Harrogate Herald - 4th July 1917

To Our Boys on Service

Dear Chaps,

I am sorry to commence my letter this week with pathetic news, but I know you are strong enough to take the bad with the good. Our old friend John Knowles, assistant stationmaster, passed away on Wednesday night. There is one happy phase in connection with this bereavement that will give you satisfaction. It is that the soldier sons of whom I spoke were in time to see their father alive. Lieutenant Tom Knowles is in the Lord Furness Hospital, which is the Grand Hotel, recovering from a wound in the leg. Billy Knowles is home on leave. I had been wondering and worrying whether the boys would get home in time. I am much relieved to find that they have had this privilege, though it was a joyless home-coming. Although, towards the last, we were led to expect our friend's death, yet when it did come it was a shock, we liked him so. That old adage is very true - "Misfortunes never come singly". We had not recovered from the loss of Mrs Purvis, the stationmaster's wife, when this further blow fell. We can keep Knowles' memory green, and we shall do so, shall we not? His was a personality not to be forgotten. I grieve to think of the break in this happy family. May the memory of a good husband and father bring them perpetual sunshine!

And now I have something pleasant to tell you. A gentleman called on Thursday and left me £10 for the benefit of my soldier lads and their dear ones, who may happen to be in need of something. I am sorry I cannot give you the name of the generous donor, he desires to remain anonymous. I can, however, assure you this; you lads have no more sympathetic and helpful friend.

On the 6th of last October, at Beaumont Hamel, Private A Simpson was wounded, after being out in France 12 months. He is the son of Mr and Mrs G H Simpson, of Starbeck. For five weeks he was in hospital in France, and has been in Eastbourne the rest of the time. he called to see me on Thursday morning. I don't think he has sufficiently recovered for you to see him out where you are for some time. by the way, he is a member of the North-Eastern Railway battalion. The lad was in excellent spirits. It was good to see him.

Just as I am Dictaphoning to you I have received a letter from Mrs Waddington, 7 Craven Street, to say that her son will not require the Herald for the happy reason that he is coming home for a commission. At the same time I have had a visit from Private J Jackson's sister, who has called to show me a notice to the effect that her brother has been wounded and is missing. This happened on the 3rd of May. He was with the 31st Battalion Canadians, and news such as this first goes to Canada, thence to England; so there is some delay in obtaining information of casualties to Colonial soldiers here. Meantime Jackson's people have been anxiously waiting. I trust it will be discovered that Jackson is a prisoner in Germany, or that he has lost his way and strayed to another unit; or lost amongst the hospitals - anything but dead.

I don't know if you will remember R H Riley, who used to be at the York City, which is now the London Joint Stock Bank, Harrogate, but is now of that bank in Tadcaster. In any case, you will be sorry to hear that he has lost his wife, who died on the 28th of June. Mr Riley was associated with the Harrogate bank at the time when Mr Inman was the manager of the Harrogate branch.

You will be glad to notice that the new Food Controller, Lord Rhondda, seems determined to reduce the price of food. Present indications show that his rule will be firm, not to say drastic.

The Flag Day in Harrogate next Saturday will be for the Lord Roberts Memorial Workshops, the object of which is to teach maimed soldiers to earn a comfortable living.

A lady called the other day to tell me of the case of a missing soldier which she thought might inspire the friends of missing soldiers, who have not heard from their boys, to remain hopeful. A cousin of hers was reported killed in the summer of last year. Nothing further was heard until the friends received a postcard in January of this year from him saying that he was a prisoner but well.

I am sorry to hear official notice has been received, after a long interval of suspense, stating that CSM Hoard Horner, son of James H Horner, joiner, High Harrogate, has been killed in action. you know how we all hoped, when news did not come from him, that he was a prisoner, or at least alive. There was no direct evidence to warrant us thinking that he had been killed - only rumours. Unhappily this notice is official. Horner leaves a wife and three children, with whom, I am sure, you will have the deepest sympathy. The wife has called to see me several times, and I know her so well Horner's death comes very close to me. She is a brave woman, however, and I am sure will take permanent comfort from the nobility of his passing. As for the dear children they must one day derive from their father's heroic death an inspiration and example which will carry them proudly through life.

I should not do justice to Sergeant-Major Horner's memory if I did not point out to you that for 25 years he was a member of the old Harrogate Volunteers, then the Territorials. At one time he had the opportunity of withdrawing from the service. This was after the war had commenced. He resolutely determined to stick to duty, and the proudest of records is his.

I am afraid some of my discharged soldier friends must feel somewhat out of it at times. When they take to mufti we are apt to lose sight of them. These boys must miss the reassuring smile that always greeted them when in uniform. I am glad to say that I am not losing touch with such of my boys. many of them have retired on pensions, and periodically their papers have to be witnessed to show that they are still alive. I do this for many of them, and it is a great pleasure to me to feel that they have not altogether passed out of my life. Discharged soldiers in civilian garb show no indication of what they have gone through for their country's sake. They must sometimes wonder if they are forgotten. Occasionally we hear of the question, "Why are you not in the Army?" being addressed to such boys. the answer generally knocks out of such interrogators their mischievous inquisitiveness. I am also able to keep in touch with the families of dead soldiers by reason of the papers I am called upon to sign for them. This is very gratifying to me.

