Harrogate Herald - 24th January 1917
Letters
Driver H Aubin, writing from Salonica, says
:
I received the football that you sent me - I am glad
to say we have only been beaten twice out here. There have been
teams lately with unbeaten records, but we have lowered their
colours. They were very hard games, too. I see in your Herald about Speight
being missing. He used to be in our Brigade. It will be about eight
months since I saw him, but we went a different way to them. I like
to read your chat to the boys on active service. I see that Billy
Womack and Mothersill are out here. I know where hey are.
It is a long way from here. We have had a good Xmas - turkey and
roast beef. A bit different to last Xmas, when we had bully and
biscuits. We still keep giving "Johnny" Bulgar some iron
rations. I am very sorry to see that Bro Winterburn has gone
under. I used to play in the same team as they did. I dropped across
one of the boys when we were on the move. He had just come out. We
had a talk of the old town, and he said that Voakes was out
here too. He used to work at the Queen Hotel as a night porter. I
have forgotten his name. He had a brother on the cars as driver, but
he is in France. I have just come across another Harrogate lad. He
is in the village here. They call him Read. He lives up
King's Road. The RAMC have concerts every night, and they have a
panto called the "Babes in the Wood". There is another
panto coming. Read is in the same Corps; and there is a very
good choir listening to. They sang some fine Xmas carols on Xmas
Eve. It is turning very cold now in the mornings, but we have plenty
of winter clothing, such as jack boots, mufflers, and gloves, so we
are all right. I see you are getting a lot of soldiers over from
Ripon at the weekends. Would you be so kind as to send me Willy
Metcalfe's address. He works in Tower Street, and looks after
the Northern Union team, because I would very much like to write
him. I am not a proper Harrogate lad, but my brother-in-law and
sister have been in Harrogate for years. He has been a fireman for
about 17 years. I lived in Harrogate for about nine years and I used
to go to St Peter's School. I then lived in Ship Yard, when the
Salvation Army used to be there. If you ever write to Walter
Smith, will you tell him I am asking about him. He worked on the
cars for the NER. I can remember when there used to be nothing but
fields up to High Harrogate. I see from your paper that they are
showing the "big push" on the Somme at the Picture House
on Skipton Road. Wishing you and the Herald every success.
Harrogate Herald - 6th June 1917
Roll of Honour
....... [missing] Corporal Walter Smith (West
Yorks) is missing. They would be glad to hear any news concerning
him. He is 20 years of age.
Harrogate Herald - 6th June 1917
Roll of Honour
Lance Corporal Walter Smith, one of the
Beechwood Boys, is reported missing.
W H Breare letter
Lance Corporal Walter Smith (201463), one of
the Beechwood Boys, is missing, and his friends cannot obtain any
information. Will you try and help them?
Harrogate Herald - 27th June 1917
Roll of Honour
Lance Corporal Walter Smith (West Yorks), previously
reported as missing, is now officially stated to have fallen in
action on May 3rd. He was 20 years of age, and the youngest son of Mr
& Mrs Edmund Smith, 80 Harlow Terrace, Harrogate, formerly
of Harehills, Leeds, where Lance Corporal was connected with the St
Wilfrid's Sunday School. He joined the colours in August, 1915, and
was trained with the 2/5th West Yorks, billeted at the Beechwood,
Harrogate.
SDGW
Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment)
2/5th Battalion
Lance Corporal Walter Smith (201463)
Born : -
Enlisted : York
Residence : Harehills, Leeds
Died : 3rd May 1917
Killed in Action
France & Flanders
