Harrogate Herald - 6th June 1917

To Our Boys on Service

Dear Chaps,

Not many ,men have had leave of late, and so my callers have been few. You can understand that I was pleased on Wednesday to have visits from three of our lads. First was Drum-Major G Procter, master of the brass band of the Beechwood Boys. He is of the firm of Procter Brothers, Tewit Park garages. That establishment is closed now, because both brothers are serving their country. They will have to go on our list showing the men who have given up their work and business to fight for the homeland. Drum-Major Procter was in splendid form, and had a good deal to tell me about the Beechwood Boys which I cannot put in print. It is something of a coincidence that he should call just after I sent that gramophone to the Beechwood lads. While he was still with me in walked Second Lieutenant H Lupton, also of the Beechwood Boys. he is a son of Mr William Lupton, surveyor to the Knaresborough Rural District Council. These two had much to talk about, and I heard many familiar names in their chat. Lieutenant Lupton has been wounded twice. He is rather pale, but seems to be getting on well. he was transferred to the Beechwood Boys from another unit. As some of you know he makes a fine figure of an officer. His manner is quiet, but determination is behind it, and we all know that such boys are there when wanted.

Soon after the last named left me in came G A Enderby, son of Mr and Mrs Enderby. The father, you know, has the garage of the Grand Hotel, now the Officers' Convalescent Home. He is attached to the Naval Air Service, and is a mechanic at one of the repair depots out in France. He came home Monday before last, and returned yesterday. He has not had leave since last Whitsuntide. Enderby told me of rather a singular incident. A Leeds boy met him and asked him if he knew Frank Sharman, of the West Yorks. Almost immediately after he received his Herald, and on opening it saw with sorrow Frank Sharman had been killed. I should say Enderby is a very clever mechanic. He looks well, and is happy and content in his work.

By the way, I should have told you long since that Second Lieutenant H Lingard, RFA, son of Mrs Lingard, Queen Parade, has been mentioned in despatches. The honour was first published on the 13th of May, but I could not get hold of the particulars. I understand that Lingard previous to this award had received two, what I believe are called, meritorious cards for deeds highly creditable to him. You will be interested to know that his sister is one of the ladies who comes every Wednesday morning to help us to put your papers in wrappers speedily, so that you may get them without delay.

To Lance Corporal H R Shepherd : We received your letter and acknowledge it; we may not have published it all, but possibly referred to it in the abbreviated reference to letters, and that is perhaps why you missed it. Thank you for writing.

Private Oscar Thomas (148574) C Company, 11th Platoon, 78th Battalion Grenadiers of Canada, was wounded on the 18th of April, and is in hospital in England. Will anyone who knows, send me his address, as it is required by a friend?

Will someone kindly send me the address of the Record Office of the Royal Fusiliers City of London Regiment? Mr Fogg, manager of the Queen Hotel, has asked me for it, and I am anxious to oblige him.

I spoke of Harry Gledhill being missing in mine of last week. I have just had Mr G W Gledhill, the father, in, bringing me the sad news that he has definite information his son was killed in action. He showed me a personal letter from the Chaplain to himself speaking in the highest terms of Harry's character and services to his country. He enlisted in the 15th West Yorks in October, 1914, went out to France April, 1915, and was in that awful gas attack of December 19th, 1915. Returned to France in June, 1916, was wounded July 21st, 1916; returned to France again January, 1917, and was transferred to the 12th. He gave his life for his country in action on the 3rd of May. He was the eldest son, and lived at 7 Skipton Road, aged 24.

You will see in another portion of the Herald that Private Long has been wounded in the shoulder. This occurred on Empire Day. I am glad to say that he is doing well. His brother-in-law, Private J W Bussey, came to give me the information. I was interested to hear that he himself had been wounded at Thiepval on the 25th September, 1915. To me he looked well and sound. I could not see that he had lost his right arm to the shoulder, for he appeared in a smart suit of mufti, and had his new artificial arm. It certainly is ingenious. He can bend it at the elbow, adjust his hand, fingers, by an arrangement, lock it in the position required, and actually use a spade. There is one thing he cannot do, that is, put his coat on by himself. I presume he has been to Roehampton, where they fit the men up with artificial limbs. He was very much impressed with what was accomplished there. For instance, he saw men who had lost both legs walking quite easily with artificial ones. Bussey hopes to start at the Post Office as a deliverer of letters. Before the war he was a joiner by trade. I can tell you it was a great source of happiness to find he had come out so well, and that he is so happy and capable.

