Harrogate Herald - 15th August 1917

Dear Chaps,

It is Saturday morning. The workmen are busy in my room laying more pipes for heating the rest of our building. So I am sitting upstairs in the music room, which is familiar to some of you, and have my dictaphone at my left elbow commencing the pleasant operation of chatting to you. Before it escapes my mind , I would speak of Harry Knowles, who was killed in action some time ago. You will remember that he was the nephew of the late J G Knowles, decorator, of Oxford Street. I met Joe Speight the other morning, and he told me he had seen one of Harry's comrades, his name was Foster, who was home for a commission. He told Speight that Harry was a prime favourite of his comrades. Harry spent all his spare time in trying to help his pals. Always good natured, a right good sort, ever bright and cheerful. It seem from what Foster told Speight that Harry was taking a cup of tea to a wounded comrade when a shell came over and killed Harry. I am sure it will be a proud consolation to his brother (who is carrying on Mr Knowles' business to which Harry succeeded) to know that Harry not only died on duty, but in performing one of those acts of mercy which ever appealed to him.

The Mayor entertained last week to dinner at his own home two celebrities of whom you have heard a great deal. They are both enthusiastic admirers of and constant visitors to Harrogate. One was the Lord Mayor of London, Sir William Dunn, the other Sir William Treloar, whom you will best remember as the friend of crippled children. He founded the famous Home and is ever engaged in promoting its interests. I have only met Sir William Treloar once and that was some years ago soon after I was elected a member of the Savage Club. He is one of the foremost of this club and he was kind enough, soon after my election, to call on me, whom he termed "brother Savage".

Whilst I am talking to you it is the first really fine day we have had for some time. It affords a rare chance to the flag sellers in the streets today . Last Saturday (August 4th) rain came on at noon, so that those patriotic people only had half a day in which to raise the amount they gathered for Miss Lena Ashwells' concerts at the Front. Yesterday the Mayoress came in to show me a number of letters she had since received, all enclosing subscriptions towards the fund. Roughly speaking, I think there was something like twenty pounds. These she was sending on to Miss Ashwell, who with her usual courtesy and gratitude will acknowledge personally. The flags brought £122, these private letters, say, £20, and Miss Ashwell's recital about £40, that makes £182. I have no doubt, from time to time Miss Ashwell will receive other donations now Harrogate has realised how good is her work and constant the expense.

But I am wandering from the subject! I set out to tell you that the flag sellers have come forth in good force to sell on this Russian Flag Day. You would see by my leader last week that there was a fear that Russian traitors and their actions might cause a resentment on the part of our people and the fund to suffer. There really was a danger of that, indeed a rebellion threatened. I am glad to say, however, that Harrogate has risen above it and is just now coming forward nobly to help Russia whilst she is in the thick of her difficulties. I hope the amount will be so considerable that it will form a fine message of encouragement to the loyal Russians.

I have before mentioned your friend Herbert Dawson, whom you Beechwood Boys will recognise as your generous caterer whilst in training here. Well, his son, Driver C R Dawson, is in Salonica. Many of you lads know him and will be glad to hear that he has cabled to his parents in order that they might know he arrived safely and well. Addresses, I find, are always useful to friends of the people referred to, so I'll tell you that Mr H Dawson's address is 61 Dragon Avenue. That, of course, is the home of Driver C R Dawson.

You will see by the Herald that we have had news of another April missing man. It is Private Harry Wright who is a prisoner in Germany. This is further encouragement to the friends who have not heard from relatives reported missing. Harry Wright was first declared missing, then killed; but you see after all the happiest has happened. A number of friends of prisoners who have received such erroneous notifications have actually gone into mourning. In one case a memorial service was held. Later it transpired that the man was alive and a prisoner. I shall not mention names in these case because I am sure the boys in question would feel pained that their relatives had failed to keep up their faith. You see it is these people who have decided to abandon hope who have been so joyously rewarded.

