Harrogate Herald - 31st October 1917

To Our Boys on Service

Dear Chaps,

I have had a most interesting visit from Corporal H Robinson, son of Mr & Mrs John Robinson, Harrogate. To identify him I should explain that before the war he was engaged with Messrs Raworth and Co., solicitors. If you have ever been to the Borough Court you will have seen him writing at the table, taking evidence. Another point that may help you to remember him is that he wears gold-rimmed spectacles. He is a gas instructor on the Western Command and is at the same camp as Bombardier Sam Hempsall. Robinson was originally in the Artillery, but later drafted into the infantry. He was passed as an A1 man. According to the surgeon of his company the gas has somewhat affected his heart, so the Army surgeon reduced him to the B category, but he has still to come before a travelling board to have this confirmed. He looks exceedingly well, and being a very intelligent man has gained further knowledge and experience of life in the Army. He cheerfully admits that his training in the Volunteers when they were the VTC helped him immensely. When he joined the Regular forces, men who had acquired previous experience of rifles and training were ordered to stand out. He modestly kept his place in the ranks, but in the preliminary training it was obvious he knew his work and he was very soon promoted. I was interested to know from him that there is no danger from gas if man takes due care. Yet on one occasion in the anti-gas training, near camp, the wind changed suddenly, and he got a slight whiff and had to run for it. Robinson looks exceedingly well and seems very content and happy. It was quite refreshing to find him in such good state of mind and health.

A soldier from the Front writes to tell me that his wife has received a paper from the income-tax people levying a tax of £5 1s 3d on her separation allowance. I am wondering whether any other soldier's wife has had a similar experience. Perhaps I shall, ascertain this.

We were unable to insert all the news that had been set up for last Wednesday's Herald, the reason being there was such an increase of advertisements. I hope we shall be able to do better in the future. I am sure you will understand that without advertisements the immense expenses of a paper cannot be met, so I am sure you will excuse us this time. Then there are certain classes of appeals, likewise instructions to the public of national importance which sometimes crowd out local news. We cannot help this, for we are bound to the best for our country, as you are doing, and I feel our readers understanding this will sympathise with us in our shortage of space. Another reason why there was less local news is that you will see we had many more photographs of soldiers which we were bound to give at the earliest moment. I make no apology for this, because I am sure they are as interesting to you as news. I take care in brief form at all events to let you know all that is most important.

I had Douglas Blair in to see me the other day to say that he is being transferred from Ripon to important work in Ireland in connection with the Army. He was as jolly as ever, and looking as if life agreed with him. He is going to a place that will not be quite so lively as Ripon, but he is content knowing that his usefulness will thereby be increased.

I had a pleasant surprise on Wednesday night, for then Dr Bain and his son, Captain Bain, who is in the same battalion as my son, called to see me and we had a very pleasant though all too brief time. You will have noticed that medical students are being combed out of the Army. There is a tremendous shortage of medical men at home - not sufficient for the imperative needs of our people. Doctors, I regret to say, have been so overworked that deaths are very frequent amongst medicos of advanced years. The position is an alarming one, and the Government is taking means to obviate present and future difficulties by combing out the medical students so that they may finish their courses and relieve the strain. Captain Bain is a medical student, and having had over two years and a half military service, I hope he will now be able to resume his medical studies. Thus far he has been in charge of a machine gun lot, and has risen rapidly to the rank of captain. His battalion, which was in the affair of the 8th and 9th, as well as many other "stunts", and suffered many casualties, is resting.

We had terrific rain and wind on the night of Wednesday and morning of Thursday, I don't remember anything so severe for a long time. We heard the sound of falling glass in the night, and in the morning discovered that the big illuminated sign on the tower of the Herald Building showed signs of bombardment. It was a skeleton. I have not heard of any other damage, but there may have been considerable, so perhaps I may be able to tell you more about it later. No doubt you had a similar visitation where you are.

2/5th West Yorks boys will be interested to hear that their friend, Herbert Dawson, is opening a very large cafe near the corner of Princes Street and James Street. He is arranging for a small orchestra to play at stated hours. The premises comprise those formerly occupied by H Dawson & Co., together with upper rooms in the adjoining arcade belonging to Mr Charles, hairdresser.

Many of you will know Mr T Mainman, of Knaresborough, clerk to the Knaresborough Urban District Council, who formerly lived in Harrogate and was at one time on the Herald staff. I deeply regret that his third son, Private Edwin Roland Mainman, has been killed in action. Ten years ago he emigrated to Australia, then went to New Zealand. He volunteered for service very promptly but was refused. Tried again, was accepted, and came over with the contingent on July 19th. After four days at home in Knaresborough he went to France October 7th or 8th, and was killed on the 12th. He leaves a young wife. Some little time ago another son was wounded.

