Harrogate Herald - 1st August 1917

Dear Chaps,

Often my office is a figurative place of tears. It was particularly so at the time when news came so regularly of missing Beechwood Boys. You, who have been to see me, know that the window faces due north. Thus I never get natural sunshine within. On Friday morning, however, the room was radiant with all the best of all sunshine mental happiness. It radiated from the smiling face of a good mother, who had come to tell me that, after months of anxiety on behalf of her missing lad, she had that morning received news he was not dead, but a prisoner in Germany. The lady was an old war friend, Mrs A E Smith, of 6 Mornington Terrace. Her son you will recall when I tell you he is Private A Smith, of the East Yorkshire Regiment. I will not say that there were not occasional tears on that happy occasion, but there were tears of joy and thankfulness. She had been to see me before , whilst the lad was missing and no news was forthcoming. I begged her to have faith, and to refuse to believe that her son was dead. I asked her this morning if she had still remained in that faith, and she was able to answer me, "Yes!". I could only reply : "You see, your faith has been rewarded". Isn't it jolly, though!. Smith was taken prisoner early in April, and yet at this late date the glad news came through.

Signaller H C Suttill, of the KRRC, in a letter I have just received, says : "I daresay you know father well". Of course I know him. He is Ralph Suttill who was a famous cricketer in his day of sport, but is now Building Inspector for the Harrogate Corporation.

We have had some difficulty in obtaining information about Major Foote, who has been killed in action. Mrs Foote has written to me to say that when she returns she will give me some more of he sad details. When I receive them I will let you boys know, for I am sure you are deeply interested.

I have heard a good deal about Telegraphist J A Capstick, who is in the Navy, through his father. I am happy to say the lad called in to see me the other day, whilst he was on thirteen days leave. Amongst other things he told me was that Petty Officer Dobson is a gun layer in his lot, and that he, Capstick, has been on board ship for two years uninterruptedly. He is the son of Mr & Mrs Edward Capstick, of 16 Glebe Road, Harrogate. He has a brother (Edward Capstick, the third son), who is in Salonica, and his eldest brother Ernest Capstick is in the REs. Capstick was as breezy and jolly as the rest of our tars, and I had a pleasant time with him.

On Friday morning, Second Lieutenant Billy Robinson, son of my late lamented colleague, Bob Robinson, looked in. He has passed all his examinations, and on Monday went to the 3rd West Yorks Special Reserve. Billy informed me Second Lieutenant C R Firth, of the Woodlands, Harrogate, who was at one time a schoolteacher in Knaresborough, has got his commission, and joined his old lot, the 3/5th, which he originally entered as far back as 1915. Rather nice that, isn't it, to go back to one's one pals?, though if he happen to get to his immediate friends he will not like the feel of bossing them. For this very reason, lots of boys have refused commissions, because they could not bear to leave their old comrades.

Corporal Oram desires the address of Bob Jackson, of the 5th West Yorks. Will someone supply it?

I am much obliged to QMS E Elsworth for sending me a list of boys who do not require the paper sending them at present. It is very kind and considerate of him.

Driver Edward A Megginson, of the RFA, had influenza, which turned to pneumonia. He has been in various hospitals, but is now discharged, fully recovered. Went to a brigade ammunition column last week, was then home on leave. He is the son of Mr & Mrs Megginson, Diamond Place, Harrogate. I was glad to know that Megginson luckily received the parcel I sent him before going into hospital; so he was able to enjoy it.

Private W Walker, of the Beechwood lot, is a son of Mr & Mrs E Walker of 15 Avenue Street, Starbeck. He was wounded in the shoulder by shrapnel on May 3rd, and for the time being has lost the use of the muscles on the right arm. He has been in hospital at Liverpool, but is now, I am glad to say, at Beaulieu, one of our Harrogate Military Hospitals, which perhaps you will remember as being situated in West End Park. While at Liverpool, Walker met Private Pacey, who used to drive for Balmforth. Walker, who went out in January, expressed his thanks for the cigarettes kind friends sent him through me. When he arrived in Harrogate he saw Lupton and Sergeant Croft, both of whom are home for commissions. He likewise told me he saw the two Greetham boys. of Starbeck, were home - one from France, the other from Aldershot. Rather lucky to be home together, isn't it? When Walker got his hurt, he experienced something that seemed like a dispensation of Providence. He was moving breast on the enemy, when "something within", he says, told him to turn round. He did so. It was just at that moment he received the bullet in his shoulder. Had he been facing the other way he would have got it in the heart, what is termed his "billet". He did not get away from the field for two hours. I was interested to hear from him that Wilfred Dickinson, one of our Herald staff, is in India. When Walker enlisted he had been two years with Grayson's. Before that he was employed on the railway.

You will remember that some time ago a number of our boys, who were prisoners in Germany, wrote to their homes which were in various parts of the country, telling their people how badly they were treated by the Germans, and in what danger they were from the shells of our own guns; for they were made to work very near the scene of activities. They drew a sad picture of their condition, calculated to unnerve their parents and friends. If you also remember, I pointed out to you that the Germans would never have permitted letters complaining of ill-treatment had it not suited their purpose. The object then was, no doubt, to so alarm parents, friends, and the public that they would cry out with one voice for peace. That, you see, is what the Germans want very badly. Well, the point of all this story is that some correspondence has now commenced again. I know of several mothers who have had such letters from their sons. It is the old story, almost identical in its words. I guess it will take something more than a transparent trick of this sort to make the people at home cry out for peace at any price. Don't you agree with me?

