Harrogate Herald - 13th June 1917

Roll of Honour

Alfred Ernest Smith, of the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders, third son of Mr and Mrs Joseph Smith, of 56 Belford Terrace, Harrogate (aged 33), died on May 29th of wounds received in action on May 16th. The chaplain wrote : 

"Dear Mrs Smith, You will have received the official notification of your son's death in the 1st Canadian Casualty Clearing Station. It will have been a sad blow to you, I am sure, but rest assured that everything that could possibly be done for him was given to his case by doctors and sisters. He was, however, very weak owing to loss of blood, and gradually his condition became worse. His end was peaceful. His funeral took place the following morning, and his body now lies in the cemetery of the little French town of Aubigny (near Arras) alongside those of other gallant soldiers who have fallen. May God comfort you in your sorrow. You can ever be proud of the noble death of your son in a great cause. With y personal sympathy".

Harrogate Herald - 2nd January 1918

W H Breare letter

First I will take Sapper Wilcock, RE. He id the son of Mr and Mrs William Wilcock, joiner, of Mornington Crescent. I had not seen him before, to my knowledge, but he is such a nice chap and reminded me so much of you all. I was glad to make his acquaintance. He was in the Cambrai push, and managed to dodge the bullets and shell fragments. It was that time when then enemy were so surprised. It was his good fortune in that unceremonious call to light upon a German breakfast, already laid. He helped to eat it. As it was officer's rations, he enjoyed it. One night there was trouble from a German machine gun when, providentially, a snowstorm fell and put the gun out of action to the extent that it screened our boys. Harry Wright, who worked for Mr William Ryder, New Park, is in Wilcock's company. He has also seen George Dobson, so George seems to have been getting about. He had not a word with him, however. He did have a chat with Smith, whose parents reside at Belford Place, but since then poor Smith had been killed. He had visited Smith's grave.