Harrogate Herald - 2nd January 1918

W H Breare letter

First I will take Sapper Wilcock, RE. He is 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.

Harrogate Herald - 9th January 1918

W H Breare letter

Sapper H Wright, RE, of 13 Glendown, New Park, was an interesting caller. He has been out two years and four months and once in hospital with trouble other than a wound. He worked for Mr Ryder 18 years, is in the Ulster Division, which contains many Yorkshire lads. Young Wilcocks, who called only just before Christmas, is the only Harrogate lad close to him. Wright has had a fairly rough time. Only a month's rest in two years. One of Wright's brothers was killed in September. He had gone out for the fifth time after four times wounded. He has had some close shaves.