Harrogate Herald - 20th January 1915

3981 Trooper A Beer writes to the Editor as follows : 

Brigade Headquarters, 4th Cavalry Brigade, Expeditionary Force, 10th January, 1915.

Dear Mr Breare, I am writing you a few lines to thank you for your kindness in sending me the Harrogate paper out each week, to which I look forward to like a good meal and enjoy every bit as much as one, especially the letter "To my boys". Well, sir, I cannot say much this time, but one thing, I must thank your little granddaughter very much for the present of mittens and handkerchief, which I received through Private H G Smith, and should like to thank her personally, as it shows we are not forgotten, although we are away from our native town; but, of course, as you know, business is business, and carried on as usual. Well, Mr Breare, I think I must close. Wishing you and all at home and your paper every success, and remaining one of the seven.

Harrogate Herald - 5th September 1917

Letters

Trooper H G Smith writes : 

It is one special thing I look forward to the Herald. It grieves me to see so many of the Harrogate boys have fallen just lately. Many whom I knew in my childhood have given their lives for their country, but I hope by the help of God we shall beat these savages and have an early victory. My thoughts go out to the poor mothers of these fallen lads, and those who are still laying down their lives daily. I have no parents, but I have dear sisters who are toiling with anxious minds daily. This is my third year of the war, and I'm still going strong, enjoying good health also. How is Mrs Breare and little Miss Nellie going on now-a-days? I will ever forget Nellie's kindness to me the first Xmas out here; she sent me a few handkerchiefs, which I shall never forget. You remember the seven of the 6th Dragoon Guards? Well, it seems strange, we are all separated what are left of us. Making this new corps of machine gunners has made a great difference to it. I had a slight accident to my wrist watch two weeks ago, and it is beyond repair. If any of your kind readers could replace it for me I should be pleased, if I am not asking too much. A wrist watch is more handy for my work. I shall be pleased when I can see the old Market Clock again, for that is the best time.

Harrogate Herald - 5th December 1917

W H Breare letter

Mrs Hodgson, 75 Denmark Street, Harrogate, sister of Private H G Smith, Cavalry Division, has heard a rumour that her brother is missing, and would be glad of any definite news regarding him. She heard from him on the 14th November, but a parcel sent by another sister on the 34th November has been returned. Any news from his comrades would be much appreciated.

Harrogate Herald - 19th December 1917

W H Breare Letter

Lots of you remember Mr Hodgson Smith. You know at one time he had a shop in James Street. You know at one time he had a shop in James Street which was very attractive because of its fancy goods. Well, I have heard today that his son is missing. I do not remember to have seen him, but I am told by several people that he is a fine, handsome chap, but that is not the only reason why we are all hoping that it may turn out he is a prisoner of war in Germany at the worst. Of course, we shall be delighted if we hear that he is in hospital and news has not got through. This is the less probable than the prisoner theory, and that is why we are fondly clinging with all our hopes to that. I am sure you will sympathise with Mr Smith and his family in the painful suspense which has come to them.

Harrogate Herald - 19th December 1917

W H Breare letter

I was happy to receive a letter from Mrs Hodgson, of 75 Denmark Street, for she was able to tell me she had received news of her brother, one of my oldest soldier boys, H G Smith, who has been posted as missing. He is down with trench fever, but is getting on well. She thanks me for making inquiries after him; but the best thanks of all are to know that he is safe and that his friends are no longer in suspense.

Harrogate Herald - 2nd January 1918

Roll of Honour

Private H G Smith, Machine Gun Corps, has been invalided home with trench fever, and is now an inmate of the East Leeds War Hospital, Roundhay Road. This is his fourth winter of the war, he being one of the "seven" late of the 6th Dragoon Guards.

Harrogate Herald - 9th January 1918

W H Breare letter

Other Mons heroes include Harry Petty (RE), son of Mr and Mrs J R Petty, who were about one of the first patriotic families we had the pleasure of chronicling; Driver Donald Currie, son of Mrs Currie, of Denmark Terrace, who had five or six sons serving, one being killed, and Donald is a prisoner in Germany; Sergeant-Farrier J Bowgett, a Starbeck man, who, I believe, was a policeman at Bridlington prior to joining the Colours; Private John G Swales(Royal Scots Greys), of Russell Street, Oatlands Mount, who has been wounded twice and is now in hospital at Halifax; Private Richard Carter, Coldstream Guards, who is a prisoner in Switzerland, and whose sister, Mrs J T Johnson, resides at Bachelor Gardens; Cadet H Bryant, who landed at Ostend in October, 1914, and was with the 7th Divisional Column up to Ghent; Private G Graham (KOYLI), who was wounded and taken prisoner at Mons. He is the son of Mrs E Graham, 10 King's Road, and now at Chemnitz; Private H G Smith (Dragoon Guards), who is now in hospital in Leeds; Second Lieutenant L A Shipman, who also received the meritorious medal, son of Mr and Mrs Shipman, of Willow Grove, Bilton, who have other sons in the Army and Navy.

Harrogate Herald - 8th January 1919

W H Breare letter

Trooper H G Smith, of the Dragoon Guards, one of the seven Harrogate men in the same regiment, was in the Army at the outbreak of war, and is on Christmas leave from his depot. His time was up two years ago, and he shortly expects his discharge. His sister, Miss Ivy G A Smith, was one of the first Harrogate girls to go on munitions, and has been presented with a shell in recognition of her full services. [See photograph in this issue] Her eldest sister was also on munitions. Trooper Smith joined the Regular Army at the same time as Harry Petty, one of Mr and Mrs J R Petty's six sons, who quickly rallied to the Colours when the war broke out, and was in the same class at Western Council School as Charley Hull, the Harrogate VC, who is in India.