Harrogate Herald – 2nd January 1918

W H Breare letter

I have just had a letter from Private H T Smith, who tells me I had better stop his paper for the present, as he is in a base hospital suffering from trench fever. I have also had a letter from Stockil, who is in Bermondsey Military Hospital. He says he has had a great time this Christmas, the boys there have been looked after so well. He was awfully pleased to see in the Herald that one of the old Starbeck school boys had been distinguishing himself. Starbeck is looming just now, and one realises what a large share that suburb has had in the war. For instance, Second Corporal J Henderson, of the wireless section, RE, 23 Avenue Place, Starbeck, came in to see me on Monday. He has been gassed, and while in hospital received the intimation that he had been awarded the Military Medal for getting stations working. He has been out two years nine months; first with the 10th West Yorks, then was transferred to the RE. His first leave was as far back as November, 1915; his second January, 1916, and his third has occurred now. He has been attacks near St Eloi, on the Somme, Ancre, Arras, and three at Ypres.

Harrogate Herald - 16th January 1918

Letters

Private W J Stockil says he and other wounded Tommies had a grand dinner, etc., provided by the munitions girls at Woolwich on New Year's Day.