Claro Times - 29th October 1915

On October 4th, killed in action, Private A P Smith (Percy), 2nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, dearly loved and only son of Arthur Smith and Maria Smith, of St Luke's School House, Skipton Road, Harrogate, aged 23.

Claro Times - 29th October 1915

Mr and Mrs Smith and Miss L Graham wish to thank all friends for their kindness and sympathy in their sad bereavement.

Claro Times - 29th October 1915

Photo - Private Arthur Percy Smith, 2nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, only son of Mr and Mrs A Smith, of St Luke's Schoolhouse, Skipton Road, was killed in action on October 4th, and official intimation was received last weekend. Private Smith was formerly employed by Messrs Newby's, electricians, for six years, and later was for 16 months at Messrs Johnson's, motor engineers, of Springfield Avenue. He was an enthusiastic worker for the Church Lads Brigade movement, and held the rank of sergeant when he joined the army. He was also a teacher in the Sunday school at St Luke's. He joined the 5th West Yorkshires in January, and was afterwards transferred to the Fusiliers, and went to the Front in the summer. A few weeks ago he celebrated his 23rd birthday in the trenches, and in a letter home described his appreciation of the gifts sent him. In his last letter to his fiancé, Private Smith said he was in the reserve trenches whilst the great advance was going on. He said :

"It did cheer me up when we heard the news yesterday about the victories we were having, but we had lost a lot of men, and the ambulance cars are going up and down the road in a continuous stream. I have seen about 250 prisoners - only boys 16 and 17 - and also some of the guns we captured. You will have an idea where we are by all the news in the paper. You are all most anxious to know, but you see how I am situated. We have been moving so much lately that I couldn't write, nor have I received any parcels until this morning, when I received you letter. I am sorry I said what I did about coming home; it has evidently been all rumours, but cheer up; if we get them on the run like this - and the Russians are busy, too, we hear - we shall all come home soon".

Harrogate Herald - 2nd December 1915

A Ashley writes : 

Just a few lines while I have a bit of spare time to thank you for the Herald, which I received yesterday. I appreciate it very much, and will not fail to pass it on to the other chaps from Starbeck when I have read it. Although the fighting our here is very quiet, we have been very busy trench digging and doing other fatigues. I am sorry to hear about Private A P Smith getting killed, as I knew him quite well, both of us being at Whitley Bay together for some time. I have not much to say this time, so will close, again thanking you and wishing your paper every success.