To Driver Ingleby : I am glad that my letter was successful and you obtained your leave. Sorry I was not in when you called, particularly as you had so much business to do you could ill spare the time to come and see me. We'll hope for better luck, on my part, next time.

On Friday afternoon I had a visit from Sergeant Wade, of the WYs, son of Mr & Mrs Wade, of 33 Wayfield Terrace. Mr Wade, senior, is a porter at the railway station, so by that perhaps you will know the Wade I mean. My soldier friend was invalided home a long while ago, and had the happiness of six weeks in hospital at St Nicholas, of which experience he will always retain pleasant remembrances. He even suggested to me that he would be glad to be bask at St Nicholas now, he was so extremely comfortable and everybody was so kind. There are very few Harrogate men in his lot now. The ranks have been filled by new men. He was at Ypres on the 9th of October and also at the Nieuport "do". He came on leave Saturday week and returned yesterday. Wade was highly delighted to meet, whilst at home, Newstead, who had been discharged. It seems Newstead will have to go through another operation in about 18 months, which is a long time to look forward to. Swires and Waring, of Pateley, were in Wade's platoon. He had met Regimental Sergeant Major Curry and Driver Medd. John Lee, of our staff, is in his battalion. Wade looks well and was in good spirits. The latter, naturally, seeing he was at home.

To R H Oram : I am sorry to hear that your application for discharge has not been sent forward, I hope, however, that your eyesight is improving, likewise your general health. Never mind, Oram, take it from me everything happens for the best. You may not see it now, but you will realise it when you experience those compensations, which you undoubtedly will, to square the other side of the account. In the meantime keep smiling.

I went to see the new ambulance train which has been built by the North Eastern Railway Company for the French Front. It is a marvel of ingenuity, economy of space and workmanship. It is mainly painted on the inside with white enamel; the outside in khaki. The train was on view in the goods yard, and so long that two lengths of it had to stand side by side, as there was no space big enough to take it in full. When I went there was a steady stream of visitors inspecting it at the nominal charge of 1s each. This train has been shown in several towns, and has gathered in lots of money for the benefit of the Red Cross Society. The booklets, for which 2d was charged, were well worth the money. Many people do not accept change when purchasing one of these souvenirs.

The medical and nursing staff live aboard these cars. They are heated by electricity when the train is working, and by stoves when in sidings.

I have no doubt you will have expected that the Mayor (Councillor Fleming), who has done so much during his two years of office, would again be asked to take the chair in the approaching Municipal year. Very many people at home have shared that anticipation and are accordingly disappointed. It may seem to you a breach in the political truce. It is not so. I will explain. Six years out of he last eight the mayoral chair has been occupied by a Conservative. This has arisen through two causes; the first is that when a man (like Alderman Sheffield) has done good service in a single year, he has unanimously been asked to take the chair for a second term. In that the Liberals have gracefully concurred. At other times the Liberal party in the Council has not had a candidate for the reason that deserving men either have been too busy to devote the time, or did not feel justified in bearing the necessary expense of office.

I think there have only been three cases in which a Mayor of Harrogate has served three years. The first was Nicholas Carter, who was elected when the town was incorporated; then Richard Ellis; next, if I mistake not, Samson Fox served three years. Now, a Liberal member of the Council is available in the person of Councillor Johnson, who is president of the Harrogate Liberal Club. I know nothing of the negotiations entered into regarding this gentleman except by hearsay. I believe it was ascertained he was willing to stand and that he was requested to do so by a deputation and accepted.

Under the agreement by which the two political parties of the Council alternated in the possession of the Mayoral chair the Liberals were quite within their rights and turn. Mayor Fleming has devoted much time and money to the office and rendered so many extra services, such as freeing the Infirmary and the Home for Incurables from debt, and aiding war works, that there was a very strong desire that he should again occupy the chair. Now I believe this is the correct record of the position. In all justice I must tell you that no man has done more, and I scarcely think as much, for the town and its institutions as Mayor Fleming. One particular act has not come to light. When it is known the people of Harrogate will realise that in this particular case especially the Mayor has done something for which present and future generations will feel profoundly grateful. When I am free to speak I will tell you what it is. The Mayor and I are of opposite political parties, so in what I am saying to you now I am simply performing an act of justice most disinterestedly to one who deserves so well of Harrogate. When the Mayor took office I had not made his acquaintance. Since then I have come to regard him as a valued friend whose many good qualities I deeply appreciate. What I have said of the Mayor applies equally to his sister, the Mayoress, because she has been at one with her brother and worked equally hard in all his good schemes.

