Harrogate Herald - 17th January 1917

The following are men who have sent us the Army post-card briefly stating that they are well and have received papers and parcels, or whose letters contain views that have repeatedly been expressed by other correspondents, but show their friends that they are all right :

H Blackburn

Harrogate Herald - 25th April 1917

I am keeping up to the mark and looking forward to the grand weather coming, writes Rifleman H Blackburn. I am receiving your paper every week, which I must thank you so much for, as I am always anxious to read the news of the good old town. Excuse me asking, but I would like you, on behalf of my company, to send us a football if you have one. Our officer bought us one, and we had the misfortune to burst it beyond repair, so that we had to part with it. We have passed many a happy hour with a football, and we feel lost without one. I am sure you will do your best for us. I might add we have been out resting, and the rest has been a change for us. I shall have been out here twelve months the 5th of May, so I am looking forward for my leave soon and longing for a look at the good old town. Wishing you and your paper every success.

Harrogate Herald - 2nd May 1917

Wednesday Gossip

Among the articles despatched to soldiers at the Front this week are a football to Rifleman H Blackburn; body cord to Bandsman Thompson; razor strop and case to T Ellis; 42 pairs of socks to Lieutenant Colonel J Walker, DSO, in France; mouth organ to Private R H Oram; Pathe records to a ship's company in the Mediterranean.

Harrogate Herald - 11th July 1917

W H Breare letter

Rifleman H Blackburn, KRR, got leave on account of illness of his mother, but he was not in time to see her ere she passed away. Blackburn is the fifth son of John Blackburn, 55 Stonefall Avenue, Starbeck. His eldest brother, William, was with the Canadians, but had rheumatic fever, and was discharged. He may be well enough later to rejoin. The second brother, Albert, is in Salonica; the third, Norman, in Alexandria; Horace, the youngest, is in Ireland. With my caller at the Front is Bob Wardman, Regent Street, who worked at the Co-op, in High Harrogate; Corporal Mount; Ireland, of King's Road; and Suttill, of New Park. Fifteen months since Blackburn was home. He is continually meeting Harrogate boys, though his regiment is a London one. It was formed by the late Earl of Feversham.