As you will suspect I have a very large family of soldiers and their connections. Many people pay me the compliment of thinking I know everything and can do everything. I was rather amused this morning when a gentleman came in to ask me if I spoke or read Russian, as he wanted a letter from his brother, who is in Russia, translating, or something in connection with it. I was not fast in this instance, for I remembered that here was a very nice Russian at the barber's shop of J S Smith, Royal Parade (otherwise Mrs Milner), and I at once sent him across to the man, who, I am sure, would do everything to help him. The Russian language is going to bulk very large in the commercial life of our Empire, and the young men of our country will be well advised to know something about it, especially those in export business.

By the way, I a getting on nicely collecting cricketing outfits. My friend Mr Parkin, of 8 Victoria Avenue, seeing in the Gossip, that cricketing things were wanted, kindly brought me two pairs of cricketing trousers and a shirt. I tell you this so that if in want of such things you can write (as some of the lads have done me the honour to describe me) "dad at the Herald Office".

Mrs Denison, 21 Diamond Place, Cold Bath Road, has had an official notice that her husband has been missing since May 3rd. On the 2nd of May she had a field postcard from him, and that was his last communication. Would you boys kindly send me any news of him that you may happen to have? His address is, Private H E Denison (32818), 15th West Yorks, B Company, 6th Platoon.

You will be grieved to hear of the death in action of Lieutenant Alexander Mantle. The lives of all you brave boys are precious to us beyond price. You are our greatest asset, now and in the future. Others may follow in the work pursued by the fallen, but the void can never be completely filled, and the world will be the poorer. Take the case of Lieutenant Mantle. Here was a modest young man, a reservoir of intellectual force. His mental, moral, and physical buoyancy was such that he always came to the top. The basis of his combined forces was personal magnetism - the quality which has such stimulating influence on others less highly strung. He was sensitive to every current of ennobling impulse. At Rugby, and later at Caius College, he became an inspiring force and example. Had he lived, his country would have owed him much in the varied spheres of national development. It was not to be. Yet satisfaction must abide with us that he was able and did focus his rare qualities upon the greatest task that could fall to the lot of man - the defence of his glorious country. The way of Providence are, indeed, inscrutable. We cannot understand why he should be taken from us, yet must be content to believe that it was to fulfill some higher purpose. The brilliant light of his living personality has gone out, but it will continue to glow in our memories, an incentive to all conscious of his character and abilities, moving them to higher and higher endeavour. This much we can realise. Perhaps it is the answer to that problem which is troubling us. May this thought comfort his dear parents in their hour of sorrow.

Mrs Turner, of Chestnut Grove, who had not heard from her son for some time, and for whom she asked us to make enquiries about a fortnight ago, had a letter from him on Sunday. He has been in hospital, and just left Karari Convalescent Camp after malarial fever. Jasper Stephenson, better known to his friends as "Daisy", who joined up with Turner three years ago, and was thought by some of his friends to have "gone under", it is gratifying to hear, is all right, and has been suffering from the same complaint as Turner - malaria. Both lads have been together from the time thy enlisted, and have been in Salonica two years. Turner was page boy at the Grand Hotel up to enlisting.

Private W Archer (West Yorks), son of Mr Archer, 9 Pearl Street, Starbeck, is reported missing. I should be glad of any information any of his comrades can give me for his parents, who are anxiously awaiting news of their son.

I had a visit on Monday from Corporal G W Sawbridge, who is at St George's Hospital. He is making good progress. Whilst lying at the Casualty Clearing Station he saw Albert Duncan, who was the stage manager at the Kursaal, attending to the electric light. Other Harrogate men he came across were Joe Gibson, out porter; Petch, fruiterer; Hartley, who worked at Mr Hunter's Cambridge Street shop; and "Micky" Harrison, painter, he spied at the entrance of a dug-out as he was coming out of the line. He also saw Sergeant Morrison and Malthouse, of Knaresborough; Tom Saville, E Sherwood, the St Luke's cricketer. This recalled pleasant memories, as Sawbridge was also a player with this club. My visitor was only half a mile from his brother Frank Sawbridge, who was wounded the day after Sawbridge, and subsequently died.

