Harrogate Herald - 7th February 1917

Trooper F Holdsworth, writing from Egypt under date January 11th, says : 

I thank you very much for your weekly despatch of the Harrogate paper, which I highly appreciate. I wish you would thank Mr Ogden for the splendid parcel, as it gives one a pleasure to do their duty and also to think they are not forgotten when miles away. I have not heard of my wife for over a month, and I feel a bit anxious; but I m aware that mails have gone down, so better luck next time. Enclosed is a photo of my mates and two natives to let you see we are all well. Again wishing you the best of wishes.

Harrogate Herald - 14th February 1917

W H Breare letter

To Fred Holdsworth : 

Your wife wishes me to say that she and the child are in the best of health, and writes twice a week.

Harrogate Herald - 21st March 1917

W H Breare letter

I was having a little rest in the music room upstairs on Saturday afternoon, when a lady and a little child were shown into me. This little girl is aged four years. She has set her heart on saving her pennies in her little money box, so that she should send something to the soldiers. Her idea was so fixed that she could not be turned aside, and so she was here today to hand her little heavy box over to me, asking me to send something to the soldiers. I turned it over in my mind, and somewhat reluctantly accepted the commission. I am going to buy something to send to a particular soldier who does not receive letters and never gets a parcel. The lady was Mrs Holdsworth, wife of Private Fred Holdsworth, who joined up two years ago, and is now with the Imperial Yeomanry in Egypt. The little girl is his only daughter. She is a fine specimen of four years. Her mother has wisely decreed that she shall be outdoors in all sorts of weather, and the bairn is a picture of health. I hope the parents will not let the little girl forget this kindly act when she grows up, because it will prompt her always to think of others.

Mrs Holdsworth told me that she was working in the daytime at the gasworks. I was much surprised. I gathered, however, that there are a number of women working there also. It seems the company is pulling out the retorts and putting in new ones. The labours these brave, patriotic women have undertaken include chipping boilers, painting, dressing bricks, minding horses that pull up the weight of heavy material, turning oxide. Mrs Holdsworth is happy and contented, because she knows she is doing useful work that has relieved men for the Front.