Harrogate Herald - 1st December 1915
Receiving the Herald :
Private H Scholes 20048, 26th Labour Company,
2 Section, British Expeditionary Force, France.
Harrogate herald - 17th October 1917
W H Breare letter
I have just had in Private H J Crosthwaite, No.
30625, of the 728 Labour Company. Perhaps you remember that before
the War he was a masseur at the Royal Baths, where he worked for
twelve years. Then he went to Bradford to take charge of a
department in is line. Crosthwaite is looking well, though he has
passed through a good deal of danger with hard work added. He told
me that their main trouble was from night attacks and air raids.
With him is Harrison, RE, son of Harrison who worked for Mr Knowles,
decorator. Harrison was a bricklayer before the War. George Ibbetson
was with him but got his discharge through sickness. He met in
Calais, five or six weeks ago, Scholes who went out originally with
the 26th Company, ASC - the same as Crosthwaite joined - but both
were transferred. Crosthwaite's eldest son George is in Mesopotamia.
He hasn't heard from him for six months. He was then in hospital at
Valeta Hospital, Malta. Since then he has gone to Mesopotamia.
Herbert, his youngest son, is in the Trench Mortar Battery, but is
now in hospital in Edmonton, London. He hasn't seen Herbert for two
years, yet on one occasion was within 200 yards of him and did not
know it. Crosthwaite himself on December 1st, 1913 [sic], broke two
ribs and was in hospital a month on the other side. He has had the
best of health since. It is refreshing to see such men as
Crosthwaite, who are so strong in their courage and determination to
do their best and to note, in the course of their narrations, that
kindly twinkle which reveals a sense of humour and a firm intention
to make the best of everything.
Harrogate Herald - 9th January 1918
W H Breare letter
H B Scholes, of Cecil Street, has had fourteen days'
leave, and came to see me. He is on transport work at the moment. He
was a member of the Harrogate Male Voice Choir. I am glad to say he
found his people at home all well. He had met Walter Little,
plasterer, of Pannal Ash; Fawcett, barman at the Ship; Crosthwaite,
who was at the Baths; "Major" Dent, son of Mr R Dent,
Mayfield Grove. Scholes has never ailed anything, and looks it.
Harrogate Herald - 6th February 1918
Letters
Acknowledging the Herald, Private Herbert Scholes says : It is
sad to see the different names of lads who have given of their best
and laid down a noble life. I often think if those who hesitate
about changing the name of our Music Hall though of the boys who are
fighting and roughing it out here, they would hesitate no longer,
and move anything that was German at once. I am of opinion some are
still thoughtless of those who are fighting for freedom and right;
but they are not a majority, thank goodness. Coming back from leave
I had the company of a Harrogate man; they called him Grant. We were
together all the way from York, so, as you know, helped to cheer
each other up a bit.
