Harrogate Herald - 19th September 1917

Dear Chaps,

A good lady friend of yours, Mrs Whewell, called to see me some time ago and brought a most beautifully-worked tablecloth of her own doing. She was not able to go on knitting, and being anxious to still contribute towards you little comforts she gave this cloth. Another lady was good enough to take the matter in hand and show it amongst her friends and acquaintances. It was very quietly raffled, by those who contributed their shillings out of a desire to assist. Naturally not one of them would have been averse to becoming the lucky winner. On Wednesday the drawing took place, when Mrs Crockford was successful. On receipt of the beautiful cloth the winner expressed the desire to send 10s to be devoted to one of the objects in which we are all interested. The cloth realised £3 12s and was fully worth it. You see by this there are more ways of helping than one.

Private N Rogers, of the West Yorks., has been home on leave and called. He is one of the Herald staff and presided over our Despatch Office. The only other members of the staff with him are John Lee, of the bookbindery, and A Robinson, all the rest having either been wounded or transferred.

Next came my regular visitor : AB Torpedoman G Stephenson. I saw him a week ago today in the latter part of the afternoon just after I had received intimation from the works, "No more room in this week's Herald". As is usual with the silent Navy, Stephenson had little to tell me. I did not ask him how he was. I could see for myself. He had just been to see Dr Ward, senior, who persuaded Stephenson's father to let him join the Navy. Stephenson, when on leave, always go to see the venerable doctor, who, by the way, still rides his bicycle.

Next I had a visit from two other boys, who came together : Pte George Gledhill and Signaller J Crossley. Gledhill, who is in the MGC, is son of Mr & Mrs Thomas Gledhill, of 81 Mayfield Grove. He went out 18 months ago, and this was his first leave. In one respect he is better off than some of his comrades, who have been 20 months and over without coming home. Charlie Mawer, of 4 Devonshire Place, joined Gledhill's company three months ago. Arras was the last place at which Gledhill was engaged, from April 9th to June.

Signaller J Crossley lives at 17 Poplar Grove, Bilton. His family consists of a wife and one child. He is the son of Mrs Crossley of 6 Waterloo Street. S H Jennings, who was missing April 28th, at Arras, was a pal of Crossleys'. Jennings' father worked for a number of years at Newby's. Crossley's last affair was at Hargicourt. On one occasion he met J Joy at Arras, who had just come off a route march. Joy was in the best of health. This was some time ago. Charlie Allinson is in the same lot. Crossley's regiment was the first over the top at Albert in the big push of July 1st. Crossley has been on nearly every front and has only had an approach to a wound and that a touch on one finger. Charlie Thompson, machine gun man, was wounded in the back lightly just before Crossley came away.

Before I forget. I was much interested in something that Stephenson told me about the regulations of the Navy. It seems there are two conditions under which the rules provide for special leave. The first is on the occasion of the mother of a sailor's death. The same privilege is not extended in case of a father's demise. Now isn't that like the Navy? What a fine tribute to the mothers of England! The other occasion when special leave must be granted is on the occasion of marriage under certain circumstances.

You know what a fine place the Stray is on which an aeroplane may land. Last Wednesday afternoon there were two accidents to aircraft on our beautiful green expanse. In one case a gust of wind caught the machine and turned it over. Thought the 'plane was smashed the pilot suffered no injury. Later in the afternoon as another airman was going up, in his care to avoid a crowd which as usual got in the way, he came in contact with trees and down he came. This man was lucky enough to escape injury, but his machine was not so fortunate. In the evening the Volunteers were on guard over the remains. It is to be hoped it will be a lesson to the crowd to keep out of the way in future.

The long spell of clear weather broke on Thursday morning with a sprinkling which developed during the day but never reached anything more than attenuated showers. Some of the farmers told us they wanted a fortnight of dry weather, but they have not quite had that. Up to to-day there has been hardly any rain.

I hope you boys are not worrying about the state of Russia. Things will come round all right there, I think, but if they shouldn't happen, then the Allies will know what to do, and if you think it over and contemplate a particular we have not tapped, you will know what I mean. We only hear one side of the Russian trouble now, you must remember. You know my motto : "Hope on, hope ever".

Friday, to-day, and most beautiful weather that seems to have made up its mind to stay on at Harrogate. There is just that sort of breeze which will fan and dry the corn. The three o'clock post has just come in, and the first two letters I have opened contain bad news. One is from the mother of Pte H Lund, West Yorks, telling me that her son was killed in action on the 7th September. In her letter Mrs Lund enclosed a copy of a comforting letter from Lund's Captain. It seem your comrade was on a working party in a village just behind the line when a shell burst, killing outright Lund and another and wounding several. Lund's company commander employed him on his personal staff whenever possible, and it is said he was certain of promotion in the near future.

