Harrogate Herald - 25th December 1918

W H Breare letter

I had three soldiers in to see me on Monday. First came Private A G Trowsdale, son of Mr and Mrs Trowsdale, Knaresborough Road, who was just about to return to France. He is now doing guards at GHQ. He was wounded, and has been back just twelve months. His brother, it will remembered, won the Military Medal. He is now in Italy, and hoping to be over soon on leave. Private Frank Smith is with the Trench Mortar Company. He was exempt until last October. He assisted his father before the war in his cabbing business, and stood on the Montpelier stand. He has no Harrogate men with him, but Burton, of Masham, is in his lot. Private G Beckwith is one of three brothers serving, the sons of Mr and Mrs Beckwith, 13 Regent Grove, Harrogate. He joined up in January, 1915, and went to the Dardanelles, then to Egypt, and next to France. He met with an accident, and was sent to Nottingham Hospital. After discharge he was sent to York, from there to Ripon, then to Whitley Bay. He is going all right. His brother, Sapper H W Beckwith, joined up at the beginning of 1917, and for a time followed his trade as a shoemaker in England, but is now in Ireland. Harry, a younger brother, went out to France in March, and is with a pioneer battalion. Private Pert gave me a call, likewise Private W White, of the Koylies. He went to Egypt in 1915, and came back to France the following year. He was mentioned in despatches, but being a miner has been discharged. He has been gassed, but remained on duty.