Harrogate Herald - 24th January 1917

Letters

Sergeant-Drummer G Proctor, who had charge of the band at Harrogate in the early days, writes : As a Harrogate lad I am writing to ask you if you will be good enough to forward the Herald each week, as I should very much appreciate it. What a short time it is since I was in Harrogate with our regimental band for Xmas comforts, and yet what a number of things have happened since then! Little did we think when playing in the Winter Gardens that in so short a time we should be plating in the streets of France. Since leaving England we have travelled very quickly. We had a long railway journey, about twenty-four hours ride, and are now quite a long way up country. In fact, as I write this letter I can hear the guns roaring away, and I am given to understand that there is a very big bombardment going on. I will write again soon.

Harrogate Herald - 25th April 1917

Letters

Sergeant Drummer George Proctor, writing from the Front, says :Well, I am glad to tell you that events seem to have taken a decided change for the better just now, and the advance of our troops has been very swift and sure. By the way, I saw eight Tanks come out of action yesterday, and was delighted to find that Percy Raworth, MM, son of Councillor Raworth, was on board one of them. We had quite a nice chat for a few minutes, then he was away to his work again - not much rest for anybody nowadays. No doubt you will be glad to hear that our regiment has won distinction in the shape of several Military M-edals, etc., and is still doing fine work. Thanks for the Herald, which reaches me each week. Wishing you and the paper the best of luck.

HH - 23rd May 1917

Letters

Mrs Howard Horner, of 9 Newnham Terrace, Harrogate, has heard through a letter sent by Sgt Drummer Procter, that her husband, CSM Horner, has been killed in action. He leaves a family of three children.

HH - 6th June 1917

W H Breare letter

Not many ,men have had leave of late, and so my callers have been few. You can understand that I was pleased on Wednesday to have visits from three of our lads. First was Drum-Major G Procter, master of the brass band of the Beechwood Boys. he is of the firm of Procter Brothers, Tewit park garages. That establishment is closed now, because both brothers are serving their country. They will have to go on our list showing the men who have given up their work and business to fight for the homeland. Drum-Major Procter was in splendid form, and had a good deal to tell me about the Beechwood Boys which I cannot put in print. It is something of a coincidence that he should call just after I sent that gramophone to the Beechwood lads. While he was still with me in walked Second Lieutenant H Lupton, also of the Beechwood Boys. he is a son of Mr William Lupton, surveyor to the Knaresborough Rural District Council. These two had much to talk about, and I heard many familiar names in their chat. Lieutenant Lupton has been wounded twice. He is rather pale, but seems to be getting on well. he was transferred to the Beechwood Boys from another unit. As some of you know he makes a fine figure of an officer. His manner is quiet, but determination is behind it, and we all know that such boys are there when wanted.

Harrogate Herald - 5th September 1917

W H Breare letter

The other evening I had a visit from another newly married couple : Sergeant W Elsworth and his wife. Elsworth was only wed a week last Saturday to Miss Ethel Tanner, of London. I have written about Elsworth before, so you will know who I mean, especially when I tell you that early on he was out in the East, as a signaller I believe, and belongs to the Regular Army. Elsworth has seen Tom Shaw, son of Harry Shaw, of Albert Terrace; Sergt Drummer Proctor, of the Beechwood boys, and his own brother, Horace, several times. I was pleased to see Elsworth again, likewise to meet his wife, and I hope that they will have a long and happy married life.

Harrogate Herald - 13th March 1918

Breare letter

Drum-Major George Proctor, the Bandmaster of the Beechwood Boys' band, looked in to see me yesterday and was looking remarkably well. The boys, he told me, are very well despite their hard work, of which Cambrai was the hardest stunt. So arduous had been their work that they are to have three separate periods of rest of a month each. Proctor's lot is referred to in our Gossip column. They are in the 62nd Division. At Bullecourt, which they entered a second time after a memorable battle, they found the body of one of their officers sitting by the crucifix dead. Friends of the Beechwood Boys will be glad to know that the accommodation and other conditions are very much better than a year ago, which greatly adds to their comfort and cheerfulness. It will also please the friends to know that there is any amount of entertainment and other relaxation for them not far from the firing line when they are resting. The band often plays not only for our own boys, but those of other units, much to their gratification. Once they went to play some distance away at a hospital, where they found Dr Pringle, of Harrogate, in charge.

HH - 29th January 1919

W H Breare letter

Drum Major G Procter, I regret to hear, is not progressing so well since he went to Ripon. I am doing my best to get him transferred to Harrogate, where he can get further treatment for his rheumatism, etc.