The second letter was from Pte J C Eshelby's sister, who informed me that her brother was killed on the 29th August. He had been wounded once before. Perhaps you will call him to mind when I tell you that before he enlisted he was an apprentice to Mr Bellerby, plumber, of Robert Street. When the poor lad was killed he was within a month of being 22 years of age. He was of the Northumberland Fusiliers. I know I can express your sympathy whilst offering mine to those two bereaved families.

I have seen a private letter in which a witty chap says some good things on the name Kursaal. He observes : "By reference to mythological names I see that Pan and Orpheus were real musical bouquets, and of the two 'Orp', being reputed to play so grandly that he could move rocks and tame wild animals, seems to me the prime performer of 'stirring' music. Therefore in suggesting part of Orpheus to begin our name, I propose that as 'drome' will be a great after-war favourite and slip so readily off the tongue, we call the building the 'Orphadrome'. It would soon be referred to simply as 'The Drome' and the full word would look classy in big type on the facade, also in bill headings". Then the writer goes on to say. "Why not make a change of name competition? First prize, six quarts of best sulphuretted; second, 1lb sugar; third, 9d loaf; consolation, free sulphur bath".

The probable scarcity of coal this winter is giving us some anxiety, especially on behalf of the poor, who cannot afford to buy and store in large quantities to see them through. I am glad to find that the Corporation has not dropped the scheme for obtaining in advance coal to sell out to those people later. Perhaps I am telling a secret when I say that long ago the Mayor of Harrogate (Councillor Fleming) endeavoured to buy a very large quantity of coal to store for this very purpose; but he was met with refusal to sell in such large quantities. Next the Corporation took it up and is still engaged seeing what can be done to make things comfortable for those residents who ought to be considered. I think you boys can depend upon it that Harrogate will look after the poor people. There is a tremendous lot of private generosity in the town, and many good people have a habit of finding out worthy causes.

You will know Miss Hilda Nelson, the Harrogate soprano, by reputation, and be interested to hear that she has been engaged by the Halle Orchestra of Manchester for one of their concerts there this month. Sir Thomas Beecham, one of the greatest orchestral men we have, is the principal conductor of this famous band, or perhaps I should say "the" conductor. I believe it was from his suggestion that Miss Nelson was engaged. She has been specially asked by the management to sing on that occasion Madame Butterfly's great song from the opera of that name, "Cara Nome", and another, which escapes me.

Whilst on the patriotic lay I may tell you that Mr J R Ogden, of James Street, whom you know so well, has been engaged to lecture before the Leeds and Bradford Literary Institutes. He stipulated that his fee should be forwarded by the respective committees to St Dunstan's Institute for Blinded Soldiers. Very nice, isn't it?

Gordon William, your friend the banjoist, gave a lecture on his experience at the Front, at the Church Institute on Saturday evening, for the benefit of Miss Lena Ashwell's concerts at the Front. You see he has been out where you are and knows what a pleasure three concerts are to you boys and has come home with the determination of doing all he can to help to send you plenty of music.

You would see in last Wednesday's Herald the marriage of Miss Little to a naval officer who has distinguished himself greatly. Will it help you to identify the family if I tell you that Mr J A Little, the father of the bride, is the honorary treasurer of the Harrogate Automobile Association?

You boys would have smiled could you have seen me on two occasions on Saturday afternoon. Many of you know the rifle range at Knaresborough by the riverside. The little orchard which was part of the Abbey Farm just next to the 200 firing point I took a fancy to and bought. You will remember the fruit trees. They were the attraction to me. There is a big crop this year, and some of the apples wanted picking, so on Saturday two members of my family and myself went down in our car fairly loaded with empties. On the return journey the car was pretty well piled with boxes and hampers of apples. We rode back in that state, behind a mountain of these. We were somewhat conspicuous and attracted first the wondering stare, then the smiles of the people we passed. But we didn't mind, we had the apples. I had no sooner got home and was writing in my office when I had a caller. You must know that parents of children who have an objection to vaccination look in to make a declaration that they have a conscientious objection to the same. Well, my caller happened to be a young mother with a very young baby - one of those delicate to handle, like a thin-shelled egg. When the mother had to sign, she could hardly do so with the baby in her arms, and so I took the infant, who remonstrated with a loud voice. I tried all the old tricks I used to know , but still the babe's song went on. However, we got over it, but I couldn't help thinking of you boys and how you would have smiled had you chanced to pop into the office at that moment.

