Harrogate Herald - 11th April 1917

To Our Boys on Service

Dear Chaps,

You know from experience how important it is that the Thursday before Good Friday should be a favourable one for visitors arriving. Well. Thursday was a wretched sample. It blew and it snowed. It is Good Friday morning, and we have a regular Easter sky. Clear, blue, and brilliant sunshine. There is snow, but the streets and footpaths are dry, the air is warm, and with the exception of traces of snow just such a day as we should wish for Easter. It is fortunate; not only for the visitors, but for the many people in business who have been working hard in consequence of shortage of labour. The Kursaal concerts opened on Thursday, but I am sorry to ay the night was so bad the attendance was poor. There is no concert at the Kursaal tonight (Good Friday), but a picture show bearing the title "Ora Pro Nobis". The three picture houses are open with appropriate films.

On Thursday morning I was delighted to receive a visit from Private Reff Laycock, of the West Yorks. You will remember he is the elder son of the late Tom Laycock, solicitor. Reff was returning that night to the Front after ten days' leave. He looks well, having developed into a strong, self-reliant man. He has not had a days' illness since he first went out in September, 1914. Neither has he had leave for fifteen months until last week. You will know Tom Spencer, the greengrocer, [Spencer Brothers, fruiterers, 19 Cambridge Street] of Cambridge Street? Well, he is with Reff. Fred Parker, who was the manager for the Home and Colonial, was with him, but has since been transferred to another unit. I was interested to hear from Reff that his younger brother, Stanley Laycock, is in the naval Air Service. He likes his job so well he has signed on for twelve years service. He knows the way over the channel very well. I have not seen Stanley, to my knowledge, since he was a boy. I am sure all his friends will be as pleased as I am that he has found the Air Service so much to his taste that he has decided to make that his career. I was sorry to hear from Reff that his good uncle is so ill that there seems little hops of his recovery. You will remember him very well, especially if you have ever been after the hounds. He was an enthusiastic "footer" always after hounds. Despite Reff's unfavourable report, I am still hoping that Mr Laycock will be spared us for some years yet. He is one of those men we all feel jollier and better for meeting.

Amongst soldiers in training in Harrogate there are many clever musicians and singers. One was a very skilful organist and composer. He had not passed high in scale of recruits (a C something, I think), and it was hoped that under those circumstances he would be discharged, and be available as organist at St Peter's Church. I am sorry to have to tell you that this man could not stand the strain of training, and after a day on he range passed away. This is one of the melancholy cases, heightened by the pathetic fact that he had only been married a few months. I hope such cases are not numerous. In the main new recruits seem to take kindly to the military life, and soon some to like it.

I hope our firm has seen the last appeal cases. We have in our bindery a man who does the work of ruling paper for commercial books. As so many are dependent on his work we felt bound to appeal in his case, though we are always reluctant to do so. He was given until June, and then has to go. I do not quarrel with the verdict at all, notwithstanding the difficulties with which we shall be faced.

You will be surprised to hear that our versatile friend, Mr Douglas Blair, who has so long occupied a prominent position at the London Joint Stock Bank in James Street (and another member of that staff, I understand) is likely to be called up. It is difficult to imagine how Blair can be spared, for the bank is understaffed already. One sure thing is the wounded soldiers in hospital will miss him very much, for he has put in many hours entertaining them.

By the way, I have nothing further to report as to the Harrogate concert party for the Front. I think, however, I can assure you that you are likely to see Gordon Williams, the banjo player, out your way. You know how clever and versatile he is? His talents are too pronounced to remain unemployed whilst he soldiers want cheering strains. You may wonder why he is not in the Army. The simple reason is that he is older than he looks - above military age.

I told you in my last the Dr Neville Williams had been ill, and that I had not heard how he was getting on. The very afternoon of our publication day I had the satisfaction of seeing him pass our buildings looking his old self. You will be glad to hear this.

Weren't you delighted to hear that the Americans are coming into the fray? The Yankees do not do things by halves, so as things develop you will be gladder still they are in with the Allies. I see it is proposed to make a present of £100,000,000 to the French nation. You must understand that during the American War of Independence the French gave the new country money, and helped them in many ways. This proposed 100 million gift is a return of the money in question with interest. It is a nice idea, and will fill the Americans with much satisfaction. They all know the history of their own country, and their indebtedness to the French.

You will have noticed that the longer we live the more we value old friendships. We welcome and appreciate new friends, but lean more and more upon the old ones. It was his feeling which promoted me to ask for information regarding one whom I have known and met daily for many years, but had not seen for a week or two. I feared that he was ill, and took the only course possible, and that was asking in the Gossip for information from his fellow-workmen. Perhaps you may know the old gentleman; at least you have seen him many times. He is W Parker, a gardener, who has been in the employ of the Corporation for 36 years. During that time he has only had one day off through either sickness or pleasure. And he has worked out in all sorts of weather. Well, some of his friends hastened to let me know that he had been transferred to another portion of the town for his work, and that was the reason I have not seen him. I feared he was ill, therefore relieved to know he was in good health. Finally I received a welcome letter from Parker himself.

