Harrogate Herald - 14th March 1917

To Our Boys on Service

Dear Chaps,

Many years ago William Laycock was a prominent man in local affairs. In his youth he was a champion walker. For many years he was a member of our governing body. On Wednesday I had a visit from his oldest son, who resides at Boroughbridge, and carries on the same occupation as his father did. Much of the son's work as a plasterer is done in Harrogate. The errand of my visitor was a sad one. He sent two boys to serve their country, the youngest of whom is supposed to have gone to France; the other will shortly go out to one of the other Fronts. No word has been heard of Victor, the one who went abroad, for eighteen months, and you can imagine what an anxiety has fallen upon the father, mother, and wife. We shall try to give a portrait in the picture page of both lads. I would like you boys to see if you can gather any information about Victor Laycock. I am sure you will try, and if you succeed kindly let me know as soon as possible. He was a sapper. His wife has communicated with the War Office, but has been unable to obtain any information regarding him. Eighteen months is a terribly long time to contemplate the possible death of a dear son. Help us to relieve this distressed family if you can.

The Rev Prebendary E B Cook, vicar of St Martin's, Leeds, has been appointed to the newly created office of Diocesan Missioner for the See of Ripon. One of his duties will be, as representative of the Bishop, to pay a visit to various parishes as helper and adviser. The rev gentleman is a broad-minded man, who has done much to secure happy relations between Churchmen and Non-conformists. Mr Cook expects to leave St Martin's about the beginning of May, and will take up his residence in Harrogate.

You will be pleased to see that the matron and three nurses of the Grand Duchess's hospitals have been honoured for their invaluable services. This will be particularly acceptable news to the patients, past and present, of these hospitals. Nurse Macrae, the Matron of Heatherdene, I think, has received the Royal Red Cross decoration.

I hope the ASC section commanded by Captain Mantle has got the two large parcels of comforts sent on February 17th. I should be glad to know when they arrived.

On Tuesday night nine special constables were sworn in by Dr Gibson and myself at the Police Station. This makes 120 special constables, the full number allotted by the West Riding authorities. The strength is not actually that, because some of them have been called up by he military authorities.

Three boys names Leaf have joined the Army. I hope to give their pictures in the Herald soon. By the way, in speaking of these boys, whose name is spelt Leaf, we couldn't treat them in the plural as "Leaves" could we? Excuse the joke. All honour to the brave lads!

The Herald this week is further reduced in size. It takes on an extremely handy form and, I believe, will prove as full of news, though in briefer form, as ever. The change will result in a saving of paper. The master printers have had an interview with the authorities over paper. I told you an order had been made that no bills larger than a double crown [30"x20"] would be printed, but it is hoped that this order will be modified, so as to create less hardship upon the printer and allied trades. But we must wait and see.

Wednesday night was one of the coldest we have had, and just a little snow fell on Thursday. At intervals, however, the sun came out, and two processes seemed to alternate - freezing and thawing.

Stanley Leedale, brother of my Naval friend, Arthur Leedale, has been transferred from France to this country, where he is performing military duty.

For the first time in many years the Harrogate Literary Society expects to have a deficit on this year's working. The organisation has been very successful for a long time, so they will not be discouraged if there is this setback. There is a probability that some of the remaining lectures may do so well as to avoid a deficit. It is to be hoped so.

On Friday night a mass meeting to further National Service was held at the Kursaal. The principal speaker was the Right Hon. Robert Munro, KC, MP, Secretary of State for Scotland. The Mayor presided. You will probably know that this National Service has to do with work of various kinds, which means the gathering of substitutes to relieve men for military service. The authorities have been recruiting women for appropriate work with the armies. More applications have been received than are likely to be utilised, for the present, at all events.

I am more than ever impressed by the sympathy and generosity of the Harrogate people towards our soldier boys and their families. You may see indications of this in the columns of the Herald, but its readers are by no means aware of the extent or the nature of the liberality. There are many cases wherein not only sympathy, but more practical help is necessary. These cases are not such as can be advertised. There are quite a number of ladies and gentlemen in the town who are always ready quickly to help, and so much good is done in secret. It really is wonderful after all the calls made upon the purses of our townspeople that there should be no diminution of this wonderful generosity. It is exceedingly pleasant to me to know that there are good people to whom I may suggest an opportunity of helping in an emergency. I have quite a number of these friends, and my gratitude towards them seems to increase daily because of their oft-recurring manifestations of kindly feeling towards our soldiers ad their dear ones. Only today a good woman came to see me on behalf of four soldiers in the town who were in want of socks. She had known them quite casually, but with that rare motherly instinct (for she is a good mother) she came to see what could be done for them. I need hardly say that she did not go away empty- handed. You know what it is when you have to march long distances. It is trying enough for the feet when stockings are whole and boots fairly comfortable; but when the former are worn, knotty with holes and wrinkles - well, you know what it is!