The Flag Day for next Saturday, August 18th, is in the interest of the Church of England Homes for Waifs and Strays. I do not know much about the object at present, but will perhaps be able to say something about it later. The Saturday after, August 25th, is for the Grand Duchess George of Russia's hospitals. I am particularly anxious that there should be a fine response to this appeal, because these institutions, which include the famous Convalescent Home of St George, have done most marvellous work all on their own. You will remember perhaps that there are Heatherdene and St Nicholas Hospitals as well as St George's. These comprise the well-known trio. You have only to ask a wounded lad who is an inmate of either if he is comfortable, and his face lights with an expression not to be forgotten - joy and gratitude eloquently blended. The Grand Duchess has not alone occupied herself with her hospitals; she has entered into every town movement calculated to help war funds, and by her presence influenced large attendances, enthusiasm and success. Harrogate owes much to this graceful, warm-hearted, generous lady. And it would be nice to express our feelings by a bumper collection on August 25th. I myself owe a great debt of gratitude to these establishments. Boys are continually writing to me saying that they would so like to come to some hospital at home. In almost every case this has been gladly arranged and the lads have found themselves in comfort and supreme happiness, close to their dear friends. In these transference's I but failed, and that seldom, when the authorities of the distant hospital could not see their way to allowing the boy to be removed. As a rule, however, they are very sympathetic, but as you know the unexpected sometimes happens to upset our best of plans. Anyway, boys, keep a warm corner in your hearts for the Grand Duchess and her hospitals. If you ever get to one of these happy homes you will find that the said corner is not half big enough.

George Simpson, son of David Simpson, has passed all his examinations in connection with his commission as second lieutenant, and had been in Harrogate for two or three days. The rest of his leave was spent with his father and mother, who are living in the South, somewhere near Bury St Edmunds. He expects to go out very soon. George was looking well, and his many friends were delighted, as usual, to see him.

Most of you will remember or have heard of the original Harrogate Amateur Minstrels. I had a nice letter from one of them the other day. It was William Smith, formerly a postman but who has now retired on pension. William had a very good tenor voice and was useful in the male part-songs. He also played the flute and piccolo. In his letter he enclosed 5s to be devoted to the wants of the boys at the Front, and accompanying the letter were a flute and a piccolo. Smith reminds me that he used to use them in the old days of the minstrels. Seeing that boys were asking for musical instruments he sent these in the hope that they would prove useful. I have sent them to a soldier I had on my list who wanted some instruments for a band. He reminds me that the flute was given to him in the minstrel days either by Charlie Knowles or myself. The piccolo was his own, and he had had it some time then. I am sure I forget everything except that Smith was able to render the minstrels good service in their band. I was going through the Valley Gardens one Sunday night a short time ago when I chanced to meet him. I had not seen him for a long time and was delighted to have a chat again. You see I do not get far from my office and therefore hadn't seen him until then. As one gets older one leans more and more to old friends, whilst welcoming new ones.

I have a letter from my friend Saddler T Knapton, in which he asks, "How is dear old Harrogate getting on? I suppose there are plenty of visitors". I am glad to say, Knapton, that we are very busy, and Harrogate is progressing just now better than ever. You know that some of the older visitors wait until after the Bank Holiday before coming to us. There are many familiar faces of such in the town now, and they are coming in every day. The outstanding thing in connection with the Bank Holiday was the number of people engaged in munitions and other war work. They have been striving very hard for a long time, and I am glad to say earning good money, so that probably for the first time many of them have come to fashionable Harrogate to spend the weekend. The world is becoming more democratic than ever, and this indication is a sign of the progress towards universal levelling-up.

From a public and national standing we have arrived at a peculiar situation. The vast majority of our people do not look with favourable eyes upon the conference at Stockholm. The Labour people were at one with us on that point. Then Henderson, who is a member of the Government, having been to Russia, gathered the idea that the Russian people would be offended if Great Britain were not represented at Stockholm, and so on his own he laid himself out to win over the working men to his view that we should send a deputation. Events in Russia change quickly. Our Government all along have not favoured the idea, and Henderson rather placed himself in a false position, being a member of the Government, by not consulting or taking into his confidence his colleagues of the cabinet before endeavouring to win the workers over to the necessity of attending at Stockholm. Kerensky, the head of affairs, and his Government in Russia are not now in favour of this conference. Henderson addressed the workers the other day in London, and influenced them to decide by three to one to send representatives. It said that though he knew that Kerensky was opposed to the idea he did not tell the workmen's conference this. At all events he has resigned, and his resignation has been accepted. You see the workers have been misled. The disapproval of Kerensky's puts matters on another footing, and it looks as if the Labour people would have to reconsider their decision, which was come to without full knowledge. At the present moment it is what is sometimes termed "a pretty pickle". But we always come our right, so don't worry!

