Harrogate Herald - 14th March 1917
W H Breare letter
Sam Hempsall, the well-known tenor, who has been
some time on projectiles, has been called up for military service.
He would have gone before, but would have had to leave at home a
delicate wife (Rachel James, the singer). She died just before Xmas,
you will remember. Willie Hudson, of Hudson Brothers, ironmongers,
has been on projectiles, but is now also called up. He has a wife
and three children.
Harrogate Herald - 30th May 1917
W H Breare letter
You remember Mr Douglas Blair. He is of what was the
old York City Bank, now, I believe, the London Joint Stock. He
joined on Monday the Garrison Artillery, and went that day to Ripon
for preliminary training. You all know the George Hotel. Well, Mr
Robertson, the manager, has also been called up. He put in his
preliminary training as a private in Ripon. He has been moved
elsewhere in a draft. Sam Hempsall, tenor, and Mr Willie Hudson, of
Hudson Brothers, ironmongers, who are both in the Garrison Artillery, and training
at Ripon, have been made bombardiers. Both were in Harrogate last
week-end. Mr Hempsall sang the anthem, "Seek ye the Lord",
at the Presbyterian Church on Sunday morning, much to the
satisfaction of a large congregation.
Harrogate Herald - 27th June 1917
W H Breare letter
On Monday night some people you know went over to
the Ripon Camp to give a concert to a section of the troops there.
Sam Hempsall, who is of the RGA, arranged it, and they are all
professional friends of his. They included Miss Emily Breare, Miss
Norah Kaye, Gordon Williams, and Sam Hempsall. Talented soldiers in
the camp likewise assisted.
Harrogate Herald - 10th October 1917
W H Breare letter
Bombardier Sam Hempsall, I believe, is just now an
instructor in the Gas Mask School. Some of the new men at home are
rather inclined to treat the precautions as a joke, but you know
better than that, don't you?
Harrogate Herald - 31st October 1917
W H Breare letter
I have had a most interesting visit from Corporal H
Robinson, son of Mr & Mrs John Robinson, Harrogate. He is a gas
instructor on the Western Command and is at the same camp as
Bombardier Sam Hempsall.
Harrogate Herald - 21st November 1917
Letters
Private P Naiff writes : We often have Miss Lena
Ashwell's concert parties, and some time ago I was in good hopes of
meeting our favourite Gordon Williams, but unfortunately I was
further up the line at the time. I would dearly have liked to have
met him. There is a Harrogate pal of mine here called Charlie Miles.
They used to keep a tobacconist's shop in Oxford Street; also
Corporal Brown, who, by the way, used to sing at Trinity Church some
years ago. I am sorry to hear of some of the old boys going under,
and I can assure you it will be a great blessing when this terrible
war is over. One hardly knows when it is going to end. You might
remember me to Bombardier Sam Hempsall when next you see him. If you
should know of anyone who has a violin any piano music to spare it
would be very acceptable up here to pass away the long winter
evenings, as we have a little music occasionally.
Harrogate Herald - 5th December 1917
W H Breare letter
I have had a letter from Douglas Blair. To recall
him to your minds I will remind you that he was at the York City and
County Bank, in James Street (now London Joint Stock Bank), and a
prominent member of out Harrogate Amateurs. As I told you, he is in
Ireland on special duty. I am glad to hear that he is amongst a
merry crowd, and it will be all the merrier, I'm sure by Blair's
presence. He is 8½ miles from a village, so there is need of
entertainment. He has started a small convert party, and their shows
have been a great success. They have had invitations to perform to
soldiers not far from them. When he wrote they were just on a tour
of three concerts. I also had a letter this morning from Sam
Hempsall, he of the tenor voice. I haven't heard from him for some
time, he has been so busy. He is still gas instructor, but now and
then his voice is lent out to other camps. For instance, last
Saturday and Sunday he made a hurried visit to Ripon and sang there.
This was the result of pressing invitations to his command to allow
Hempsall to come and cheer them up.
Harrogate Herald - 10th April 1918
W H Breare letter
My tenor friend Sam Hempsall has been given a
commission, and I expect he will be out in France before long. He
had come over to Ripon to report, and on Thursday called to see us.
He is very much thinner, but all the better for it. Whilst I was
speaking to him at the front I had a word with Second Lieutenant
Ainley, son of Mr Ainley, the Conservative agent. I was glad to find
the son looking so well.
Harrogate Herald - 17th April 1918
W H Breare letter
Norman Lee, who lived at one time in Harrogate, was
rescued after about half an hour's experience in the water, clinging
to some wreckage. He is in the Navy, but cannot swim. A torpedo was
the cause of the trouble. It is surprising how many sailors are
unable to swim, yet it is easy enough to learn if one goes the right
way about it. Some years ago I was in the Harrogate Swimming Baths,
and saw Sam Hempsall, the tenor, making vain efforts to keep afloat.
I told him the main principle, and he swam away at the first push
off.
Harrogate Herald - 25th December 1918
W H Breare letter
Sergeant Adams has gone back to his unit. On Friday
Lieutenant Sam Hempsall walked in. He has 16 days' leave. Had been
before a Board on account of his arm, and was put in the third
category or three months, when he has to go before the Board again.
Harrogate Herald - 29th January 1919
W H Breare letter
Sam Hempsall came on short leave on Saturday and went back
Sunday.