I shall be so glad if any of you lads can give me any information of Second Lieutenant N W Beech, DCM, of the 1/5th West Yorkshire Regiment. His parents know nothing except that the authorities at York informed them their boy was wounded and missing October 9th. I know you will do all you can in this matter. His home address is 65 Louis Street, Leeds, and the father is named William Beech.

Private E Williams, attached to an aerial employment company, called to thank me for a watch sent out by me from money contributed by the Mayoress. I am glad to hear it goes well. My visitor's mother lives in Union Street, and he has a brother, Mike Williams, who was also of the WYs, but now of a Middlesex regiment. Williams himself was billiard marker at the Crown Hotel. He came over last Wednesday, October 24th, to go before a special medical board at Oswestry, where doubtless he will be declared unfit, as he has a defective foot and cannot now march. He had rather a remarkable experience on one occasion. His company was warned of a bombardment, but he never heard it and slept throughout, whilst the rest of his companions took shelter in dugouts. J W Smith is in his company, and he met a corporal in the RFA who lives in Denmark Street, but the name has escaped him.

With Williams was Private A Turner, son of Mr A Turner, whitesmith, of Cheltenham Road, Harrogate. The father is now acting as caretaker at Wesley Chapel. Turner, who expects to go across shortly, has already lost two brothers - Sergeant Turner and Albert Turner.

A rumour was floating about that Arthur Ruscoe, son of our Town Missioner, had been killed. I am happy to say the father has received a letter from the son since then saying that he is all right. His son was with the David G Brown Company, of the Grand Polytechnic in Commercial Street, before the war.

On Monday I was pleased to receive a visit from Sergeant C J Fletcher, of the Headquarters Canadian Troops. He has been in hospital with trouble in one of his eyes, and was then on sick leave. I regret to tell you that his eldest son, Private Cecil Fletcher, who came over with the father to fight for the Mother Country, has died in action. My visitor has another son who is fighting. The father is much above military age. That is why he is on the headquarters staff. I was sorry to see him looking paler and thinner on this visit (he has called before), but I hope that he will soon recover his accustomed health. If he liked he could go back to Canada and continue military work there; but with rare pluck he has determined to see the end of the war on this side.

I have an acceptable letter from Mr H Spencer Toy, our former reviewer and one of the principal masters at Ashville College, now on military service. I was much interested to know he has been lecturing to hundreds of soldiers on astronomy. Rather a useful subject when scouting is concerned. He has found the men much engrossed in his lecture series. Mr Toy is out in Palestine, and he says he is having some very happy times in spite of uncongenial surroundings. When he wrote he had given his seven lectures and still continuing. He gets 400 or 700 men attending them. He little though once upon a time that he should be delivering University extension courses in the desert, but, as he says, there is nothing for the men to do and the stars are about the only things there are to see. The night before he wrote he was lecturing at one of the officers' casualty clearing stations out there, on dimensions.

I should be glad if any of you can give me information respecting the following two soldiers who are missing - Private Tom Baren, 36662, East Yorkshires. His wife lives at The Hollins, Killinghall; the other soldier is Corporal Elsworth, 02447, 1/5th West Yorks. Baren was reported wounded on the 13th of May, and a fortnight later was said to be missing. Nothing has been heard since. He was pantry man at the Cairn Hydro. Elsworth's mother resides at 43 King Edward's Drive. She had news from his brother who is in the same regiment, that Corporal Elsworth was wounded on the 9th October and missing; nothing has since been heard from him at home.

With Sergeant Fletcher were two other boys, Private Draper, son of Mr G Draper, of Nydd Vale Terrace, who brought me the sad news of his brother's death in France. Draper is still in training in this country. The other visitor was F Allen, of 33 Commercial Street, who was in the King's Royal Rifles. He was wounded in the thigh and received his discharge September 23rd. He still has trouble from his old wound. Allen's brother, Corporal Raymond Allen, who worked at the Baths, has likewise been discharged. Another brother, Private N Allen, in the Canadians, is expecting to get his discharge, for he is incapacitated for military duties. Private Cecil Allen, another brother, is still in France. The last-named boy was fighting in German East Africa, where he was wounded, but on recovery was sent to fight in France. This is a good record of service for one family, isn't it?

Sergeant Balme, of 8 Elmwood Street, Harrogate, and son of Mr & Mrs Tom Balme, who has been missing for some time, I am glad to say is a prisoner of war at Saltin, Hanover. Another reason for hope for those who have relatives missing.

W H Breare