Harrogate Herald - 2nd January 1918
W H Breare letter
I heard the other day that Frank Wilson had
been home from France. I do not know what rank he is. I was not
fortunate enough to see him. His brother Edward Wilson is a
doctor, you know, and had been a long time out in France, but has
now returned to his own job - something to do with the movement
which fights consumption. You will remember, perhaps, that they are
sons of the late Mr J H Wilson, chemist.
Harrogate Herald - 10th April 1918
W H Breare letter
I have just heard that Frank Wilson has been
missing since the 21st of March. You will remember him as the second
son of the late John H Wilson, JP, of Wilson's, Limited,
chemists. I sincerely hope we shall hear that he is a prisoner
unless, better still, he should otherwise turn up well and sound. Wilson's
elder brother is a medical man and has served some time at the
Front; but now practising in Leeds. The sister has for a long time
been doing war work, driving a military car. Frank Wilson,
who is married, was a dentist before the war. Will you boys try to
get me information of him?
Harrogate Herald - 24th April 1918
W H Breare letter
We have not heard much news of Lieutenant Frank
Wilson, who is missing. I think I told you that his company,
which I believe was a machine-gun one, were all missing. One of the
officers, however, was discovered on the field wounded and is in
hospital in Manchester. I am firmly convinced that Frank and
his comrades are prisoners in Germany. It looks as if our men, after
retiring, had again advanced, when they found the wounded officer.
There were no other casualties on the field, and no one else seems
to have escaped, so I come to the conclusion that they were taken
prisoners of war through being surrounded. I firmly believe we shall
have good news of him and his comrades.
Harrogate Herald - 25th December 1918
W H Breare letter
Then I have had in the two brothers Currie, Private Alexander and
Driver Donald. They live at 5 Denmark Street. Alex has been twelve
months out, wounded and gassed on the 28th January, 1918. This
affected his voice, and he couldn't speak for three months. Ben
Smith, of Hurstleigh Terrace, was with Currie, and Micky Brain, of
Denmark Street. There were six of the Currie boys in the Army - one,
Arthur, with the Canadians, was killed April 16th; Driver Donald was
taken on the 8th September, 1914, at the fall of Manbenge. The town
surrendered on the 7th September, after ten days' bombardment. In
1914 his treatment was severe, but better later. With him at the
same camp was Second Lieutenant B Archer, under-chef at the Hydro,
and Lieutenant Frank Wilson, and eight or nine other
Harrogate boys. They were all at Mainz. Lieutenant Colonel
Bousfield, who was once in charge of the 1/6th West Yorks, was
likewise a prisoner there. At the same time as those boys called,
Private Fred Harwood, of the 29th Battalion Canadian Infantry, came.
He had been out two years and eight months, and is the son of Mr and
Mrs Harwood, engine driver for the North Eastern, of 99 The Avenue,
Starbeck. Harwood was in the Giessen camp. He was taken at St Eloi
in the battle of the craters. With Harwood was Private W Tindale,
3rd Battalion, Toronto Regiment. He was taken prisoner on the 24th
April, 1915. Been three years and seven months out. Captured at St
Julien. Tindale was in Harrogate as a guest of Fred Harwood.
