Harrogate Herald - 26th December 1917

W H Breare letter

I had a pathetic shock over the telephone the other night. I was phoning war telegrams, and the operator, who put me on where I wanted to be, I had come to regard as an old friend, although to my knowledge I have never seen his face, yet his voice is familiar to me over the phone. Between the telephone messages I expressed my delight at again hearing his voice. He replied in a saddened tone. Finally I gathered from him that his son, W Beanland Smith, whose home is 6 Oak Terrace, had died for his country. I had not heard, because every item of news does not come under my eye. Later I expected to find it in the Herald of last Wednesday, but did not succeed, so I suppose that, with much more news, was crowded out, for we were tremendously pressed. I hasten to tell you boys, for I am sure you will touch just that depth of sympathy which I feel when you read the sad announcement.

Harrogate Herald - 9th January 1918

Roll of Honour

After being invalided home with trench feet, Private Walter Bealand Smith, West Yorks, son of Mr and Mrs H Smith, 6 Oak Terrace, Harrogate, returned to the Front and was killed in action on November 22nd, 1917. He enlisted in the previous April, and assisted his father with a bathchair business prior to joining the Colours.

Photo Page

Killed in Action - Private Walter B Smith, West Yorks, son of Mr and Mrs H Smith, 6 Oak Terrace, Harrogate, has been killed in action.

Harrogate Herald - 27th February 1918

Private H Lunn says : 

I do enjoy reading about the good old town, but I am sorry to see so many of the poor lads from home that have gone under lately. It seems a tremendous long time since I was having a stroll through the Gardens. You will have heard by now what a great advance our Division made a few weeks back. It was a time I shall never forget as long as I live. I was through the Somme battle in 1916, but it was nothing to this one. I was sorry about W Smith. He was in our Battalion; and there is another lad out here with our Battalion - Reggie Marshall.