Harrogate Herald - 7th November 1917

To Our Boys on Service

Dear Chaps,

I have had a visit from Mrs Hamilton, wife of F Hamilton, 23609, of the 40th Labour Company, who lives at 19 Baden Street, Harrogate. She was in doubt and trouble. I do not wonder. She had received letters from Hamilton's major and his chaplain saying that he had died from wounds received August 9th, in a hospital on the 10th August. She wrote to York, but they had no information. She likewise wrote to London, where they said her husband was included in the casualty list The strange thing about it is her ring paper was altered, on the 19th September, mark you (and Hamilton is supposed to have died on the 9th August), showing he had been transferred to the Durham Light Infantry. She clings to the hope that there has been a mistake somewhere and that her husband is not dead, but a prisoner in Germany. Before the war he was a postman and had served 13 years in this occupation. Mrs Hamilton has asked me to state her case to you and say that she will be very grateful to anyone who can give her any information whatever about her husband.

Many years ago, when I was living at Harlow Car, one of our gardeners was named Dale. I have just had a visit from his son, Bombardier B Dale, of a siege battalion. He went back from leave yesterday. Been out 15 months, and this was his first leave. His home is 33 Willow Grove. In July he was wounded and had five weeks in hospital. When he set out on leave he came out of action from that locality of the last attack, proceeded straight down the lines and home. Before the war he worked for Mr Rennie as head gardener. Dale looked well and seemed to be enjoying his holiday. I was sorry that I had not more time with him, but it so happened that just at the moment he called I had to telephone over the Division news of the opening of a new offensive. However, I dropped that work while I had a brief chat with him.

Driver F Clarke, son of Mr & Mrs F Clarke, of 5 Skipton Road, looked in whilst on leave, which terminated yesterday. Sapper Simpson, of Pine Street, was with him. Clarke has been 14 months out, and during that time only came across two Harrogate lads, Simpson and Trooper Watson, of the Yorkshire Hussars. The latter he met so long ago as a year this month. Watson belongs to Oatlands, and when he called on me was from a hospital in Cheltenham. His photo was in the Herald last week.

I told you in a former letter that I was constantly asked to obtain the transfer of Harrogate wounded soldiers to their own town. Although the hospital authorities here do everything they can to help in these cases, it does not always come off. For instance : I had two replies sent to me by my friend Captain Titley, who is always doing his best for these lads, which said with regard to Patrick J Black : "This man has only a flesh wound, which will probably heal in the course of two weeks. On that account", the head of the hospital writes, "I do not recommend transfer". Then in the case of Private J R Marshall a letter from the officer commanding in the hospital where he is says : "Private J R Marshall will shortly be sent on furlough". So the friends of these men will shortly have them amongst them.

Waters, who is a son of Mr Waters, of Shires' Sports Depot, has already reached Grove House Hospital. This reminds me that Mr Waters himself, the father, is ill and away from home. He has not quite recovered and so remains away another month. The sportsmen among you, from Harrogate and district, will remember Mr Waters well and wish for his speedy recovery. Some of you recollect Mr & Mrs Hepper, who years ago had the Crown stables. Their only daughter is now in Harrogate studying for the vocal profession with me. Though she has been here less than two months she has made such rapid progress I am confident she will have a distinguished career on the concert platform. She is a niece of Mr Waters of whom I have been speaking to you. Last Saturday week Miss Hepper made her first appearance at St Nicholas Hospital. Her success was instantaneous. A rich contralto with tears in it.

The other night Mr W S Hughes, who takes a prominent part in the work of the YMCA, met a Greenhow Hill boy who was going home on leave; but got stranded at Harrogate as there was no train to take him on that night. He was on the point of walking all the way to Greenhow when Mr Hughes met him. The YMCA looks after these lads who are stranded and finds them a night's lodging. Mr Hughes tells me he is prepared to see that boys are taken in a motor car if motor owners will be good enough to offer the loan of their cars for this purpose. So if any of you lads get stranded in Harrogate when on leave you had better look him up at the YMCA and ascertain what he cane do for you. The association has a fund to meet the expense of lodgings for soldiers, but I am sorry to hear that the balance at present is on the wrong side of the ledger, I have no doubt, however, Harrogate people, when they ascertain this, will come forward and see that there is money in hand for such a splendid purpose.

