Harrogate Herald - 18th April 1917

W H Breare letter

Some of you lads will know H Collings, whose home is in the terrace house next to the Herald Printing Works. He is a picture frame maker and gilder. Well, for many reasons, I am sorry to say, he has been called up, and is now Driver H Collings. His business is closed, because he has no one to work for him. Mrs Collings has been in delicate health, and is still so. Further, he is not a particularly robust man himself. I had a letter from him on Saturday saying how necessary it was for him and his family that he should come home on business leave to settle his affairs before proceeding with his training. It seems a Magistrate's certificate was necessary to prove his bona fides. I sent him one, expressing this opinion that it would be an act of grace to allow him business leave to settle his urgent affairs. The Military authorities are generally sympathetic in deserving cases, therefore I hope he will be granted the privilege. This is not an ordinary case by any means. It is necessary, for one thing, that he should collect his book debts, because I know he has been at a very considerable expense over illness in his family. That burden represents, not a few pounds, but several hundreds. He has proved himself a brave and worthy man throughout unusual domestic difficulties occasioned by family ill-health, and I devoutly hope that sunshine and prosperity will come his direction in the future.

Harrogate Herald - 2nd May 1917

W H Breare letter

Collings, of whom I spoke to you a fortnight ago, got home on leave, and came in to see me. He is looking very well. The authorities have been very considerate in the matter of leave. They gave him just what he deemed necessary.