Harrogate Herald - 3rd January 1917

W H Breare letter

Yesterday (Saturday) Sergeant J A Atkinson, who you will remember won the DCM, looked in on me at my office. He is of the machine Gun Corps, and the son of Alfred Atkinson, Corporation Baths Engineer. You will be sorry to learn that the father has been ill for a fortnight. He has had a slight stroke, from which, however, he is recovering. Sergeant Atkinson has been out for two years next April. I found him very well and quite cheerful. He had seen John Waddington, son of Mrs Waddington, Craven Street, and Deaden, whose nickname (and you know they all have such in the Army) is "Bodger". He worked for W B Atkinson, engineer, Tower Street. He has also seen Ben Archer, who got those socks he wanted all right. Atkinson's unit is that which contains so many Harrogate boys. My visitor has been well throughout, except for an attack of tonsillitis. he was to report in London Tuesday, that was the 2nd of January.