Harrogate Herald - 22nd December 1915

Postcards from soldiers : The following write : "I am quite well. I have received the Heralds. Letter follows at first opportunity"

H Elsworth

Harrogate Herald - 29th December 1915

Private H Elsworth says : 

Our first visit to the first line trenches was not what you would call a pleasant one, seeing that it was the first, and the Germans did not give us time to settle down before they were sending us a few presents from, well, shall I say, "Krupp's?". I cannot say that they were Christmas presents, as they were a bit too early. I am pleased to say that our guns could reply, just to show them that we are not behind in our transmission of shells. I will try to explain to you what I man. We arrived last Monday week in a shell-shattered village in the morning, tired and hungry, and put our packs down on the side of what remained of a street to have a smoke, but before we had lit up there was a "Wiss and a Bang"; then a splatter of shrapnel in the mud, of which there is plenty out here just now. That was the first shell they had sent over to us, and they kept on sending them over for two days, then I think they got tired, as we kept replying. After the first two days were over we began to settle down a bit. It gave us a bit of a shaking up with it being our first experience under actual shell-fire, but we got used to it the same as everything else. We got settled down alright in the trenches for business, which I must say was pretty quiet, except for machine guns and snipers, who are always at work during the day and night. It is an experience which no young fellow in England should miss - to be in the trenches at night, and when you have to go over "no man's land" on listening post, when the Germans put their lights up and you have to "bob down or get spotted". I have not met any Harrogate boys out here yet, but I am always on the look out for them. Well, I will close with wishing you a merry Xmas and bright New Year. Again thanking you for your papers. I shall always be on the look out for it.

Harrogate Herald - 25th April 1917

The following are men who have sent us the Army post-card briefly stating that they are well and have received papers and parcels, or whose letters contain views that have repeatedly been expressed by other correspondents, but show their friends that they are all right :

H Elsworth

Harrogate Herald - 20th June 1917

The following are men who have sent us the Army post-card briefly stating that they are well and have received papers and parcels, or whose letters contain views that have repeatedly been expressed by other correspondents, but show their friends that they are all right :

H Elsworth

Harrogate Herald - 5th September 1917

Private H Elsworth (Manchester Regiment), of Harrogate, has been awarded the Military Medal for gallantry and services rendered to his country at Ypres, together with the sincere congratulations of the Brigadier-General. [Following added 12th September] Private Elsworth is the son of Joseph Elsworth, of Robert Street, Harrogate, and both he and his brother, Charles Elsworth, carriage proprietor, Duchy Grove, Harrogate, have each three sons serving with the Colours.

Harrogate Herald – 24th April 1918

The following have sent postcards thanking for the Herald and stating they are well :