I interrupted my dinner that day so that I shouldn't turn away three soldiers from the Front on leave who had called to see me. It was a merry trio I conducted to my office, in order to make a few notes. First was driver Tom Coleman, RFA, son of Mr & Mrs Martin Coleman, who had been 18 months out. I always enquire what Harrogate and district lads they have in their crowd, because I know you like to read of men you know or have heard of. The only man that Coleman had with him was Hirst. This was some little time ago, and he is not with him now. I think you will recognise Hirst when I mention that he is know as "Chippies". Coleman has gone through all right so far without a wound or sickness. His last brush was at Arras, Oppy Wood. His lot when he came away were out for a rest. Before the war Coleman was a fishmonger with Arnott, of Commercial Street. With Coleman was his brother, Driver Martin Coleman of the RFA, who has not yet gone out but is up Catterick way. This lad seemed to enjoy the prospect of going out to meet you chaps. The third soldier was Gunner John Herrington, of the RFA, son of Mrs Herrington, 3 Denmark Terrace. He has been out for 15 months and was wounded at St Eloi on the 21st May. When he came to see me he was just out of hospital on ten days' sick leave and then was for his depot. Gunner A Brain was with him in his division, and he, too, is now on leave. He sent a nice message to me by Herrington. Brain is a Mons hero, one of the original who went out in August 1914. I mentioned some time ago that Herrington had three wounds. All these boys were looking well and they were jolly as sand boys. We had a merry meeting.

I had a soldier from Cape Town on Thursday, CSM H Robinson, the youngest brother of my late lamented friend "Bob" Robinson. He has been out in South Africa 19 years, and it is 16 since he was last in Harrogate. When the trouble with the Germans arose in Africa he at once volunteered for service and was sent to German South West Africa. When things were very nearly settled out there he came over to France in charge of a native labour contingent in April. He was delayed at first owing to an attack of diphtheria, but the affliction turned out very fortunate for him. He left for the boat whilst in the convalescent camp, but was ordered back. This boat was sunk, when a large number of lives were lost, and amongst the drowned was the man who occupied the position that Robinson would have done had he got on board, that of platoon sergeant. I was interested to hear that in Cape Town they have a permanent orchestra of 40, which costs over £5,000 a year, rather more than Harrogate spends on her Corporation music. The conductor of this band is an Austrian appointed four or five years ago. His sympathies are with us, and he tried to enlist, but was not allowed to go because they could not replace him. Out in South Africa there are many male voice choirs recruited mainly from Welsh and Cornish miners. Robinson bears the capable alert stamp of our Colonials and preserves a wide, intelligent outlook on most questions.

To Sapper L Luty : You are under a misapprehension. We did not send you a watch. The razor was forwarded and an appeal was made for a watch, but there was not sufficient response to meet your turn. We have between two or three dozen applicants on our list. Where ordinary watches have been specified we have in most cases been able to supply them. The majority of our correspondents, however, ask for wristlet watches, and these are rather more difficult, but I hope to serve all in turn.

The administrator of the 2nd Southern General Hospital, Birmingham, intimates that Private Wardman cannot be transferred to Harrogate as his hospital treatment is only for a short period. I have asked for his transfer to Harrogate.

To Private J W Smith : Am afraid the address you sent us is not sufficient. Send us in full and we will put you on the list for the Herald and try to send you a watch. We are bound to do this in turn. It is not that your friends are less generous, but that there are so many more boys to care for.

To Private F Walton : We sent you a pair of scissors on July 27th which ought to have reached you long ago.

Private Ernest Fawcett, 41473, W Company, 17th WY, has been missing since August 31st. I should be very grateful, boys, if you could send me any information about him.

It is with profound grief that I have to tell you that one of your best friends has passed away. It was on Friday that Mrs Frankling, the devoted wife of Mr H Frankling, surgeon, breathed her last. Throughout the war this generous lady has helped in every emergency created by the pressing wants of our soldiers. I have known of many other kindnesses, but was not free to make them public. Indeed, we shall never realise even a tithe of the good the lamented lady has done in Harrogate. In her the Infirmary loses a faithful and generous friend. She often visited the patients, including sick soldiers, who were constantly cheered by the comforts of their benefactress. Sympathy with the bereaved husband, I can say without exaggeration, is most profound and widespread. I know your sympathies will be with us in this great trouble.

Reff Laycock is on leave, and I have seen him this morning. He is looking very well and enjoying the sunshine that is favouring us now.

W H Breare