£45 [About £1,363 in 1998] is a considerable sum to pay for a single flag in connection with a flag day, is it not? Last Saturday's flag day was for that blessed YMCA. A certain lady in Harrogate, who is intensely interested in flag day efforts, decided to give a valuable jewel for the YMCA day. She took it to Mr Ogden, jeweller, James Street, and told him that was to be her contribution. and asked him to find a customer for it. The jewel was placed in Mr Ogden's window in just that effective way you know Mr Ogden would invent. A gentleman passing was attracted by it, but not for the mere sake of the jewel. He and his wife had watched for long months the extreme kindness of those who had assisted his wounded son to recover. That gentleman straightway purchased the gem, and I believe the Mayoress and the Secretary took the cheque to the lady who gave the jewel, and handed over one of the little flags. The cheque was then returned to the Mayoress for the fund. So you see the flag day of last Saturday opened with a substantial sum. I am hoping there will have been many other considerable amounts placed in the boxes or sent privately to the Mayoress. By next Tuesday I may be able to tell you what was realised. Whatever the sum, it will not be a bit too much. No one knows this better than you boys who have had so many comforts through the YMCA.

We have had many hot days. The weather is still pleasant, but a little cooler for your friends to get about on those busy promenades which you can readily call to mind. Those who go shopping will very soon find that meat has gone down 6d per lb., and other necessities in proportion, for so Lord Rhondda has willed it.

I have received from Mrs Murray £1 to purchase various things asked for in the last Herald. Your good friend is at Scarborough, and much improved in health.

To Private C Todd, whose home is at Homebottom Farm, Nidd : I note that your brother, Private Walter Todd, has been missing since the 1st March. No, I have not any information about him, but I hope that some of the boys who read my letter today will be able to send me something. At all events, do not despair of hearing from your brother, for I think in all probability he may be a prisoner in Germany. We have heard from other boys who have been prisoners even longer than your brother. At all events, do not give up hope. Have faith! You ask me how long I think the war will last. I can only give you my impression. Somehow I have a very strong feeling that the war will be over this year. Of course, Russia has been a setback for us of late, but I have still faith to believe that our brave troops will make up for this temporary Russian setback, until our ally is herself again. I advise you to keep your eye on the West, likewise your faith in it. The sunshine of victory will come from that quarter.

I have had a letter this morning. It contained only a few lines as follows : "Would you kindly accept this ten shillings towards the watch asked for?" The letter is signed, "From an Old Woman". I should very much like to know the name and address of the dear creature who sent it. In the meantime, I hope when she reads this she will realise that I am very thankful to her. Speaking of watches, I have a good many applications, so that her generous contribution will be very helpful. I think I have found a serviceable watch at a so reasonable a figure that I shall be able to supply more than if I were dependent upon the more expensive supplies.

Rifleman Arthur Midgley, formerly of the Herts (last attached to the West Yorks), was reported missing on the 7th of June, 1917. A War Office report has been received saying that he is reported killed. There is but one letter from his comrades, and that contains no evidence whatever. All that we know is that he is reported killed by the War Office. Now, I should be very grateful to you boys who could give me any information about Rifleman Arthur Midgley. In the absence of direct evidence I am steadfast in the hope that he may be a prisoner of war. Do what you can, lads, in the way of news, for his wife and family. It will give you pleasure to know that a little son of Midgley's, who is lame, has won a scholarship at the Harrogate Technical School. He has to go to school from Oatlands Mount, and so it has been arranged that he shall ride down in the bus. Very nice, isn't it?

Bugler W Kendall, of the KRR, son of Mr & Mrs W Kendall, 1 Avenue Terrace, Bilton, has been invalided home with shell shock and trench fever. He is at Gosforth Hospital, Newcastle. He came in to see me the other day. His father is employed at the Royal Baths. Kendall had four days leave from hospital. He wishes to be remembered to Robert Wardman, also to Fred Joseph if he has got up the line again, and Harry Blackburn. Will Fred Joseph write to Kendall! Kendall met C Rowley, ASC, who used to drive for Standing's. When charging over he came across Sergeant Robinson, Corporal Bilton, Halliwell, Mayfield Grove, all of the Beechwood Boys.

You've heard me talk of Drury, who was an errand boy in our establishment before he went to the war? He is the son of Mr & Mrs Drury, Tower Street. Well, he is in the band, and has been fortunate to be attached to the staff. He came on leave last Friday night and returns tomorrow (Wednesday). Has met one of Hanley's, fruiterer's, men, who is stationed about a sixth of a mile off, and there is a Ripon lad in the next camp to him, also a lot of Knaresborough boys. Another Ripon lad named Leetham wished Drury to remember him to his people. Drury saw him when Leetham was going away with a draft. Being in the band, Drury was playing his comrade off.

I have had a letter from that profoundest of basso profundos, Frank Dickinson. They have found out, as many audiences have done, that he can sing, and have retained him at a base in France, with other entertainers, to cheer up the boys. He is well and having a pleasant experience, for he meets lots of Harrogate and district chaps, and many more who know him personally or professionally. When he rolls down to his low C, the Huns are convinced the British have the advantage in guns.

Since Dickinson has crossed the water safely, and reached the alertness of warfare in France, "Asleep in the deep" (one of the pre-war favourites) seems hardly appropriate, and so he has changed his repertoire. "The deathless army" fills the bill and meets the situation. "Drinking" relieves the canteen hours when "Still is the night".

W H Breare