Harrogate Herald - 28th March 1917
W H Breare letter
A young soldier friend of ours is in Aberdeen
hospital with septic poisoning. We do not know the details, because
the post has been so irregular. He is Maurice Fenwick, only
son of Mr and Mrs Fenwick, of York Road, Harrogate. He joined
the Yorkshire Hussars when - I will say, he was quite young, and has
been a long time in training, but not very long out of the country
and where the fighting is. We do know that he lay out ten days under
a roof, certainly, but there were no walls, and it was some time
before he got to hospital. He is going on all right, but we should
like to know more about his case. He was already in hospital at
Aberdeen when the first intimation came from across the water, about
three weeks late, stating he was somewhere in France. Since then
notices, equally late, have followed. I am glad to say he is going
on satisfactorily, and is a short way on the road to recovery.
Harrogate Herald - 2nd May 1917
W H Breare letter
It is some time since I told you boys about Maurice
Fenwick, of the Yorkshire Hussars, being in hospital in France.
A while after he was removed to a hospital in Aberdeen. The journey
took 17 hours, but the arrangements were such that he did not know
when he was crossing the water, and the railway journey, though
long, was exceedingly comfortable. He was in Aberdeen, I should say,
six weeks, perhaps more. On Friday morning he arrived at St Nicholas
hospital here, much to the satisfaction of his father and mother, Mr
and Mrs Fenwick, of York Road [James F Fenwick, Glenside,
York Road], and his many friends. Of course, it was a long journey
for him, and he was somewhat exhausted on arrival; but he has picked
up nicely since, though I am sorry to say he is very ill, but not
dangerously. His principal trouble is septic poisoning. he and his lot were the first in a German
trench, which had been occupied by the Huns for some two and a half
years. He will never forget the condition of that trench, a breath
of which, the medical men declare, was enough for incalculable
temporary damage. Maurice was a tall boy before he enlisted, much
older in appearance, and younger than he looked. He was not near military age when he
joined. His friends are very anxious to visit him at the hospital,
but they can do him no greater service than to remain away for the
present. As soon as he can get out, even in a bath chair, the air of
Harrogate will have a wonderful effect upon him, so altogether we
are very cheerful about his future. For some time Maurice was fed on
weak Bovril. Of late his diet has been four eggs a day, until he
feels like jibbing at the sight of one. On his arrival at St
Nicholas he was met by every kindness, including a beaten up egg.
Naturally, he is impressed by the way eggs pursue him.
Harrogate Herald - 20th June 1917
W H Breare letter
Of course, you know that many other men besides our
Australians had a hand in digging those tunnels for the mining of
Messines. I have seen no mention of the fact, however, in the
papers. For instance, Norman Allen, of whom I have written you, who
is in hospital here on account of his wounds, had a share in that
digging. Allen is getting on well, and so is Maurice Fenwick
and all the other lads.
Harrogate Herald - 13th March 1918
Breare letter
Friends of Maurice Fenwick will be pleased to know that he
has quite recovered and been discharged from hospital. He is now on
leave at home.
