.