I have heard something to show me that our skilful Army surgeons have large hearts and deep sympathies. Saturday was Alexandra Rose Day, and I was pleased to see once more Jenkinson, fully recovered, on his cab. He reminded me that I was the first to send him word that his son was in hospital in France wounded. It was some time after that he got notice from the authorities. Since then he has not heard from him, but with one notable exception. It seems the doctor who operated on him happened to find himself in Harrogate. He looked up the directory, and discovering Jenkinson's address called to see him. Now, wasn't that a kind action on the surgeon's part? The old man feels it so very deeply, ands it is correspondingly grateful. The father is anxious to have more news of his son, and if any of you boys can give any information, will you do so? Up to the time of Dictaphoning he has not had any letter direct from him or from any of the doctors or nursing staff. He is in England somewhere.

The authorities have made a concession in the cases of those who are in low categories. If such (B3 to C3 men) have been called up or received notices, they are to disregard them. There are exceptions, and these relate to a man in trades and clerks required in the Army. I presume that if clerks are wanted the military authorities will draw on them. If those engaged in trade are doing work useful for military purposes, then they may be utilised. It applies to all ages.

You will be pleased to hear that W B Burkinshaw has been promoted to full Corporal. I have had a letter from him, and he is much gratified at this recognition. He hopes his friend E Horn, who is expected home on leave, will have a very good time.

To Private Holdsworth : I have received your letter. We have golf sticks and balls, and are sending what you require. Hope you will have a good time with them.

Private J Jackson, who is in Egypt, has sent a snapshot of himself and his friends. I hope to publish it. I am obliged to Gunner H Whitby for a copy of the "Balkan News". It is a bright little paper and quite interesting. From it I see that, with the idea of relieving the camp monotony of camp life, the officers of a certain rest camp near recently had an essay competition. One of the essays is published under the title, "Our Mascot". It is very funny, though the spelling is highly phonetic. The mascot was a tortoise. To prevent it wandering, the boys made a hole in its shell, and put a string through, and tied it to a post. The end was tragedy. One day it twisted the cord round its neck and hanged itself. Accidentally, of course. The boys were not so bad as to drive it to suicide.

Will Private George C Pitkin send me his full address? His parcels have been returned owing to there being insufficiently addressed. Will all soldiers make a not of this? It would save much trouble and time.

On Sunday morning I met an old friend of mine whom many of you have known from boyhood. He had come down to see if there was any war news in the office window. Robert Annakin, whose occupation is that of a coal merchant, has long been a familiar figure to us all. He still retains the old familiar smile and quaint good nature. Like the rest of us Robert is short-handed. Every morning, at half-past four, finds him at the coal depot, I believe, at Starbeck, as he says he is obliged to get up this early hour to get through his work single-handed. I took him into my office and let him hear the Dictaphone. It happened to be this letter to you. If you could have seen his face you would have known that the sentiments towards you expressed in the letter were profoundly endorsed by him. Of course, Robert, as he would put it, was "capped" with the invention. He would have his young grandson who was with him hear the voice in the 'phone. Will all you who know him accept his kind regards and remembrance?

Whilst at the front, on Sunday morning, I heard news that distressed me. It had just come, and was to the pathetic effect that Ernest Searle, who had been out in East Africa a long time, had been killed. You may remember him - one if the best of Harrogate's young manhood. He started with Messrs John Day and Sons, house agents, as a boy, grew up in the business to fine, intelligent maturity. I lament to say he leaves a wife and three young children. Two are very little boys, the third a baby in arms. We are all so sorry for his nice wife and the little ones. He was impressed with Africa, turning it over in his mind, and considering whether he should not make a career for himself in that far-off land, after the war. Searle and his family have always been on the nicest possible terms with the home circles of his employers. So much so that the wee boys, called Mrs John Day, the mother of Charlie Day and Alf Day, granny. By the way, Mrs Day, who is more than 84 years of age, is now in Bridlington, you will remember her, on holiday. She took a voyage to America when 80. on the day she arrived in Bridlington, last week, she was out on the water twice, for she is very fond of the sea. I know poor Searle's death will be a great trouble to her and the rest of the family. I hope the sympathy Mrs Searle receives may lighten the load of grief which has fallen upon her.

Gunner E Littlefield has been out in Mesopotamia since last January, and during all the intervening time has had no letters from home. He wants to know if his wife and children are well. the wife has been writing every week since February, but he has received no letters. He will get the Herald, however, and his sister has asked me to convey information to him. I now do so with pleasure. Sorry, dear Littlefield, that you have had no news, but, on the other hand, glad to be able to tell you that your wife and children are safe and well. your sister, Mrs Corpse, called in to explain the situation, so you will understand that your wife was written regularly. I am afraid you must attribute your lack of letters to mails going down.

