Harrogate Herald - 13th June 1917

W H Breare letter

And now I have another request to make. Private T Lang, N0. 200920, of the Beechwood Boys, has been missing since May 3rd. he was a painter before the war, with Mr Williamson, of Granville Road. His wife lives at 11 Baldwin Street, New Park. She has had no information from him or of him. Will you boys try to ascertain something about him.

Harrogate Herald - 20th June 1917

W H Breare letter

I have just heard from another of the wives where a soldier husband was missing, and whom I did have faith that her man was not dead but a prisoner. The lady is Mrs Lang. Her husband, Private Lang, is a prisoner in Dulmen, Germany, and has sent the wife a postcard. One more happy household!

Harrogate Herald - 27th June 1917

W H Breare letter

I have just had a visit from Mrs Thomas Lang, of 11 Baldwin Street, whose husband, I told you last week, had been taken prisoner, and was in Germany. He is a Beechwood Boy. She has just had a letter from him asking for shirts, a safety razor, cigarettes, tobacco, and soap. She has two children living, one of whom, a twin, is delicate; within the last year and while her husband has been away, she has lost a boy of five years and a baby of nine months. Her hands and heart are full. I mention this case because I like to touch those sympathetic chords of yours, which ever respond like soft, soothing strains of music. In this case I am not seeking the help of anyone. The boy's wants will be supplied, and the slender purse of the wife untouched. When you read this just turn the case over in your mind. I know your thoughts will be as far-reaching prayer, for the wife and family. There are petitions which need no altars, no subdued lights, no stained-glass windows - the kindly thoughts welling from the great hearts of you boys.

Harrogate Herald - 10th October 1917

Roll of Honour

Private Bernard Middlewood, son of Mr Middlewood, 1 Duncan Street, New Park, Harrogate, is a prisoner of war at Limburg. His brother, Private C Middlewood, has been wounded and is in hospital. Bernard in a letter home says that Lang, of New Park, was taken prisoner at the same time as himself, along with two or three more Harrogate lads, but they have gone to Germany.

Harrogate Herald - 21st November 1917

Roll of Honour

Private T Lang (West Yorks), whose house is at 11 Baldwin Street, New Park, Harrogate, is a prisoner of war in Germany. He joined up in November, 1914, and went to France in January last and was captured in May. Mrs Lang received the photograph we reproduce this week just a year after she last saw her husband. He was employed at Mr Williamson's, painter, Granville Road, Harrogate, before enlisting.

Harrogate Herald - 19th December 1917

W H Breare letter

It is Sunday morning, and when I got up I found about an inch of snow on the ground and fine flakes still falling. When I looked through the letters this morning there were six postcards from prisoners of war in Germany. Sometimes these come in batches after considerable delay. With every parcel that goes is enclosed a reply postcard containing the date of the parcel sent and these queries : "Have you received your parcel regularly? (2) Were contents in good condition? (3) Is your address as shown on the other side correct? If not, please enter your correct address below". By these postcards we know whether the boys receive the food or not. You would like to hear who those cards were from, so I will tell you. There were two from Private H Wood, 27791, 16th West Yorks, one of which was dated October 17th, the other October 20th; from Corporal A Hall, 200860, 2/5th West Yorks, there were two dated October 2nd, October 6th. The dates I have mentioned relate to the time when the parcels were sent from this country. The date of despatch of Hall's cards was November 5th the lot of them. The date when Private Wood sent his two cards were October 17th and 20th. Then there were two cards from Private T Lang, 2 Company, West Yorks. The parcels they acknowledged were sent September 10th and September 27th. These postcards were written October 28th. We receive such cards regularly. I mention these because they have just come to hand.