Early on in the war, when I found hat a few soldiers' families and wives were requiring a little temporary assistance I did not hesitate to appeal in the Gossip column. I found, however, that this publicity was not conducive to the comfort of mind of the recipients, for they were sometime subjected to remarks that were not quite kind. On this account I have changed my plan, and gone about these little things in a quieter way. A number of good Harrogate people have enabled me to do this most successfully.

You will have noticed the review column in the Herald, and that it has been signed by certain initials. I can tell you now that Mr H Spencer Toy, one of the masters at Ashville College, has rendered us a great service by reviewing books that we had not time to examine. He was under the B1 category, and, therefore, exempted for a time, but he is now called up, so will be unable to continue this work. We shall be very sorry to lose him, for he is a man of great discrimination and literary power. He also has youth on his side, so his future, if spared, I consider promises rich fulfilment. He has recently been made an Associate of the Institute of Journalists. A man dos not gain this distinction without having shown literary attainment and actual journalistic experience.

A short time ago the Herald pressed the claims of the teachers of our Council Schools for a war bonus, which had been refused. If you have friends who are teachers you will be glad to know that the Minister of Education has enforced the necessity of increased salaries for this class of public servants. You see, schoolmasters and mistresses are not of the fighting kind. They do not seem to be able, or to care, to fight for their own interests. There has been little inducement for young men and young women to enter this profession, because it seem to lead nowhere, the emoluments were so unsatisfactory. The shortage of teachers has emphasised the necessity of better pay. These men and women are responsible for the brains and characters of their young charges - the men and women of the future, who recognise their indebtedness to their instructors when they grow up. They deserve salaries in keeping with their responsibilities. The only charge that can be laid against them is - they are too modest.

I know you boys are interested in all matters that concern us at home. Therefore, in times past, I have told you of various difficulties which beset different sections of our community. I mentioned the trouble we have had over the matter of labour at the Herald works. The recent order relating to paper printing gave us a great deal of uneasiness. It seemed if we lost a man we could not engage another. I am rejoiced to say that I have received pleasant news this morning from the Newspaper Society. The first I read was that newspapers are "not included in Group 6 - paper printing". In other words, newspapers are indispensable. I told you some time ago a military representative at a tribunal had said that weekly papers would receive less consideration than the dailies. The communication gives us the information that no such instruction has been issued by the director of recruiting - no amalgamation of weekly newspapers as stated by the Military Representative at Peterborough. Mr Neville Chamberlain says that no such instructions have been issued by his department, though where two papers in a town could agree to amalgamate by mutual consent, he would be glad if they did so.

It would have been a hardship on weekly papers if they had not been treated as equitably as the morning and evening papers. I am sure that you will consider that the Herald has done some work for the Army and the nation. To restrict its operations would not have been conducive to local and other interests. Many weekly journals have done good work, therefore it is only just that they should be treated as equitably as the authorities now propose to treat them.

There was another point in which hardship might have been felt. Theatrical companies, large manufacturers, such as Pears, Bovril, and Reckitts, have big stocks of printing already in hand. At first it was not clear whether these could be posted under the new regulations. It has now been definitely stated that such printed stocks in hand may be used until exhausted; but after the 17th no larger bills than those described as double crown are to be worked by the printers. There may be later modifications even here. It would certainly give relief to the situation. Retail tradesmen are hardest hit. They will not be able to advertise except in the newspapers; they cannot do so on hoardings or by circular. This seems a little unequal, because it will have the effect of confining the tradesman to the newspapers for publicity. Although I am heavily interested in newspapers, and in one way the restriction is to my advantage, nevertheless I feel bound to say it is

hardly fair to the retail traders and other interests. The country, however, is prepared to accept anything that is demanded, even to the extent of some inequality. But that, boys, is British patriotism, which is superior to all private or personal considerations.

You may remember Mr Leonard Wright, who lived some time at Rossett Holt, Harrogate. I regret to say that he has passed away. He left property to the value of £253,900. His bequests included £500 each to Dr Barnardo's Homes and the Northern Counties Institution for granting annuities to governors and Ladies in reduced circumstances; £100 to the Royal Victorian Institution for the Blind, Newcastle; £300 to the Church Army; £250 to the Salvation Army, South Shields Branch; and the Tyne Lifeboat Institute, South Shields. He came, I believe, originally from, South Shields.

The late Mrs Joseph Lowden, of Birk Lea, Harrogate, left £500 to her coachman, John Newman, who was killed prior to Mrs Lowden's death, by a motorcycle accident; £100 to her cook; £50 to her gardener; and £10 to each of her other servants. Ultimately the Leeds General Infirmary will receive £1,000; Home for Incurables, Mauldeth Hall, Manchester, £500; Cookridge Convalescent Home, £500; Leeds Unmarried Women's Benevolent Society, £500. The lamented lady left £58,292, net personality £52,167.

You will have noticed that there have been very few soldiers home on leave of late. Those who received this privilege have represented urgent and very particular cases.

