Harrogate Herald - 5th September 1917

W H Breare letter

I think it was Thursday morning that Pte P J Cullingworth, of Follifoot, and of the 19th Labour Co., who was home on leave, called. Before he went out Cullingworth had an accident to his thumb, and this prevented him from joining the general service. This thumb has troubled him a good deal, and his leave is to be extended in order that he may have a part of it amputated. Cullingworth is the son of Mr & Mrs Mark Cullingworth, of Follifoot. His father will be well-know to many of you lads. Apart from his thumb my visitor looked well and he was all right. There are five of the Cullingworth family serving : First, George Cullingworth, the cricketer, who is a bombardier in the RGA; second, William Cullingworth in the RE's; third, Clarence Cullingworth in the West Yorks lot; fourth, P J Cullingworth, my caller; and Charles Wilson, a brother-in-law from Nova Scotia. Wilson was shot in both legs whilst in the trenches, and came to England. He has remained here a year instructing Canadian troops. No Harrogate boys are with Cullingworth and only one Knaresborough chap, whose name he forgot. Cullingworth's battalion, he tells me, is always called to the scene of the most important offences. His work has been railway and road making, etc. There are casualties even in labour battalions. He estimates about 30 killed and 100 wounded in his lot. They are often badly shelled. I was interested to hear from him that the Canadians were very smart in laying rails. They could do a mile a day. Our English labour battalions are also very smart. In one particular case, where the land was very awkward, Cullingworth's lot managed to do four miles in eleven days.