Claro Times – 27th February 1915

Photo – Private Alfred Bruce, of Chatsworth Place, Harrogate, one of seven Territorials who was drowned at Gainsborough. The funeral took place at Harrogate on Tuesday.

[Photo of the coffin being bourn into St Luke's Church is also available, also of the firing party from the Yorkshire Hussars preceeding the cortege to the cemetery]

Claro Times – 27th February 1915

Seven West Riding Territorials, members of the 3rd West Riding Brigade, lost their lives by drowning near Guisborough on Friday. A section of men were engaged in pontoon building on a deep pit by the side of the Trent, when the pontoon tilted, and about a score of men were thrown into the water. Several men swam to the bank, others were dragged to safety, but the seven sank and were drowned.

The men who lost their lives were all Privates, and their names are :

E Cockill, 10 Stratheden Road, Balne Lane, Wakefield

W Dent, 9 South View, Churwell

J Myers, Savile Grove, Savile Town, Dewsbury

F Cooke, Cardigan Terrace, The Falls, East Ardsley

W Atherton, 88 Stanley Road, Wakefield

A Bruce, 40 Chatsworth Place, Harrogate

E Baty, New Street, Batley

[Long inquest report follows]

It will be noticed that among those drowned was Private Alfred Bruce, of 40 Chatsworth Place, Harrogate, and this news provoked a feeling of universal regret among many who held him and the members of his family in the highest respect.

He was the second of three sons of Mrs Bruce, and had a successful educational career in Harrogate. At the age of ten he headed the list of 61 winners of a West Riding County Minor Scholarship. By virtue of this scholarship, he was for three years at the Secondary School, and here gained many examination successes. He started business life in the local divisional office of the West Riding County Council, and three years ago was transferred to the staff of the Education Department at the County Hall, Wakefield. He enlisted from Wakefield in September last, in the 4th King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (Territorials), and had been training at various places in South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

Thus what gave every promise of a useful life, reflecting credit on his parents and Harrogate, has been cut off in the flush of young manhood, Bruce not having reached his 22nd birthday. His was a lovable disposition, and he had a host of friends in Harrogate, and had made many in Wakefield. Fond of games, he overflowed with good spirits, and entered into almost every branch of sport with unbounded enthusiasm. He played cricket and football with several local junior clubs, and also since going to Wakefield, but the one unfortunate exception was that swimming was not one of his many accomplishments in the realm of sport. His gentlemanly demeanour on the field of play and in everyday life had a great deal to do with the universal esteem in which he was held by his friends.

The funeral took place at the Harrogate Cemetery on Tuesday with fitting military honours.

[Long description then follows]

The chief mourners were his mother and two brothers, Trooper W Bruce, of the Yorkshire Hussars, Harlow, Essex, and Master H Bruce, a younger brother.

[Long list of other mourners and wreaths then follows]