Harrogate Herald - 17th January 1917
Letters
Private R H Oram writes :
Just a line to let you know that I am in the best of
health as usual, and to thank you for the papers received. I also
received one of those "War Souvenirs", and I think they
are delightfully interesting. I am afraid the authorities have
forgotten my leave altogether, as I expected to be home for Xmas,
but, as usual, unlucky, but I just awaiting the word "Go",
which may be anytime now. I should be greatly obliged if some of
your home readers would be so kind as to send me out a small letter
and number stamp. It would be most useful to me here. I have
hundreds of letters, parcels, etc., to go through daily. The sort of
thing I require is a small rubber stamping set for such endorsements
as (Not 2 1BD), (Returns), (9th Battn. Front), and so on. So if
anyone would kindly oblige me with the same, it would be both
helping my comrades to get their mails without delay, and save my
pencils, handwriting, etc. I hope everything is just the same at
Harrogate, and hope to be able to see the old town once again very
shortly.
Harrogate Herald - 21st March 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 :
Private R H Oram
Harrogate Herald - 2nd May 1917
Wednesday Gossip
Among the articles despatched to soldiers at the
Front this week are a football to Rifleman H Blackburn; body
cord to Bandsman Thompson; razor strop and case to T Ellis;
42 pairs of socks to Lieutenant Colonel J Walker, DSO, in
France; mouth organ to Private R H Oram; Pathe records to a
ship's company in the Mediterranean.
Harrogate Herald - 2nd May 1917
Letters
Private R H Oram, writing to Mrs France,
16 Dixon Terrace, [Frederick France, 16 Dixon Terrace]
Harrogate, expresses his thanks for papers received and is delighted
to hear she has had her boys home. When things quieten down a little
he hopes to get over and thank her personally for her kindness. His
leave has been cancelled three times. He sends his best wishes and
thanks to Mr W H Breare.
Harrogate Herald- 31st October 1917
W H Breare letter
To R H Oram :
I am sorry to hear that your application for
discharge has not been sent forward, I hope, however, that your
eyesight is improving, likewise your general health. Never mind, Oram,
take it from me everything happens for the best. You may not see it
now, but you will realise it when you experience those
compensations, which you undoubtedly will, to square the other side
of the account. In the meantime keep smiling.
Harrogate Herald - 16th January 1918
W H Breare letter
I have received the names of more local men who were at Mons. Bombardier
F Cooper, Royal Field Artillery, of 142a King's Road, went out
in August, 1914, with the Regular Army, and was in France until
wounded at the early part of last year, and is now at North Wareham.
R H Oram was the only Harrogate lad with the Scottish Rifles
at Mons. Sergeant A Burrows, son of Mr S Burrows,
Plompton, Knaresborough, was with the Army Service Corps that
arrived in Belgium on August 10th, 1914. He was there and in France
for three years and four months, and is now in Italy. Naval Air
Mechanic J H Graves, son of Mr and Mrs H H Graves, of
Fewston, was acting as driver for the Army Service Corps at Mons,
and is entitled to the medal. Corporal S S Coop (Lancers),
son of Mrs Coop, 21 North Lodge Avenue, New Park, Harrogate,
is another local soldier that fought at Mons. The first Harrogate
man to win the DCM, Private J A B Bennett (who, by the way,
is now full corporal in a cavalry bride), and Sergeant Kay,
who were formerly with the 20th Hussars and 6th Dragoon Guards
respectively, are both Mons men. Lance Corporal Randall E
Robinson, who has had four birthdays at the Front, and whose
parents reside at Westcliffe Terrace, is another. He has been right
through the war and wounded once.
