Harrogate Herald - 20th October 1915

Private Arthur Ashby, 9th West Yorkshire Regiment, whose photo appears in our picture page, is now at the Dardanelles. He is the son of Mr and Mrs G Ashby, 16 Albert Place, Starbeck. His brother was wounded recently.

Harrogate Herald - 20th October 1915

Photo - Private Alfred Ashby, 2nd King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, brother of Private Arthur Ashby, has been missing since May 7th. Some comrade said he was in a bayonet charge, and had not been heard of since. His parents, Mr and Mrs G Ashby, 16 Albert Place, Starbeck, would be glad of any information.

Harrogate Herald - 30th May 1917

Letters

Expressing his thanks for the Herald, Driver A Ashby says : 

I have had leave since I wrote you, but sorry I did not get to see you, as I was not in Harrogate long. I know I ought to have called to thank you for the kindness you have shown to me during the time I have been out here in France, but I hope you will accept my warmest heartfelt thanks that I can send on paper, and I hope you will be blessed with the best of health to enable you to carry on the good work you are doing, for it is one of the best comforts I have out here to receive the dear old Herald and see all the news. It is like having a chat with you personally to read your letter to the boys. I often see photos of dear friends I know in the picture page, and some that have given their whole for their country and freedom. I am pleased to say my brother-in-law, T Lobley, is near me at present, so we have many a good chat about the old town, surmising what we should have been doing if we were there. I have had one or two exciting adventures just lately, but, thank God, I have come out on top so far.

Harrogate Herald - 11th July 1917

W H Breare letter

Sergeant Dobby, of one of the West Yorks regiments, who had arrived on ten days' leave, came in to see me. In conversation he assured me that any feeling of unrest or despondency at home affected the spirits of the boys at the Front. By the way, it is twenty months since Dobby had his last leave. He has been in Egypt, but was transferred to France. He has seen a number of Harrogate boys, for instance, Lancaster, Sibson, Sharpe, Ashby, Robson, all Starbeck lads, where Dobby comes from. At Thiepval Dobby was buried for thirty minutes as a result of an upheaval from a shell. When he called he was\wearing the ribbon of the Italian Medal, which he won on the Somme. His home address is 25 Diamond Place.

Harrogate Herald - 5th September 1917

W H Breare letter

Driver G Mathers, RE, of New Park, came to see me just after I had finished my last letter to you. Mathers not long ago intended to write me for Arthur Ashby's address. Ashby, if you remember, drove for the Coal and Coke Co. Two days after he met the very man, so had no occasion to write. You will remember that Jack Smith (Mather's step-brother or half-brother, I forget which), was killed at Vimy Ridge. Mathers has been out 2 1/2 years and this was his second leave, the first being 17 months ago. He has come through thus far wonderfully well - neither being wounded or ill. No Harrogate chaps with him, but he had seen Charlie Buck, of Electric Avenue, New Park.

Harrogate Herald - 26th September 1917

W H Breare letter

Private F D Earnshaw, of Starbeck, who belongs to the West Yorks, came fresh from Belgium to see me. Sharp, of Starbeck, who is of the same regiment, came on leave about the same time. From Earnshaw I learnt that Johnson, who drove for Knowles, wine merchant, and lives at New Park, was a stretcher bearer, and when fetching wounded he was caught by a shell. The following Starbeck boys are with Earnshaw : Sibson, Lance Corporal Blackburn, Private Ashby, Sergeant Dobby, who, by the way, is in hospital. Earnshaw has been 12 months out the 25th of this month. He has had narrow shaves, but escaped and has kept well.