Unfortunately the heroes of Mons are very few and far between. When we do see one we have a very buoyant feeling of veneration. You can understand then how pleased I was that Farrier J Bowgett, a reservist of the RFA, who went out with the first Expeditionary Force to France, called to see me. He has been all through the Marne, the Somme, and most of the other big "stunts", and is now with a Welsh division. A solitary Knaresborough man was with him at one time, but he has now lost sight of him since. When war broke out Bowgett was in the police force at Bridlington. The last time he saw a Harrogate man was in 1916. Bowgett is married and lives at Bridlington, his parents residing at Starbeck. Bowgett's brother Wilfred Bowgett is in the Royal Marines, and was wrecked about two months ago. After coming home Wilfred joined another ship. His brother Frank Bowgett is employed on the North Eastern Railway, but joins up tomorrow. Farrier Bowgett learnt his trade with the Harrogate Carriage Company as blacksmith. I have a very pleasant recollection of a former visit which Bowgett paid me.

W J Baines has been asking for Simpson's address, and Mrs H Simpson, believing it is her husband's address that is wanted, sends me it.

On Friday afternoon we received the following telegram : "Mr Kerensky informs Petrograd correspondent of Associated Press Russia is worn out and it is her right now to ask the other Allies to shoulder the burden of war - P.A." A detached sentence like this makes one wonder what has happened, or what has been up, to lead to such a statement. The telegram is capable of many inference, but it would be well to reserve judgment until the rest of the text is before us. Whether the burden refers to finance or fighting or both remains to be seen. It is not well to try to imagine what the result of a positive "cave-in" on he part of Russia would mean to the Allies, so we had better reserve judgment and wait - confident in the resources of the Allies and firm in our determination for victory. We shall have to reserve judgment and any criticism until it can be founded on full information. Are we downhearted? No!

Just as I am dictaphoning to you I have received a parcel from Mr J E Shires, of the Sports Depot. I had only mentioned his name a few lines back so I thought it a singular coincidence that a parcel should arrive from him at that moment. It contains a safety razor in case, an ordinary razor and a mouth organ, all sent with his compliments. I am exceedingly obliged to Mr Shires, who periodically remembers you lads in this nice way.

Willie Hudson (I ought to say Bombardier Hudson), of the Garrison Artillery, a member of the firm of Hudson Brothers, ironmongers, has recently been home on leave. Unfortunately I did not happen to see him.

You Knaresborough lads will be interested to hear that some of the Old Girls of the Knaresborough Grammar School are organising a very pleasant event to take place in the big schoolroom with the object of benefiting some war fund. There is to be a concert, I know; but what other attractions I cannot tell you yet.

The Herald office and other boys will like to know that Worstall, who was formerly foreman of the Herald's News Department, is still engaged training troops in Wales. He was formerly in the Army. Has thoroughly recovered from that illness which he had a few years ago, and never looked better in his life than now.

Butter is scarcer than ever, especially farmers' butter. They are not offering much in the market now because they are not satisfied with the price which the Food Controller allows them. At Knaresborough Market last Wednesday there was very little to be seen.

On Friday we had a real November fog, and it remained fairly thick all day. It was not really cold, however. My first hope was that you were not getting it out where you are.

Sir Eric Geddes, First Lord of the Admiralty, achieved a great success in his first statement in Parliament and maiden speech on Thursday night. Sir Eric's home is Scriven Hall, Knaresborough.

The exhibition tour of the Red Cross ambulance train built by the North Eastern Railway Company was an unqualified success. 36,404 persons inspected it, and as a result the sum of £1,200 has been handed over to the Red Cross Society.

Last week I referred to a visit of a soldier on leave. I made a mistake in his name in the Herald. It appeared as Wade. It should have been Waind. You will remember him when I tell you that his father is employed at the railway station.

When Mr W S Hughes, of the YMCA, visited me the other morning I suggested to him that perhaps the regulations might prevent private motor car owners from using their cars to take stranded soldiers home when on leave. I proposed that he should seek the opinion of Inspector Jackson, and have since been glad to find that the Inspector thinks that, so far as he can see, private motorists would be able to do this very desirable work without transgressing the petrol laws. The North Eastern Railway Company have been good enough to allow the YMCA to fix up a public notice, regarding stranded men, in a prominent position in the Harrogate Railway Station. But my advice holds good, viz., if their is any difficulty through being stranded whilst on leave apply to Mr W S Hughes, YMCA Rooms, Harrogate.