It was a rousing meeting on Friday night for a project of national Service. Enthusiasm reached a high point, and our genial neighbour, Admiral Bridgman, in particular, struck the resounding note.

The Herald the other week placed Tit-Bits, amongst other publications, in the category of "papers" which are not forwarded by the Post Office free with magazines, etc., intended as reading matter for soldiers at the Front. This is wrong. Tit-Bits and kindred publications are not classed as newspapers, and are eminently suitable fro free postage, and very acceptable, as you know, to the boys. In justice to Tit-Bits I make this explanation.

Mr T W Wright, of Eastville Terrace, New Park, Harrogate, has two sons missing, and if any of you bys know anything of them I am sure he would be grateful of any news. Private Samuel Wright has been at the Dardanelles and Egypt, and then went to France, and has been posted missing since July 14th. Private Frank Wright left Yorks for Hants, and then went to Salonica, and has not been heard of since October.

When the late Councillor J G Knowles died he left his business, of decorator, to his brother's son, Harry Knowles, who was at the Front. I have just learnt with great sorrow that Harry has been killed. He was in a dugout having his tea when a shell struck it, killing him and two other boys. A fourth soldier had gone out on duty and asked his comrades to have his tea ready. When the fourth returned they were digging the three out of the wrecked dugout. I am waiting anxiously to hear who the second and third lads were. It is quite possible they may be Harrogate boys. The loss of anyone's boys touches us, yet it is only natural that our main anxiety should be for our own, and I am waiting. I have only just heard the sad news of Harry's death, and perhaps I shall learn something before we go to press. Ripon lads will be able to identify Harry's father when I say that he was the landlord of the Studley Royal Hotel during the later years of his life. Harry's half-brother, who was in business as a decorator in Headingley, had taken charge of the Knowles business in Harrogate while Harry was away. The military authorities did grant Harry a couple of months leave when Mr Knowles died. The late Councillor Knowles' sister died some years before he passed away. So there is now no one left of the little household save a cousin, Miss Batters, who lives at Collingham. Miss Batters used to reside over the shop of the firm in Oxford Street. Harry learnt his trade with his Uncle John and became a most expert workman. We all feel so sorry for the bereaved mother, who is residing at Ripon still. But there must be a great consolation in the remembrance of Harry's fine character, industrious life, and sympathetic nature.

We desired that John Harrison, who has been fifty years on our staff, should have a memento of his jubilee expressive of our appreciation of his long and faithful loyalty to the interest of our firm and his affection for our family. Mr & Mrs Harrison favoured a clock, and a clock it was. An inscription plate had to be attached, so it was not until last Wednesday we were able tom reach the pleasant ceremony of presentation. It was handed to him in our music room quietly in the presence of my wife, eldest son, and myself. It was an opportunity for me to tell Harrison how much we appreciated his friendship and service. He has indeed been a faithful friend to us, in joy and sorrow, in sickness and in health. The bonds between us are strong, and we are proud that it should be so. It is the chief happiness of our business life that we are on the same happy terms with all our staff. We are more like a happy family than a monotonous business concern. For this we are duly thankful.

We had very heavy rain all last night, and this morning not many traces of snow remain. It is Sunday, and I have been Dictaphoning to you some time. It is clear now, but very sloppy.

Aren't you sorry about the Dardanelles report? If such a thing had to be published, which was not all desirable, it should have been postponed until after the war. House of Commons recriminations are very paltry just now, and show what quarrelsome old women some of our legislators really are. We expected Greece to come in and help us over the Dardanelles affair. The Greek Premier promised us, but was unable to carry out his obligations. That was our misfortune and nobody's fault but the King of Greece. There are two patent facts : The expedition eased the situation in Egypt and we diverted a large Turkish force from the front where Russia was fighting. We did Russia an inestimable service, and now spoil it by grumbling and the publication of criticism. It is like making a handsome present to someone and then telling them afterwards that we regretted our generosity. The whole business is pitiful.

Further : Look what our soldiers did out there; the sacrifices they made; the discomforts. By the publication of he report the glorious deeds of our soldiers, including our Colonials, have been discounted, whatever anyone may try to think and say. The brilliancy of their heroism has been bespattered.

I am looking forward to your coming home and taking your share in public life with joy and confidence. The weight of your influence and commonsense will be the salvation of our future public life. In your experience you have rejected the dross and preserved the pure metal. Your voice and influence will teach the timer politicians what it means to be real men.

Sam Hempsall, the well-known tenor, who has been some time on projectiles, has been called up for military service. He would have gone before, but would have had to leave at home a delicate wife (Rachel James, the singer). She died just before Xmas, you will remember. Willie Hudson, of Hudson Brothers, ironmongers, has been on projectiles, but is now also called up. He has a wife and three children.

Second Lieutenant Lynn Breare, who is home on leave to attend to the sale of his farm stock and settle his affairs, is confined to bed with German measles. We was about as late as Monday.

W H Breare