Harrogate Herald - 3rd January 1917

W H Breare letter

Sergeant F S Cumberland returned from leave on Thursday. He is the son of Mr T Cumberland, gardener, of Bilton. The father is an old friend of mine whose acquaintance I value. I think the lad must be a chip off the old block, for he has been mentioned in despatches, received the Military Medal, and is further recommended for the DCM. He is a plucky chap. He had a bad attack of rheumatic fever, yet wouldn't go into hospital, but "stuck it", although his temperature was sometimes 103. He has been out two years and three months. I haven't received my information from Cumberland himself, he is much too modest to help me to make my letter to you interesting. he wanted nothing about himself in the paper, but I managed to learn what I have told you from another source. I do not think he will ever find out where I got my information, so my informant is not likely to be penalised.

Harrogate Herald - 11th July 1917

W H Breare letter

Private W Borrill I had not much space to write about last week. His home address is 9 Skipton Road, Harrogate. He has been twelve years in the Army, mostly in the Indian Army Reserve. He went to France the first week in September, 1914, but is now transferred to the RFC, with Pioneer-Sergeant F Cumberland. Cumberland's father is an old friend of mine - in fact, he was my gardener for some years, before I came to live in Herald Buildings. By the way, Borrill met George Sawbridge before that soldier was wounded, and when he came home on leave the other day, he saw him on the Sunday. Sawbridge is at one of the Grand Duchess's hospitals, and jolly comfortable.