One of the Herald staff, Sergeant-Major Gordon Ince, has passed his final examination for a commission, and is waiting to be gazetted. He has been training at Oxford. Ince first went out about the middle of 1915. he has been wounded twice, came home, went back recovered, and came home early this year. I congratulate him on his promotion.

Private A West, of a West Yorkshire Regiment, is the third son, and second to go out, of Mrs West, East View, Summerbridge. He has been missing since 3rd of May. Will you boys see if you can do anything to get news for the mother?

My tether is running out, and I shall have to be brief and summarise. I have had visits from Private S Hind Leedale, who has been transferred to a home establishment; Arthur Leedale, who is an artificer in the Navy, and well-known to you lads; Corporal G G Jackson, son of Mr and Mrs W C Jackson, of 16 Unity Grove (New Zealanders); Private W Burrill, son of Jack Burrill, my old friend who used to play the double bass in the original Harrogate Minstrels; and Lance Corporal Wilfred Mawson, son of Mr J Mawson, Cold Bath Road.

You chaps would smile if I could show you a list of things that I am asked to do, to provide, and to send. I have laughed many a time at the unlikely requests which I felt bound to grant. On one occasion I succeeded in finding a housekeeper for a man; but what do you think now? I am asked to find a wife for a soldier. I received a letter this morning in which the man promises to send me his photograph, describes his age, and everything else about himself. He wants a decent respectable, handsome-looking servant lass of about 19 years. He tells me he is a Britisher that looks ahead of things, is economical, and saving his money. I am sure I should like to oblige the lad, but I am compelled to draw the line, and that must be at a matrimonial bureau. There are undoubtedly boys too bashful to pop the fateful question; nevertheless, I am afraid I cannot take such responsibility as the future happiness of two young lives.

Mrs Sherwood , of Craydon Street, [Should this be Craven Street?] has just called to give me the happy intelligence that her brother, who was missing, Corporal A Hall, is a prisoner at Dulmen, Germany. He has been missing since the 3rd of May. So there is one more family made happy.

Many of you know my friend Fred Allen, formerly of Cathcart House, then of Canada, now of the Canadian Forces in France. He married my lamented friend John Knowles' daughter. Owing to deaths in the family, it was important that Fred should have leave at this time, but, as you know, soldiers have been known to have lost their mothers many times ever for the purpose of obtaining leave. it is for this reason that the Army authorities have insisted on having a telegram from a Magistrate confirming the fact that a relative has died before issuing the leave. it was my good fortune to be able to do this the other day for my friend Fred Allen. We are all hoping, therefore, that we shall see him home very shortly. You know how important it is that boys in times of bereavement should be allowed to come home.

It is 12 o'clock. I have had another lady in to see me, and she was in deep mourning for her husband, Private Charles Henry Gill, who, according to a report from the military authorities, had first been killed. A subsequent notice came to say that he was missing. The lady has brought me a postcard she received on Saturday from her husband, stating he is in Dulmen prison, alive and well, but wanting food and clothing. Next comes the problem of supplying these wants. The wife has six children, and only her Government allowance, yet she is plucky enough to say that she will save something out of this towards the expense of her husband's parcel. You need not worry, lads. We shall see that she does not give too much, and the rest will be provided out of the Advertiser's Prisoners of War Fund, which I shall not hesitate to appeal for when the fund runs low. Mrs Gill, who resides at 23 Diamond Place, Starbeck, had so far accepted the erroneous notice of his death as to complete arrangements for receiving the pension. These further cases should reassure those of little faith who have missing elatives. Gill is a Beechwood Boy, and had been missing since February 27th.

To Saddler T Knapton : Will you please send me your present address, so that I may forward you the razor you asked for? It has been returned.

To Lance Corporal W A Long and C Wilkins : There is some mistake. Am arranging for the Herald to be forwarded. We do not stop it through soldiers not writing.

The wife of Private Harry Wood has received a letter from her husband, who is a prisoner in Germany. It took over a month to come. This is the first direct communication from him. She received first news of his being taken prisoner, through a comrade who was with him in Germany.

If any of you boys at the Front are in want of an ordinary razor, I have plenty in stock now. Mr J H Marlow has put me several in order.

His Sergeant-Major announced Sergeant J W Abbott as a prisoner of war. The military authorities returned him as wounded and missing on the 3rd of May. He is a Beechwood Boy. Today (Tuesday) his mother, Mrs J F Abbott, of 26 Spring Terrace, Oatlands Mount, Harrogate, called with a letter from Abbott saying he was a prisoner in Germany. Good news, you see! A letter from him appears in another column. Pop Jewitt, another Oatlands boy, is in the next camp to Abbott, and Sergeant Wharton is in the same as Abbott.

W H Breare