It is Easter Sunday morning. A typical day of the season. Last night we put the clocks on an hour, and this morning had the strange consciousness that time is momentarily out of gear. When we look at the clock we calculate the winter time, and know that yesterday the same hour was seven, not eight o'clock. We shall soon get into the way of it, however, and begin to think in summer time. The change is one of the greatest improvements that I can remember. Now, when we have done our work, we have a long light night before us, and the extra hour to do many things we couldn't accomplish under the old time. Indeed, life seems a daily holiday rather than all hard work.

The people at home are slow to recognise that the food problem is something real and pressing. The various Government departments are continually appealing to the press to help them to bring home certain facts essential to the understanding of the situation. I am well informed, I can assure that unless there is a further economy in bread and wheat flour we shall not last out until the harvest. The remedy is very simple. So simple that one can hardly realise it as actual truth. But truth it is that we can laugh at the u-boat campaign and get through nicely if everyone will eat one pound of bread less per week. Now, I would ask you boys in writing home to your friends to make a point of impressing upon them to eat one pound per week less bread. When you tell them, they will realise that the situation is really serious. They will do anything to please you. So you see you cam perform am immense service by doing the little thing I ask you now.

We have experimented in our own house on the saving by baking our own bread. It is a very good economy. It is not much use talking of economy of potatoes now, for there are scarcely any left. Besides, potatoes are not essential. People who can afford to buy dearer food should leave bread and potatoes for those who cannot. I dare say you, like some other people, think the Government should ration the people without delay and be done with it. I tell you the actual incontrovertible truth when I say it is a fact : compulsory rationing will not help at all, for the following reason : There are four classes of workers : those in munitions shops or on the blast furnaces; needlewomen and domestic servants; the agricultural labourer; the clerk and the secretary worker. These different classes cannot be placed on the same level when serving out bread. One would be drawing too much, whilst another too little. Under a compulsory scheme it is impossible to adjust the distribution according to individual needs. So you see, the only way is for everybody to eat one pound less of bread. That is the solution of the whole difficulty. And what I have told you, I am sure you will not hesitate to urge your friends at home to fall in with the suggestion.

I have heard many people say that the Germans are more thorough over the food problem. Here is another fact : The German rationing has been an utter failure, because of the reason that I have already given you. It is quite patriotic for the well-to-do to buy dearer food, leaving he cheaper for those who have not the means to purchase anything but the cheaper. As for sugar, if everyone would go without it in their tea we should have abundance for the children. Sugar is essential to the health and growth of children. Grown-ups can do without it. You boys can further help by taking care not to waste any foodstuff where you are, and by inducing your comrades to be just as careful. It is not necessary for you to go short of anything yourselves, but it is essential that there should be no waste anywhere.

It is with much grief that I tell you that we have heard the worst regarding Lieutenant Norman Appleby, who was missing from March 29th. On Monday morning Mr John Appleby, the father, of Glen Roy, East Parade, came in to tell me that he had had a letter from a fellow officer of his son conveying the sad news. It was during an operation on he enemy trenches, the 29th March, that Lieutenant Appleby in the height of his heroic work was killed instantly, without pain or suffering. No man could have fallen under more heroic circumstances. The success of that operation, we are told, was largely due to the determined and gallant way in which Appleby carried out his work. His conduct inspired the men under him to victorious endeavour. He fell just as he had accomplished his task. It is comforting to know how much his battalion feel his death and the loss of his rare personality. I cannot speak of him more, save to assure that his life throughout was on a level with his glorious death. Whilst glowing with pride in his British pluck, you will give sympathetic thought to his dear, bereaved parents.

I am sorry to tell you of the death of another Harrogate soldier. You will remember that Private George Herbert Skinner, of the 1/5th West Yorks, son of Mr & Mrs Tom Skinner, 5 Cheltenham Road, Harrogate, was posted as missing. Nothing further has been heard of him from July 1st, 1916, until now. Mrs Skinner came in almost the same moment as Mr Appleby to tell me her loss. They had news from the War Office that Skinner was killed in action on the 1st or 3rd July, 1916. Before the war he was employed at the Harrogate Post Office as postman, having joined that service as messenger when quite a boy. He was educated at St Peter's under Mr Andrews. I had a long talk with the mother, and did my best to offer her consolation so far as words and sympathy could avail. I could gather this much from her : Skinner had always been a good boy. This one thought remained uppermost in the bereaved mother's mind, and it served to relieve the gloom of her sad depression.

Mrs J W Lowrey, 21 Bower Road, Harrogate, writes to tell me that her son's letters are being returned marked "Hospital, location unknown". This refers to Driver Osborne Lowrey, 46743, RFA, France. Mrs Lowrey requests me to ask you boys if you will endeavour to ascertain in which hospital her son is. Mrs Lowrey tells me that her eldest son writes from Egypt to say that he has been transferred to the Camel Transport Corps.

The person who wrote me for A W Parson's address will be able to obtain it from his wife at 9 Albert Road, Bilton.

News paper has just gone up in price a third. That is not the worst of it. Paper is very scarce. It is likely that we may have to reduce the size of the Herald next Wednesday, but not to the extent of the war sample we issued one week.

Private G Dudley has written me asking for a helmet. I shall be pleased to supply him with one, but he has not sent me his full address.

W H Breare