Harrogate Herald - 21st April 1915

A postcard is to hand this week from Charlie Brain, a prisoner at Doeberitz. He says he is well, and desirous of giving best wishes to his Rovers' club mates. He is evidently on short rations, for he says he would appreciate some cocoa and tea, and any kind of tinned stuff that could be forwarded. As for a smoke, he has not had one for six months.

Claro Times - 15th October 1915

Private "Charlie" Brain, 1st West Yorkshires, was captured by the Germans in the very early days of the war, and has for some months been in the Doeberitz Camp for prisoners of war. He is well known in Harrogate and throughout Yorkshire as a player of Rugby football with Harrogate, and later with Hull Kingston Rovers. No news has been received of or from him for a considerable time, and it was known that he had suffered severely from rheumatic fever.

A fifth member of the family of Brain, by the way, has enlisted in the Northumberland Fusiliers. He is only 15 years of age, but was determined to follow the example of his four brothers.