Harrogate Herald - 13th June 1917

To Our Boys on Service

Dear Chaps,

It was on Thursday, at about 12.40, that we received a wire announcing the attack on the German position, Messines Wytschate Ridge, and, of course, crowds revelled in the good news when they read it on our windows. Friday morning, we heard all about that gigantic explosion of mines which preluded our attack. It seems that Lloyd George knew what was to happen, and asked to be called at 3 o'clock in the morning, the time of the commencement of the affair. He heard the explosion at his house, as others did. Expecting it, I was glad to see that it had come out successfully and strictly according to programme. What patience, combination, and tenacity! We at home are dazed with surprise, admiration, and joy. To appreciate its full significance will take time. hope we shan't burst with pride in the meantime.

You would notice that I asked anybody to give a wounded soldier a motor lift from Harrogate to Leeds to see his friends, as he couldn't go by railway train. I am glad to say a lady and gentleman are prepared to give him that privilege, and hope the time will be soon. Today I have heard he is not so very well, and the visit is postponed. It is difficult to find anyone with petrol now-a-days, especially private people, so I am relieved it is likely to come off.

My friend in Boulogne wired me on Thursday that Mawson left for England on the 28th, and that Jenkinson, the son of the cab proprietor I told you about, was leaving for England immediately. It was very nice to receive this telegram. I went at once to the cab rank opposite where Jenkinson's father stands to find him, but was sorry to hear he was home ill, and had not been able to turn out, even at Whitsuntide. I consulted the good hearted cabbies there, and they agreed they would get the information to the father, so I hope the news will have cheered him up and hastened his recovery.

I was at a loss at first to identify Mawson; but, strange to say, a letter from my son who is at the Front, reminded me that he was J Mawson, years ago one of the farm boys of Mr Whitley, Darley - in fact, at the time when my son was studying farming there. Remarkable how promptly and curiously information for you boys turns up, isn't it?

Bandsman C Thompson is in Egypt. I think he and others will be interested to hear that his son, S Thompson has enlisted, and has joined the Army Veterinary Corps. He has only been in the Army a week, but is now come on six days' leave. he came in to see me looking fit and well satisfied. I am sure the father will be proud to know that his son became a soldier of the King as soon as age would permit.

I had a further pleasant surprise, on Thursday, when Private Ireland, of the KRR, looked in. he came only the night before, so he had lost no time in coming to see me. This is the first leave he has had in thirteen months. By the way, he told me that Trevor [?], of Harlow Oval, was with him, likewise W Kendall, whose father is engaged at the peat baths of the Royal establishment here. Ireland enlisted at the same time as Benton and Turner, one or both of whom worked at Mr Hales' wine merchant, also Ingham, who, I believe, was at the George, but is now invalided home. Turner was killed the first time over. At St Eloi, Ireland's lot were over first. You will remember that I had occasion to mention Ireland's mother at a time when another son of hers was wounded, and she was anxious about him. As soon as Ireland reached me he asked me if I had received his letter. As a matter of fact, I had not seen it, but thinking it was amongst a number I had still to peruse, I said I had not seen it yet. It turned out his letter did not reach me until Friday morning. So you see he arrived before it. I gathered one important point from Ireland, and it was that some of the boys did not like to ask me for things they really needed badly. Now, I would say to you lads; I hope you will not let any such mistaken modesty prevent you from telling me. Please understand it is a pleasure to my readers and us all to be able to find out those things of which you stand in need. A large number of people promptly scan the Gossip column and the "Boy's Letters" on Wednesday morning on purpose to ascertain what they can send out. They would not, for the world, have you feel any obligations. If you are pleased with what you get that is quite sufficient happiness for them. You know yourselves that if you do a good turn to a pal you feel very happy and comfortable inside afterwards. Well, your friends at home have just the same sensation.

Some time ago a lady asked me to obtain the address of a Canadian soldier in hospital who was a friend of hers. On Thursday a lady came in with a soldier. Whose name was Private O L Thomas, of the Canadian Forces. This was the very man whose address the lady requested, and she herself came with Thomas. I was glad to see them. Thomas got his wound at Vimy, and eventually arrived at a hospital in Cardiff. He found out from the Herald that his address was wanted. It seems to me all these Canadian lads are made in the same fine mould. Thomas is a jolly chap, intelligent, sympathetic, and running over with good nature. What we do owe those Canadians and other Colonial boys!. it is no use trying, we can't say it.

Lots of you Harrogate boys will know that bright-eyed little chap who looks after the lavatories in the gardens on Prospect Hill. You have often seen him in the streets forging ahead with his crutch and stick, therefore you know that he has lost his leg. As I was going to Court on Friday morning he stopped me, with an unusually animated smile. He said : "If you don't see me again you'll know I'm in the Army". At which I smiled. He then told me he had been to York the day before, and, though it was obvious that he had but one leg (for he has not an artificial limb), the farce of a medical examination was gone through. Oh, yes, lots of little things like that happen when all the previously rejected are bound to come up for re-examination. My genial friend did not seem a bit put out. He regarded it as a huge joke. I fancy I see you boys smiling as you read about it.

