Harrogate Herald - 3rd January 1917

Letters

Signaller H F F Clayton writes : 

Dear Mr Breare, At last I find time to write to you and thank you for kindly sending me the Harrogate Herald. I have been trying this past week to write to you, but have had to keep putting it off owing to having lamp parades to attend at night, and a large amount of correspondence to write to Australia. I am sure that all the boys must appreciate your great kindness in forwarding them a paper each week. I know how it is to receive a bit of news of the old town, when one is far away from it, for I was always delighted to see a Herald or Advertiser in Australia. On my recent visit to Harrogate I felt lost, through not meeting any of my boyhood pals. All gone to France, which speaks very well for the old town. One of the old boys whom I would have greatly liked to have met and from whom I often hear Harrogate news, was one well-known to you, as he has been in your employ since he left school. I refer to Gilbert Blacker. Many a happy hour we spent at school together under that excellent master, the late Mr Hammond. I was fortunate enough to meet one old friend, one of Harrogate's DCM's, Private Harry Usher. This last week I had a very pleasant surprise, by receiving a parcel from the committee of the United Methodist Church, and would be very grateful if you would publish that I am very grateful and deeply appreciate the kindness of the committee in remembering me after so many years of absence. The boys in the same company as me are very anxious to get back to a bit of sunshine, but they all want to see what Berlin is like before going back, and are quite content to suffer the cold and frosts, in hopes of seeing the land of the Huns transferred to a honourable government. Thanking you once more for your kindness in sending me the paper, and wishing you a happy Xmas, but a far brighter, happier, and peaceful New Year.