Gunner E Hudson, of the RGA, has been invalided home with rheumatism and trench fever, and is now in Ward C2, Annexe, Norfolk War Hospital, Thorpe, Norwich. I am hoping to get him transferred to Harrogate. I know Hudson. He is a nice chap and every bit a man. I first met him when I was swearing in recruits at Westminster Chambers during recruiting for Lord Derby's lot. Hudson was then assisting at the recruiting office, but subsequently joined the RGA.

Mr Edgar Haddock, who is taking such an interest in the blinded soldiers, called to see me the other day. He told me he had a very beautiful poem, by E Thornton Bridgewater, a lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps, set to music by a young composer who, he believes, will rise to the very top. The man wishes to remain anonymous. This song, entitled, A Blind Hero, has been given to the St Dunstan Blind Institute, and as the music is as beautiful as the words it should have a large sale and greatly assist the Institution's funds. You will probably hear it out where you are. It is to be sung at many of the concerts in aid of children of blinded soldiers. The composer, I had nearly forgotten to tell you, is a private soldier and about 25 or 26 years of age. Although he has written remarkable works, none have yet been published. Mr Haddock looks upon him a one of England's finest modern composers. He wrote the song whilst lying out in the wilds of a battle area, with a broken pen, and, of course, with no piano near.

If you have not heard you will be glad to know that the increase of pay for you boys is to date from the last of September. You will derive further satisfaction from the information that after November 1st the leave of soldiers was to be extended to 14 days inclusive of the journey home and back. We are assured that as many men as possible will be spared on leave, You will realise by this that public opinion in your interests is strong enough to promptly secure such new and valuable arrangements for your advantage.

At 1.53 on Saturday afternoon we were greatly elated to receive the following wire, which I straightway 'phoned over the Division : "Reuter Copenhagen message says naval engagement took place yesterday in the Kattegat between British destroyers and German armed vessels. Large German ship was sunk".

At six minutes past four the same day I received over the telephone the following : "British Official - We destroyed a German auxiliary cruiser and 10 armed patrol craft in Kattegat. No British losses reported".

Later, we had the news that an electrically-controlled high-speed boat had attacked some of our patrol vessels on the Belgian coast and the attack was defeated, and that the German boat was sunk.

These happenings were very fortunate and timely, for they emphasise the assurance the First Lord of the Admiralty gave in Parliament only a few hours before. This, together with Geddes' speech, puts the extinguisher on those people who are attempting to belittle our Grand navy. No word has been heard from that lot since. It seem they are only too glad to lie low and hide their confusion. Take no notice of he grumblers and do-nothings. Their natures are too small to permit of expansion under the elevating patriotism of war-time.

It is Sunday morning, damp and misty. I have just been talking over the telephone to Jack Knowles, father of that dear lad who has given his life in battle. Mr Knowles read me a very beautiful letter he received from the officer commanding our lamented young friend's platoon. You will find it somewhere in the Herald today, so be sure and read what will be a comfort to everyone who has lost a relative in the Army.

A big war meeting was held at the Kursaal on Friday night. The Mayor presided, and the speakers were Admiral Bridgeman, Major Wood, member for the Ripon Division, and Norman Rae. Your old friends the Harrogate Glee Society whiled away the time of waiting by their part-songs. Mr W Morley conducted. The committee sent me a platform ticket, but unfortunately I was too busy to go. Norman Rae pointed out that Great Britain and her Allies supplied Germany with the bulk of raw materials she used in manufacture, and suggested that Germany should be told that until she made reparation she should not receive a pound of raw material from the Allies.

Corporal J R Peveler, ASC, called on Saturday. He has been located in Calais for ten months, doing useful work there because he is unfit for the line. He has been out 11 1/2 months, and is the youngest son of Mr Peveler, accountant, of Harrogate. Before the war the corporal assisted his father in his business. His eldest brother, R A Peveler, has been discharged from the Army, whilst another brother, W A Peveler, is ineligible. Peveler looked very bright and happy, and admitted frankly that it was a joy to be home. There are no Harrogate lads with him, so he appreciates the Herald all the more. He went back on Sunday.

The friends of Private F E Clarkson (West Yorks), son of Mr & Mrs Clarkson, Thirkhill View, Pannal, are anxious for news of him. His mother received a field card from him just before the attack on the 9th October, but has heard nothing since. Will you tell me if you have any information?

W H Breare