Harrogate Herald - 30th May 1917
Letters
Sergeant Charles E Croft writes :
I have got out of hospital in Boulogne and returned
to my own battalion, and when I opened the Herald and saw the
photographs of some of the lads out of my company, I was glad,
because it let me know more about them , and yet was very sorry they
should appear in some cases. Private Reed was in my platoon, and I
was with him when he was injured. I regret to see that he has since
died of his wounds. I am going to write to his mother, as I feel
sure she would like to hear my opinion about him. I was hit in the
calf of the right leg by a piece of shell, but compared to some of
the wounds our lads got, mine was only a trifle, although I am still
walking lame. I am well on the way for recovery, and hope to very
soon be active again. We had some special weather whilst I was in
hospital, and very often sat on the cliffs and watched the hospital
ships sailing across the Channel. You can imagine my thoughts. I met
a Knaresborough man there, Sergeant Bob Fountain. I expect you know
him, as you seem fairly well acquainted within most local chaps.
Something wrong with is knee, otherwise quite well. I have also met
Private Frank Howley, and Private Coggane, of Harrogate, and they
also were very well.
Harrogate Herald - 20th June 1917
W H Breare letter
Sergeant C E Croft, of the Beechwood Boys, is
at home on long leave, for he is to be granted a commission, and
shortly goes to an officers' training school. He looked in the other
day, and I am glad to say brought his amiable wife. Croft got
his first stripe before he received his uniform, so he wore it for a
time in his pocket. Oh, what a bad day the 3rd of may was for the
Beechwood lads! Well, Croft was wounded in the leg on that
very day. There is nothing the matter with him now, however. He is
the picture of health and activity, and having climbed from the very
bottom rung of the ladder he will make not only a proficient but a
brilliant officer. Further, he has just the disposition and the
genial man-to-man manner which will make him popular with his men.
Some of his friends may like to be reminded that his home is at St
George's terrace, Skipton Road, Harrogate.
Harrogate Herald - 25th July 1917
W H Breare letter
On Friday morning a young gentleman in mufti called,
who was wearing the West Yorks badge. I did not recognise him at
first, but soon discovered it was Signaller T H Lupton, who had come
home for a commission and the necessary training which cadets
receive. He is one of the Beechwood Boys, and arrived on Thursday
night. You will know his father well, J A Lupton, of the Rubber
Stores, Station Parade. From Lupton I gathered that Sergeant
Croft, son of Mr Croft, plumber, had been in the
Infirmary, but came out on Saturday. I think his trouble was trench
shins, as they call it. I had a most interesting chat with Lupton,
and I am sure he will make A smart officer. I shall watch his career
with the closest interest. Whilst he was with me in came Private L J
Baker, another Beechwood Boy, who was wounded on the 3rd of May by
shrapnel in the shoulder. He has been a month in England, and is the
son of Mr C Baker, now of Grantham, but formerly Tower Street, where
he kept a shop. Before the war Baker was serving his apprenticeship
with Jesper's, engravers, Harrogate. He is at Clipstone, but whether
he will be going out very soon or not he does not know.
Harrogate Herald - 1st August 1917
W H Breare letter
Private W Walker, of the Beechwood lot, is a son of Mr & Mrs
E Walker of 15 Avenue Street, Starbeck. He was wounded in the
shoulder by shrapnel on May 3rd, and for the time being has lost the
use of the muscles on the right arm. He has been in hospital at
Liverpool, but is now, I am glad to say, at Beaulieu, one of our
Harrogate Military Hospitals, which perhaps you will remember as
being situated in West End Park. While at Liverpool, Walker met
Private Pacey, who used to drive for Balmforth. Walker, who went out
in January, expressed his thanks for the cigarettes kind friends
sent him through me. When he arrived in Harrogate he saw Lupton and Sergeant
Croft, both of whom are home for commissions.
