Harrogate Herald - 1st December 1915

Harold Fischer, leading telegraphist on HMS Melpomene, says : 

I am in receipt of your paper containing your reply to my letter, for which I thank you. I am sorry to say we have had two more fruitless trips since I last wrote ???? am rather afraid we shall have plenty ???? we meet Von Tirpitz's forces. ?????? it be a day never to be forgotten ??????? do "catch" him napping ?????? have waited long enough ??????? visit this old place very ?????? over a year since I last saw ????? certain I am looking for ?????? pleasure to the time, although ?????? it will not be before we ???????? Christmas Day. The weather ??????? here now. This morning ???????? pieces of ice had settled ?????? which you will know, is ?????? cruiser or battleship. How is the weather in Harrogate? I expect you are feeling the cold as well. I have been trying to locate a friend of mine of the name Fowler, who lives in Albert Road, but so far have been unsuccessful. You don't happen to know what ship he is on now, please? Well, Sir, my "news box" is now empty. I shall be extremely pleased to hear from you again.

Harrogate Herald - 1st December 1915

Harold Fischer, of HMS Melpomene, writes to ask for the name of the ship on which Fowler, a friend of his, who lives in Albert Road, is serving. Can anyone help me to answer the query?

Harrogate Herald - 2nd May 1917

W H Breare letter

By the way, AB Seaman W L Fowler, whose mother lives at 28 King's Road [These are apartments], has been home on five days' leave, and returned yesterday (Tuesday). He came into see me looking extremely well. He has been in the Navy two years, and finds it a grand life for a young man. When I asked him if he liked it, you should have seen his face light up. I wanted no other answer, but he subsequently gave me a more emphatic one. You might think these naval boys would get tired of the monotony; or, to be precise, that monotony which is seldom relieved.

Harrogate Herald - 25th July 1917

W H Breare letter

Able Seaman W L Fowler, of King's Road, was the next to come and see me. He was on eleven days' leave. I saw him last in April. Fowler joined the Navy in May, 1915. a New Park and a Starbeck man are with him, but, as they don't bother with names in the Navy, and he hadn't used theirs much, and they had slipped him. Fowler was well and jolly, as usual.

Harrogate Herald - 17th April 1918

W H Breare letter

Two representatives of His Majesty's Navy gave me a call today whilst on leave, viz. : Stoker G Cottam, son of Mr and Mrs Cottam, 1 Elwyn Terrace, New Park, who has been five years in the service, and Seaman W Fowler, son of Mrs Fowler, of 128 King's Road, who has served three years. Both have been together on a ship which has been engaged in convoy work and is now taken out of commission for repairs. They return to barracks on Thursday, when they expect to remain ashore for a while. They were full of that bright, breezy optimism inseparable from the British tar.