Harrogate Herald - 16th May 1917

W H Breare letter

You Harrogate lads, when at home, have doubtless noticed the flower sellers at the Sulphur Well and in James Street. You will probably know by sight Patsy Donovan's wife, who carried on quite a business in this line. You will also have seen a man assisting her. His name was J W Dixon. He enlisted in July, 1915. well, he is now a soldier, and has been attacked in the Front by trench feet. At first in hospital in France, he was next transferred to London. He arrived home on Wednesday at 3 o'clock, and immediately came to see me. He still has a bit of a limp, and doesn't look so very strong. Moreover, he is 46 years of age, so I should imagine that he is likely to be given a lighter job, possibly at home. With him out in France was Sergeant-Major Horner, Sergeant Cole, and Sergeant Jackson, all of whom he talked to me about. His leave is for ten days; after that he will probably have to report to his depot. I often wonder how these lads do who are discharged from hospital. You know, they get no pay whilst there; it is deferred, and they have to wait until it is sent to them. I questioned Dixon on this point, and found that he had not the ready cash. However, I was able to tide him over until he received his arrears of pay. Mind you, the man did not ask me for any assistance at all. I suspected how it would be, and drew the facts from him. Dixon is a single man and on his own resources. I hope he will soon get strong again, for, as you know, trench feet are troublesome things. It speaks well for him at this age he should have volunteered for service. I can assure you he had gone through a good deal, for I have seen the list of affairs that he has been in. I had forgotten that he had only just then come in by train, so when I asked him if Harrogate didn't look nice, he smiled and replied that he "hadn't seen much of it, so far". I hope he will see a good deal of it, and derive comfort and enjoyment from being at home, even for ten days.