Harrogate Herald - 24th January 1917

Letters

Private G H Clayton writhes : 

I am writing these few lines to ask if you will kindly send me a Herald occasionally. I always found the same to be the best for news of any importance locally. I have not had one for a considerable time. My mother used to send them to me whilst in civil life. I left the Sulphurland 4.5 years ago to take charge of a branch shop of Mr James Coombes, boot repairer, at Newark. I was in their employ up to enlisting in the RE. Now we have been transferred into the Welsh regiment. The weather here is very bad, rain and snow for seven days. I am the second son of the late G H & Mrs Clayton, of High Harrogate. I see by an old Herald I picked up here, my brother Alf Clayton still writes to you. I am leaving hospital today. We don't hear much peace talk now. Fritz will get the peace he doesn't like (bayonet piece). I must now conclude, wishing your paper every success.

Harrogate Herald - 8th August 1917

W H Breare letter

It is rather singular that I should have had a visit from another soldier named Clayton. It was Signaller A Clayton, son of Mrs G H Clayton, Wilton House, Devonshire Place, Harrogate. I told him how worried I had been about the missing Clayton and how pleased I was to find that he was not the man. Clayton was on leave after 19 months in France. Of course I knew him by name because he is one of my boys to whom I send the Herald. He looked exceedingly well, and I was proud to find in him such a fine fellow. He has the nicest manners - that kind which makes a conversation pleasant. I grieve to tell you that the day Signaller A Clayton came on leave his brother, G H Clayton, the second son, was killed in action. He did no learn of this until he arrived home.

Harrogate Herald – 8th August 1917

Private G H Clayton, son of Mrs Clayton, Wilton House, Devonshire Place, Harrogate, has been killed in action on the day his brother, Signaller A Clayton, came home on leave.

Harrogate Herald - 27th March 1918

W H Breare letter

Driver Alf Clayton, of a signal company, who many of you boys know very well as the son of Mrs Clayton, newsagent, of High Harrogate, was married on Monday at Christ Church to Miss Laurette Marshall, of Huntingdon. Let us wish them every happiness. Clayton came in to see me last Saturday morning. I used to know him when he was a boy. He is a fine, tall, good looking chap now, with an expression on his face that makes friends. He saw Cyril Tyreman not so long ago, who wished to be remembered to all his friends. I send forward the message to you. Tyreman is in Clayton's Division. You will remember that Clayton's brother George Clayton was killed July 28th, 1917, and his brother-in-law, Second Lieutenant Henry Potterton, on December 13th. Potterton was a son of the late Mr Sam Potterton, decorator. This fine lad received his death wounds at Cambrai.