Harrogate Herald - 11th July 1917

W H Breare letter

I mentioned Private G A Reed last week. He is of 28 Albert Road. Perhaps you will identify him better if I explain that he used to work for Lieutenant Dobson, and was scoutmaster of the YMCA. He saw Lieutenant Dobson only Sunday before last, when he was quite well. The day Reed came on leave he met the Mayor's late chauffeur. Billy Bell he had seen about two months ago. When Reed called his wife waited outside. She wouldn't come in, because she had been so often to me to change her husband's address. I sent the husband out for the wife, and she came in. I am glad, for she is a brave little woman, and we had an interesting chat. Then it was good to see the husband and wife together. Nothing spoken, but an obvious wave of happiness radiating from one to the other. Such mutual affection (the kind that needs no words) makes the world seem very beautiful.

Harrogate Herald - 26th December 1917

W H Breare letter

Captain W Hamilton, of the Army Veterinary Corps, came in to see me, and brought his son, Signaller Lieutenant Commander H S Hamilton. Captain Hamilton looks better than ever, but you see he has always had an outdoor life, and the conditions at the Front are not strange to him. One day he was going into a YMCA hut to get warm before the fire, when he met Second Lieutenant George Dobson, of the Black Watch, Highland Territorial Division. You know George is the son of Mr W Dothie Dobson, of High Harrogate. Hamilton did not find his fire, for they had had none for two days, because they couldn't get wood. Captain Hamilton has seen Squire Spencer's chauffer, who lives at New Park, and is in the MT. At 8 pm on Saturday, the day Captain Hamilton left, it started to snow, and he set forth on his journey at nine.

Harrogate Herald - 2nd January 1918

Private R H Johnson writes :

I often think about o???? with my wife to see you, and it was a happy few minutes we spent, and you had a friend in as well, but I forgot his name; I believe he publishes another paper, as he took notes. I had a bit of a surprise two days ago. I was at a village, and asked if I would take on lorry to station an officer's spare kit, and to my great surprise it was to Harrogate from Second Lieutenant G Dobson to Mr W D Dobson, Park Parade [William D Dobson, bookseller, stationer, and printer, 26 Park Parade] . so it will please him to know when he reads your paper that it was taken part of the way by a Harrogate boy. Wishing you and all at Harrogate a merry Xmas and Happy New Year.

Harrogate Herald - 24th April 1918

W H Breare letter

There is generally a cloud on every horizon, and I met one on my arrival. It was the sad news that Lieutenant George Dobson had been killed. It is a great loss to Harrogate. From his boyhood's days he was ever ready to cooperate in anything for the good of his fellows. He was a sportsman who always played the game. When the boy scout movement came up, although pretty well grown he entered into that with his keen energy and glittering intelligence. Then he joined the old Volunteers which became the Territorials, and was of the latter when war broke out. He rose from the ranks as he was bound to do. How we shall miss him! One of the most helpful chaps Harrogate has ever had. His sunny nature made him welcome everywhere. Now, alas! We have but his memory, but what a rich one it will remain – a stimulating example to our youths and young manhood. I may remind you that he is the only son of Mr W Dothie Dobson, of High Harrogate, and that he leaves a wife.