He recovered from that wound, but had only been back a day when he got hit again on Easter Monday. A younger brother was also wounded the same day as Frank. He is having ten days' leave before returning to a training centre. Harrogate was brought prominently to mind on one occasion by the display of a large poster in a YMCA hut, with the invitation, "Visit Harrogate for health", and a view of the Prospect Hill and Stray. He speaks highly of the attention received in hospital. He has put on three stone since arriving in England.

Private E A Graham has been wounded. His parents, Mr and Mrs A Graham, 1 Northumberland Court, Harrogate, have received only this bare information from the Record Office, York. They have endeavoured to learn more, but have failed. If any of you can send me news, please do so.

The weather is warmer now, and it is very acceptable after the coolish winds. Harrogate and district is surrounded by new market gardens, and they are doing well. At first there was a scarcity of rain, and so the Corporation thoughtfully provided water taps to ease the situation. For some time since we have had just sufficient wet t make artificial watering needless. Our amateur market gardeners are quite pleased with their experience and look it.

I wish you could see Harrogate just now. The town was never so lovely. The foliage has received no check, and the trees are beautiful. There is more gold in the sunshine than I remember. If it were not for the cheering sun I am afraid we should be just a little downcast. For one thing there are many boys missing, and this weighs heavily on our hearts. Still, we endeavour to keep hopeful, and refuse to believe that anything irreparable has happened to them. In the majority of cases our faith is rewarded. Now and again we find that a man reported missing has been killed.

Saturday is the Salvation Army Flag Day, and I hope that a goodly sum will be raised. The work this Army is doing all over the world is inconceivable, and it truly merits our staunchest support.

Yesterday I was sunning myself in front of our building someone touched me on the shoulder. I turned to find my old friend Mr Hamilton, who, amongst other things, took so much interest in local amateur operatic and dramatic work. He has been some time in New York, and happy in his work. He told me a good tale. You remember Choate, who was at one time American Minister in London? Well, he was a very witty man, and one of the raciest after-dinner speakers. You will perhaps have seen that he died rather suddenly after welcoming Mr Balfour and the rest of the Commission to America. One day Mr Hamilton went to a club where a friend pointed out to him Mr Choate. Hamilton remarked that he had met the gentleman once, and so his friend took him up to have a word with him. The friend said, "Mr Hamilton has had the honour of meeting you, some time since". Choate turned very sharply , and said, "I remember; it was at a St Andrew's Club dinner". Mr Hamilton, who is a Scotchman, by the way, replied, "Quite right", and was exceedingly pleased that Choate remembered him. Just as the great lawyer was leaving them, and in a confidential voice said, "Mr Hamilton, whenever a Scotch gentleman tells me that he has met me before, I say, 'Yes, it was at a St Andrew's dinner', and I am invariably right.

With Mr Hamilton, yesterday, was, his son - a fine, upstanding, intelligent young man. He wore the blue band on his arm, denoting that he had been wounded. He is at the Grand Hotel Convalescent Home for Officers. It was like these keen young men of ours for him to say he was anxious to get back to the Front. He meant it.

Lance Corporal Walter Smith (201463), one of the Beechwood Boys, is missing, and his friends cannot obtain any information. Will you try and help them?

Dr Newport - I have received your letter saying that you have heard a rumour that your brother has been killed. We have no such information, and my advice is not to believe it. almost daily some such rumour is afloat, and they almost invariably turn out untrue. Don't lose faith. Keep smiling and Providence will smile on you.

We received news yesterday that Private H Abbott (West Yorks) is missing. If you can obtain any information regarding him, please forward it.

Private Alfred Thirkill (West Yorks), son of Mr and Mrs J Thirkill, 10 Grey Street, Oatlands Mount, Harrogate, has been missing since July, 1916. will you see if you can get any information respecting him? The eldest son was posted as missing in 1914, and nothing was heard of him for a long time, and then his death was presumed by the War Office.

W H Breare