Mrs Elizabeth Sawbridge would like information of her husband, Frank Sawbridge, well known owing to the second marriage of his mother, as Frank Walton. His number is 43568 and he is in the KOYLIs. He was reported wounded on April 9th, 1917, then announced killed. The wife holds to the belief that he is a prisoner, and in that I think she is right. Can you give her any information?

Private Harry Wright, son of Mrs Herbert Wright, Upper Denmark Street, was missing on the 23rd of Aril, then reported killed by the War Office. His fiancée has received a letter from him saying that he is a prisoner in Germany. Taking this and other things into consideration, you see Mrs Sawbridge has every right to hope.

I have received a letter from Dr George Myrtle, son of our ever-to-be-remembered Dr Andrew Scott Myrtle, in which he says the Harrogate Club, which is in Victoria Avenue, is in want of a steward and his wife. He lets me know this so that I may possibly find a retired soldier and his wife who would be suitable for the position, which is a very good one. If you happen to know of anyone, will you let me know? I am making inquiries at home to see if I can discover such, for I do not want to be too late. You see everyone is only too pleased to find a good job for a discharged soldier, and it is one of my pleasantest tasks to seek out such congenial employment.

I have also received a letter from a former maid of Mrs R C Hamilton, who lost her boy so recently. She does not know Mr & Mrs Hamilton's address, so she writes to ask me to express to his father and mother her deep sympathy. I have not Mr and Mrs Hamilton's address, and so I take the most expeditious means of conveying this sympathetic message. I am obliged to the young lady for her kind words addressed to me.

J T Ingleby, of Bachelor Gardens, writes to tell me that before he enlisted he had a farm and a lot of cattle, and still has the latter. He is obliged to sell the beats now and would like to get home on leave long enough to be able to attend to this very important business. I am writing to his OC and hope I shall be able to obtain for him what he so much needs. The cattle were left in the care of his mother, who doesn't understand such things, so I am sure any indulgence the OC can show will be rightly bestowed. Ingleby tells me that he lost his brother-in-law about a week ago. He was in the RFA and killed by a shell whilst standing in the doorway of his dugout.

I have had a call from Signaller J T Mathers, who married Miss Barker, daughter of Mrs W Barker, of Victoria Avenue. You will remember the late W Barker when I tell you that he was a very prominent member of the Fire Brigade. Mathers had met Teale, son of Police Sergeant Teale, of Harrogate, and Carr, of Starbeck, both of whom were well. He has to be back in London on his return journey on the 23rd. Mathers reminded me of something which will be useful to you boys when coming on leave. He advises you to look out for the guides who meet the trains and are ready to give every information. There are also men to whom you can apply for information about trains. Before the War Mathers was at the Post Office in Sheffield. He explained to me that he had no need to seek my office for those little things that soldiers require, but he thanked me most cordially for what I have endeavoured to do for the other boys.

Corporal H B Riley, son of Mr Riley, house agent, Bower Road, is at home on leave because he is going to have a commission. You will remember that he was wounded last September in the thigh, otherwise he has been very well. He did not come home to Blighty on that occasion, but remained in hospital in France. He has met Dr Williamson, Sergeant J Atkinson, DCM, who, by the way, is on the Tanks, Sergeant Simmons, RQMS Varey, of a Yorkshire regiment. Passing through a village one day Riley was attracted by a poster. It was one of the Tykes, and at the bottom was the imprint "R Ackrill, Harrogate". He thought he had never seen a more expressive and beautiful word than Harrogate which appeared on that poster. We can quite understand this, can't we? It raised pleasant visions of home.

W H Breare