Didn't the German air chaps catch it in the last English raid? Ten of them out of sixteen brought down, and we don't know how the other six got on. This brilliant achievement has reassured your friends at home very much. The previous raid was rather a grave affair, so that we welcomed the antidote. You know that where you are our airmen are on top of the others, but the people at home don't so fully realise it. I think they are beginning now, though. The young sportsmen of England make rare pilots, don't they?

We are having beautiful weather just now; much warmer, especially after the showers which come occasionally at night. The amateur market gardeners are labouring under fortune of good weather conditions. A friend of mine has been a little perplexed, however. He wanted to plant some vegetable marrows in his plot. He consulted a professional, who told him one thing, whilst another professional gardener, seeing what he was doing on his plot, advised him to do quite the reverse. To be strictly impartial, he is trying both ways, and expects to find out for himself who is nearest the mark.

Private C E Webster has been the subject of three conflicting rumours. First he was reported killed, then missing, thirdly prisoner of war. His father, Mr Charles Webster, of High Winsley, Burt Yates, happily has received a letter from him saying that he is a prisoner in Germany, taken on the 3rd May. It is remarkable that this intimation from Germany should have come so soon as little over a month from the time Webster was captured, yet his father has had a postcard in this brief space. The period of suspense which preceded it, however, was trying, and we are glad to know that what has happened is the least of the three misfortunes.

Next Saturday, June 16th, is the Italian Flag Day in Harrogate, an object with which our people, I am sure, will sympathise.

I am glad to tell you that your good friend, Mrs Murray, of Elm Park, who has not been so well for some time, is very much better. She and her good friend Nurse Clarkson came in to see me the other day, and I need hardly add she brought a number of nice presents for the boys at the Front. Amongst them was the neatest, most compact safety razor I have seen. It takes to pieces, and packs into a metal box the size of those smallest waistcoat pocket wax match boxes you know so well. I was as pleased as a child with a new toy, it is such a valuable discovery in your interests.

You Herald Office boys will be glad to know that Wiley, who worked one of those linos in our office, is with me just at this minute, whilst I am talking to you. He is home on leave and looks very well. perhaps you will meet him some day, when I know you will be glad to see him. He is in the artillery.

A H G Gill, who worked at Preston's picture frame shop, a pal of Wiley's, is also here on leave. Harry Wiley, brother of above, has been "out" a fortnight. He worked with us on the Monotype - the machine that casts the new typo. Herald boys will know Crawford, who works on the same machine. He is off work, not being very well.

I have several good friends at the Front who are always willing to look out for wounded soldiers and send me news of them. I want, now, through the medium of this letter, to thank them sincerely. As I am so busy and private letters accumulate, will they continue to watch this column and do what they can for the boys I name. For instance, Bernard Hollins, when he saw Mawson and Jenkinson mentioned as in hospital, he went to see them, but it was too late, they had gone. I thank him all the same.

And now I have another request to make. Private T Lang, N0. 200920, of the Beechwood Boys, has been missing since May 3rd. he was a painter before the war, with Mr Williamson, of Granville Road. His wife lives at 11 Baldwin Street, New Park. She has had no information from him or of him. Will you boys try to ascertain something about him.

I think it is only just that I should let you know how I managed to find some kind friends to take the wounded soldier to Leeds. Since writing above paragraph I have arranged that he should go on Thursday morning. Well, one of my best supporters and helpers is Mr F Parkin, of 8 Victoria Avenue. When I made the request for a life in the motor car he came to see me and said he would do all he could. As the lady and gentleman who are so kindly sending the car for the boy do not wish their names to be mentioned, this is as far as I can go in expressing my gratitude and giving credit as due. Mr Parkin was the successful go-between.

And now it ids with a very full heart, crammed with delight, that I am able to tell you of another generous action. You know the Harrogate Council school teachers asked for a war bonus. At first the committee or Council could not see their way to go quite so far as was suggested. Yesterday, at the Council Chamber, the Corporation granted the request of the school teachers, and so all end happily. I hop if there is a single ratepayer who demurs he will have the discretion to keep his opinion to himself. Our Town Council has done the right thing and the longer they live the more will they be convinced of it. today I am further convinced of the justice which is inherent in the minds of man.

I think your estimation of mercantile sailors must have gone up since they have all refused to sail on the ship which carries the two pacifists, Ramsey MacDonald and Jowett, an MP for Bradford. We ought, however, to appreciate the difficulty of the Government in being forced to grant them passports. They have done so at the request of the new Russian rulers and are in a quandary. I do not see how they could have done otherwise, but our sailors, bless 'em, have solved the problem so far.

Douglas Blair has been spending the weekend in Harrogate. He came in to see me, and I was pleased to find him looking so bright and jolly. At present he has had a suitable job; in fact, he is a round man in a round hole, which is as it should be.

You will be pleased to hear that Sergeant Fred Coates, son of Mr Fred Coates, of Tower Street, Harrogate, and nephew of Mr J Baker, our fire engine driver, has been awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field. His brother, Sergeant John Coates, you will remember, is a prisoner in Germany.

W H Breare